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Nowadays, the uses of gloves are essential for a range of applications across various industries. But did you know there are different types of gloves available in the market? In so many kinds of gloves, vinyl and nitrile gloves are very popular. So, if you’re curious about the difference between nitrile and vinyl gloves, you’re at the right place.
As we discuss above, gloves are essential equipment that plays a major role in the safety and health of patients, employees, and customers. They are also used as personal protective equipment (PPE) and come in various materials, such as nitrile and vinyl. But having the proper knowledge about which gloves are used is very necessary.
In this article, we’ll discuss the key difference between nitrile and vinyl gloves, also highlighting the benefits and defects. Additionally, we will discuss why it is important to choose the right glove for each job.
What are Nitrile Gloves
Nitrile gloves come in types of disposable gloves that are made from synthetic rubber and offer flexibility, long-life durability, and chemical resistance. These gloves could be an ideal choice for industrial tasks in the food industry and hospitals. They are very beneficial in most medical environments.
The main purpose of their popularity is their durability level and chemical resistance properties. They offer a high level of protection and dexterity, therefore common in the food, health, and medical areas. As in the making of nitrile gloves, latex proteins aren’t used which causes allergic reactions in some people.
Uses Of Nitrile Gloves
As we discuss above, nitrile gloves are used for a variety of industrial, medical, domestic, and healthcare purposes. They are a favorite choice of health care workers, dentistry, beauty shop owners, laboratory workers, food handlers, chemical handlers, and among industrial employees.
These gloves are also used in the automotive and janitorial industries. Because they provide next-level protection and comfortable, these are found to be more durable as compared to vinyl while performing gripping tasks with power tools and picking up tools such as wrenches and screwdrivers.
Benefits of Wearing Nitrile Gloves
Nitrile gloves gaining popularity in recent years and there is no surprising reason. These gloves offer several advantages over vinyl gloves and become the top choice for many industries. The benefits of such gloves also show a huge difference between nitrile and vinyl gloves. From healthcare to food service, nitrile gloves are making waves with their unique benefits.
The biggest benefit of nitrile gloves is their durability level. Normally latex gloves easily tear or puncture but in the case of nitrile gloves, they are made from synthetic materials that provide you superior strength and resistance to tears and punctures. These gloves also protect your hands from harsh chemicals and other hazardous materials.
Another advantage of nitrile gloves is their excellent tactile sensitivity. Compared to other types of medical gloves, nitrile gloves provide greater touch sensitivity, allowing users to feel what they are working on more precisely.
Along with that, the nitrile gloves are very light in weight and breathable. Due to their durability and material level, they offer you a long shelf life. These are highly resistant to oil, fats, and petroleum-based products.
Drawbacks Of Wearing Nitrile Gloves
Although there are several advantages to wearing nitrile gloves, they have also some disadvantages. The biggest downside of wearing nitrile gloves is their cost. Generally, the price of such gloves is more expensive than vinyl gloves, as because they are made of high-quality materials.
Another disadvantage of wearing nitrile gloves are their allergic reactions, although nitrile gloves are latex free they cause an allergic issue in some peoples. Along with that, nitrile gloves lose their elasticity when exposed to high temperatures and become stiff and brittle at low temperatures.
Pros:
- An ideal choice for food handlers and chemical handlers.
- High-quality materials.
- Very durable and comfortable.
- Long shelf life.
- Highly resistant to oil, fats, and petroleum-based products.
- Lightweight and breathable.
Cons:
- Expensive than vinyl and latex gloves.
- Allergic issues in some people.
- Lose their elasticity due to high temperatures.
What are Vinyl Gloves
Vinyl gloves are a type of disposable gloves and are also made from a synthetic polymer called Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC). They are commonly used as an alternative to latex gloves because they are latex free and hypoallergenic.
When it comes to non-hazardous situations, vinyl is great, but nitrile has more flexibility. These are less expensive than nitrile gloves and are cost-efficient, therefore becoming a popular choice for businesses to purchase large amounts of gloves.
Uses Of Vinyl Gloves
Vinyl gloves are used in several industries due to their low cost, high flexibility, and ease of use. The main purpose of using vinyl gloves is for food handling, food serving, and food preparations. They are also popular in medical areas as well, used by healthcare workers during sanitation and routine cleaning.
Along with that, they are also used in the beauty industry especially for cutting nails and hair care. Chemicals and other substances used in beauty treatments are protected from both the client and the technician by them. As well as they are very popular in caring for pets, such as for bathing and grooming.
Benefits of Wearing Vinyl Gloves
There are various advantages of wearing vinyl gloves which also shows a huge difference between nitrile and vinyl gloves. The biggest benefit of wearing vinyl gloves is their latex-free property. Due to this, they protect your hands from allergic issues.
Another advantage is cost efficiency, they are less expansive than nitrile gloves and become the opportunity for business owners to buy a huge amount of gloves.
These gloves are very comfortable to use than other types of gloves due to their smooth texture and loose fit. Hand fatigue is less likely to occur when using them for an extended period of time because they provide a greater range of motion.
Vinyl gloves are also resistant to oil, fats, and water. These gloves are the better choice for low-risk tasks and of nonhazardous material. In the case of vinyl gloves, allergic issues are very rare. They are light in weight and easy to carry.
Drawbacks Of Wearing Vinyl Gloves
While vinyl gloves have several advantages but some drawbacks you have to consider before wearing them. The biggest defect of such gloves is less durability level. They start to tear and puncture especially when used for sharp objects and for rough surfaces.
Vinyl gloves also provide less protection against harsh chemicals. Another downside of using vinyl gloves is their poor sensitivity and tactile feedback, making it difficult to perform tasks that require precision or fine motor skills.
Pros:
- Latex-free property.
- Protect you from allergic issues.
- Cost-efficient.
- Very comfortable.
- Lightweight and easy to carry.
Cons:
- Offer less durability.
- Tear & puncture while using sharp objects.
- Less protection against chemicals.
- Difficult to perform tasks.
Side-by-Side Difference Between Nitrile and Vinyl Gloves
Here’s a table showing the difference between nitrile and vinyl gloves:
| Points | Nitrile Gloves | Vinyl Gloves |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Synthetic rubber (nitrile). | Polyvinyl chloride (PVC). |
| Strength | Stronger and more durable than vinyl gloves. | Less durable and more prone to tearing than nitrile. |
| Chemical resistance | Excellent resistance to chemicals and solvents. | Resistance to chemicals and solvents is less than the nitrile gloves. |
| Allergies | Allergic issues are common in nitrile gloves. | Allergic issues are very rare in vinyl gloves. |
| Sensitivity | Offers good sensitivity and tactile feedback. | Offers poor sensitivity and tactile feedback. |
| Price | More expensive than vinyl gloves. | Cost-efficient as compared to nitrile gloves. |
| Environmental impact | These are generally toxic to the environment. | These are also toxic to the environment. |
| Common uses | Popular among beauty shop owners, dentists, and laboratory workers. | Popular among food handling, food serving, and food preparation. |
Conclusion:
We hope you’ll enjoy this particular guide and know the exact difference between nitrile and vinyl gloves. From advantages to drawbacks, we discuss every single point to explain the key differences between them.
