What Is a Natural Rubber Glove?
Natural rubber gloves are made from natural rubber, produced from the sap of rubber trees. These gloves are known for their high mechanical strength, resistance to tearing and scratching, and excellent elasticity.
Natural rubber gloves come in various thicknesses, suitable for different types of work. It’s important to note that natural rubber contains latex, which may cause allergic reactions in some individuals. Additionally, these gloves have low resistance to oils and organic solvents, making them unsuitable for work involving such substances.
Uses of Natural Rubber Gloves
Natural rubber gloves are easy to fit and suitable for detailed work. They are commonly used as general household gloves and for cleaning tasks. Additionally, they are often used in the manufacturing industry for parts inspection, quality testing, and sorting work due to their low risk of contamination. These gloves are also beneficial in construction, civil engineering, fisheries, agriculture, gardening, forestry, and livestock fields, especially for outdoor work, as they are less affected by external temperatures. Their flexibility in low temperatures makes them useful for work in cold climates and freezers.
Principle of Natural Rubber Gloves
The primary material in natural rubber gloves is isopropylene rubber. They are highly resistant to water, alcohol, basic aqueous solutions, and ABS detergents. However, they have low resistance to oils such as gasoline, kerosene, heavy oil, and diesel oil, and are not resistant to aromatic compounds like benzene and toluene, ether compounds like tetrahydrofuran, and chlorine compounds. This makes them generally unsuitable for work involving organic solvents.
Other Information on Natural Rubber Gloves
1. Manufacturing Process of Natural Rubber Gloves
Natural rubber is processed into three main forms: latex (liquid rubber), RSS (Ribbed Smoked Sheets), and TSR (Technically Specified Rubber). Latex is used for natural rubber gloves. Ammonia is added to prevent coagulation, and the latex is then filtered, centrifuged to remove impurities, and concentrated to produce latex concentrate. This concentrated latex is mixed with various agents and shaped using hand-shaped molds to form rubber gloves.
2. Allergy Symptoms of Natural Rubber Gloves
Natural rubber gloves contain various ingredients besides isopropylene rubber. Some individuals may develop latex allergies, sometimes severe. Therefore, if discomfort occurs while using rubber gloves, it’s recommended to stop using them immediately. Medical gloves, especially surgical and examination gloves, are increasingly being made from synthetic rubber to avoid the risk of latex allergies.
3. Quality of Natural Rubber Gloves
As natural rubber gloves are derived from natural materials, they may contain impurities like proteins, resins, and sugars, and must be checked before use. Additionally, variations in physical properties can occur due to the economic and climate conditions of the rubber-producing countries, affecting prices and availability.