An Analysis of Gloving Materials
A Self-Study Guide

Glove Material Characteristics Comparison Chart GLOVE TYPE Level of Barrier Protection Allergen Content Strength and Durability Elasticity Puncture Resistance Fit and Comfort Chemical Resistance Economy Recommended Use Environmental Impact Latex Excellent The long-standing benchmark for barrier protection due to its strength and elasticity. Varies Latex contains protein and chemical allergens. Powder-free gloves are lower in allergens than powdered gloves. Excellent Latex is very strong and durable. Tensile strength is typically 3000 psi or better. Excellent Latex elasticity is superior to the other glove films currently available. Memory is very high, allowing the film to always return to its original shape. Elongation limit is about 750%. Very Good Latex is very resistant to punctures but can be pierced by very sharp objects. Excellent Latex provides excellent comfort and fit due to its high elasticity and memory. Very Good Provides good protection from most caustics and detergents. Also recommended by OSHA for cytotoxic drugs. Very Good Latex provides very good economy for general use. Powderfree versions are more expensive than powdered. Recommended as the first choice for barrier protection in the healthcare environment, except for users who are allergic to latex. Excellent Easily decomposes in landfills because it is a natural product. Incineration produces mostly water and carbon dioxide. Neoprene (Polychloroprene) Excellent Neoprene provides barrier protection similar to latex. Very Good Neoprene contains no latex proteins but contains a low level of chemical allergens. Very Good Unbroken neoprene is strong. However, once punctured, the film tends to tear easily. Tensile strength is typically 3000 psi or better Excellent Neoprene elasticity is close to that of latex and memory is very high, allowing the film to retain its original shape. Elongation limit is about 750%. Good Neoprene is somewhat puncture resistant. Good Neoprene provides good comfort and fit due to its high elasticity and memory. Excellent Neoprene exhibits excellent resistance to most chemicals, especially harsh solvents. Good Neoprene is more expensive than latex, but can be justified when weighed against the cost of managing latex allergies. Recommended as a preferred alternative to latex due to its similarity to latex with respect to fit, feel, comfort, and barrier protection. Also recommended for those with allergies and sensitive skin. Varied Does not decompose in landfills. Incineration produces significant amounts of hydrochloric acid. Nitrile Excellent Nitrile film is highly resistant to punctures and tears. Very Good Nitrile contains no latex proteins but contains some curing agents. Excellent Nitrile film is extremely strong with puncture resistance superior to all glove films. Tensile strength is typically well above 3000 psi. Very Good Nitrile’s elasticity is very good with elongation limits typically 500% or better. Nitrile exhibits some memory, allowing the film to adapt to the wearer’s hand. Excellent One of nitrile’s strong points. Puncture resistance is superior to all other medical glove films currently available. Good Nitrile provides good comfort and fit due to its high elasticity and memory. Due to a slightly tighter fit, users often choose a larger size. Excellent Nitrile exhibits excellent resistance to most chemicals, especially harsh solvents. OSHA recommends nitrile for cytotoxic drugs. Good Nitrile is more expensive than latex, but can be justified when weighed against the cost of managing latex allergies. Recommended as a preferred alternative to latex. Also recommended for conditions where high-strength and/or chemical protection is required. Varied Does not decompose in landfills. Incineration produces mostly water and carbon dioxide. Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Poor Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) breaks and punctures easily during use, and the fit around the wrist is baggy, making it a poor barrier. Very Good PVC contains no natural rubber proteins and no chemical curing agents. Poor PVC is the weakest of the five films and tends to break and puncture easily when stressed. Tensile strength is typically below 2000 psi. Fair to Poor PVC elasticity is limited and varies from brand to brand. Typical elongation limit is less than 500%. The film exhibits limited memory. Poor PVC is easily punctured by sharp objects. Fair Low elasticity limits fit and comfort for many users. The wrist diameter is usually very large, making the glove baggy around the cuff. Poor Offers less protection than the other polymer materials. Very Good PVC costs are typically similar to those of latex. Vinyl is a low-cost alternative to latex if latex allergies are a concern. Recommended as a low-cost alternative to latex for short procedures not involving blood or bodily fluids. Poor Does not decompose in landfills. The plasticizers in PVC are hormone mimics; if they leach out into the environment, they can have significant impact on wildlife. Incineration produces significant amounts of hydrochloric acid. Polyisoprene Good Polyisoprene is a good barrier protection but is more permeable than latex. Resistant to punctures. Very Good Polyisoprene contains no latex proteins but contains some curing agents. Very Good Polyisoprene is durable. Tensile strength is typically 2500 psi or better. Excellent Polyisoprene elasticity is similar to latex. Good Polyisoprene is somewhat puncture resistant. Excellent Polyisoprene provides excellent comfort and fit due to similar properties to latex. Fair Polyisoprene provides fair protection against alcohol and other water-based solutions. Good Polyisoprene is more expensive than latex, but can be justified when weighed against the cost of managing latex allergies. Recommended as an alternative to latex due to the similarity to latex in respect to fit, comfort, and feel. Varied Does not decompose in landfills. Incineration produces mostly water and carbon dioxide.

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