In recent years, the allergies of some individuals to the latex proteins in natural rubber gloves have caused concern to the medical professions and there is a shift in preference to more expensive powder-free latex gloves and gloves with low protein levels and also to synthetic gloves. Regulatory Bodies are also imposing limits to the level of protein and powder in the gloves.
Some of the advances made by the nitrile glove manufacturer on producing quality gloves that meet the requirements of the consumers, includes the use of specially enzymatic treated natural rubber latex as starting material, adopting newer processing technologies with effective рre- and рoѕt-сuring leaching, the control of acidity in leaching water and the use of ultrasonic device in leaching to manufacture gloves with minimal protein content. Exploratory studies of using treated сorn-ѕtarсh to reduce the absorbent properties of powder in powdered natural rubber gloves also produced encouraging result. Improved processing technologies of on-line chlorination and from ѕingle-ѕurfaсe to both side polymer coating of gloves have enabled more efficient production of powder-free gloves. To meet the need of users who are already sensitized to protein and have been advised to avoid natural rubber latex gloves, some of the manufacturers have commenced producing and exporting quality nitrile and polyurethane gloves.
The demand and consumption of natural rubber latex material will continue to decline across the entire rubber industry. This is because synthetic latex will be replacing natural rubber latex at a fast rate. The technology of processing synthetic latex has become highly advanced and the price of synthetic latex have been far more stable. The seat glove manufacturers enjoy in the world stage cannot be underestimated – they supply 40% of synthetic rubber gloves respectively of the world needs.
Much of the appeal, which has led to the growing demand for nitrile gloves in the United States and Europe, stems from concerns of protein allergy from natural rubber. With better research and development, manufacturers are able to produce powder-free synthetic rubber gloves which have cut down the issues of рrotein allergy tremendously. As such, the users’ scope has widened in both developed and potential markets and there’s likelihood of nitrile replacing natural rubber gloves.
Nitrile gloves are more comfortable as the fitting reduce fatigue, especially surgical gloves. This is important as the user needs a good fit and a protective layer and not something that causes fatigue when performing surgery and other medical procedures. Another plus point is that nitrile gloves have elastic properties that self-seal if there is a pin hole. On the other hand, for natural latex gloves, the pin holes become bigger with movement.
The surgical glove market has been invaded by a variety of synthetic gloves. The prices of all types of gloves rose over recent years as raw material prices and fuel prices skyrocketed. Despite the economic slowdown in many countries, increasing demand has been driving this industry. High demand helped offset price increases due to production costs, with the most significant change happening in the nitrile glove segment. Users started buying nitrile when production shortage plagued the two popular materials, latex and vinyl. As sales of nitrile started to climb, end-users began to notice that vinyl offered poor barrier protection, and the best hypoallergenic, affordable alternative to latex was nitrile. Nitrile also offers better barrier protection against both chemicals and microbes. Nitrile is now the preferred material in many medical settings.
