When it comes to protecting your hands in the workplace, you have a variety of options with palm coating. Here is a comprehensive guide to understanding palm coating on gloves, so you have an idea of which is best for you. Each of these materials have different benefits with very few drawbacks, but depending on what kind of protection you need, some are obviously going to work better than others.
For instance, working in a commercial kitchen means you might want a glove that protects against both fire and knife cuts, but if you work around computers then that just might be overkill. You might look pretty awesome with your Kevlar gloves on in the IT room but yeah, it's not really what you need for that situation.
Who knew that there were so many varieties of palm coated gloves? Not only are there many to choose from, but you can choose different combinations which almost make your options limitless - and isn't that a great thing?
A string knit or nylon shell glove is one form of protection, but palm coating adds enhancements to the glove so that you have even more options of protection, flexibility, resistance to damage, and grip. These are gloves that are just as comfortable, but just have that extra security for your hands, as well as some benefits that help you work better. Here are a few of the palm coatings that are available and what each material is best for, as well as its advantages and disadvantages.
Nitrile is a synthetic coating that is a combination of a co-polymer of acrylonitrile and butadiene. This coating is much stronger due to its synthetic composition, but there are even more advantages - it does not create an allergic reaction like latex can. It is great at resisting tears and punctures - in fact, three times more durable than rubber, but with a caveat - there is not as much grip and stretch. It is an excellent choice for those who handle oil since it stands up well to it.
And speaking of nitrile palm coated gloves, those that are foamed nitrile are similar since they have the same component. The foamed nitrile works like a sponge, giving you better gripping power.
Check out our HyFlex 11-800 video.
The Ansell HyFlex® 11-800 glove channels oil away from glove surface for sure grip in light oil. Provides a good grip in dry environments and has an ergonomic form-fitting liner design.
This is a material that is so versatile that it is known as the most versatile polymer, which makes it a good choice for gloves. One of the benefits of this material is that while it grips objects well, you do not get that sticky or tacky feeling. And even though it has a comfortable and soft feel to it, it still has an excellent ability to resist abrasion and punctures. It is good for those who need to cut things and due to its low particulate shed, it also is ideal for working in clean rooms or near electronics. Besides, if you are known as the most versatile polymer in the world, then you darn well better perform well. This material does that and more.
This is a glove material you've probably seen in your doctor's office, because it is mainly what medical professionals use. Made either from synthetic or natural resources, latex is more than just a type of rubber material. This is due to its stable dispersion of tiny particles over liquid, which is quite different from natural rubber. The natural way of making latex is to use the sap from a variety of plants (more than 12K), but one that is mainly used is the Hevea Brasiliensis tree. For the synthetic process, monomers are combined with other materials and emulsified. This is a glove that has plenty of elasticity, excellent resistance to tear, and can be used in extreme temperatures.
PVC is a thermoplastic polymer of vinyl chloride, which is a synthetic material. It is a material that is quite cost effective, which is why it is a popular choice. It has a few benefits; such as being flexible and resistant to abrasions. However, it also has its shortcomings (for some), such as it being more easily cut, punctured and snagged. It is also not as tactile sensitive as some of the other choices in palm coated gloves. You will find that it is similar to nitrile in its resistance to abrasion and the wearability, but it has the added benefit of being resistant to glue adherence. This is an ideal glove for woodworkers and those who use glue products at work. Another benefit? Like latex, it can withstand extremely low temperatures, so if you're a woodworker working in South Dakota in December - these are perfect!
Along with all of the gloves mentioned, there are other choices such as Kevlar palm coated gloves, palm coated winter gloves, palm coated cut-resistant gloves, abrasion-resistant palm coated gloves, high-visibility palm coated gloves, high-dexterity palm coated gloves, touchscreen palm coated gloves, puncture-resistant palm coated gloves, vibration dampening palm coated gloves, and water-resistant palm coated gloves. Yeah we know, gloves, gloves, and more gloves.
As you can tell, there are so many choices when it comes to palm coated gloves and all of them serve a variety of uses. The possibilities may not be endless, but they are certainly substantial enough that you can always find what you need for your situation, if you know where to look.
The Facility Hand Protection Guide eBook breaks down helpful hand protection information industry by industry, providing you a comprehensive guide to making the best hand protection decision. Download it by clicking the link below. You can also read more about hand protection in our blog: Cut Protection 101: Understanding the Basics
