Vinyl gloves are a type of disposable glove derived from synthetic PVC resins and made from a synthetic monomer material called polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The PVC undergoes a process of polymerization which produces a hard and rigid material that is mixed with a plasticizing chemical to make a flexible material to produce the gloves.
Vinyl is less elastic which provides a looser fit and a soft, comfortable feel. In addition, this material offers greater permeability and less resistance than nitrile or latex gloves.
Vinyl is a synthetic material made from PVC and plasticizers. Like most other disposable gloves, they have a shelf life of roughly five years and come in powder free varieties. To keep them in the best condition, vinyl gloves should be stored out of direct sunlight in cool and dry conditions.
What are vinyl gloves used for?
Vinyl gloves are used in various situations and industries. The most common uses of vinyl gloves are for food handling, cleaning tasks, and light medical use such as for examinations with low risk of exposure to body fluids. Vinyl gloves are used in the food industry, medical settings as well as home improvement, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries.
Some of their most common uses include:
Food Preparation (except for greasy food): Vinyl gloves are safe to wear while preparing non fatty foods, such as those found in a restaurant kitchen or at a hospital cafeteria. However, you cannot use vinyl gloves with oily, greasy, or fatty food. The oils may leach out the softening agents into the food, causing the glove to become brittle.
Low-risk Work: For fast, low-risk tasks that may involve contact with small amounts of non-hazardous liquids and body fluids (for example, during manual handling of blood samples), vinyl gloves work well.
Light Electrical Jobs: These gloves are also useful when working with wires and cables. Stripping back their sheaths with tools can cause static electricity, so these gloves protect hands from chafing.
Basic Cleaning Tasks: For most basic cleaning tasks like dusting or mopping, vinyl gloves will work as a protective barrier as long as you deal with non-hazardous chemicals only. If you are cleaning but the chemicals you are working with aren’t strong, vinyl gloves will be adequate.
Painting and printing: Vinyl gloves make ideal hand protection for painting and dyeing. They’re easy to slip on or off quickly, and they provide great coverage while keeping hands clean.
Clinical care: Medical grade vinyl disposable gloves can be used for low-risk tasks, such as examination in medical and dental facilities where there is minimal exposure to bodily fluids.
Performing a short-term task: Whatever the task, vinyl gloves only provide a temporary barrier against pathogens which means you need to change gloves frequently to maintain an adequate level of protection.
What are the benefits of vinyl gloves?
Vinyl gloves have various advantages, they are cost effective, latex free, anti-static, and flexible.
They are anti-static: Due to its anti-static nature, vinyl gloves can be useful when working with wires and cords. If you frequently work with electronic materials, vinyl gloves are naturally anti-static means wearing them allows you to manipulate wires, power cords or sensitive parts without the risk of causing an electrostatic discharge.
They do not cause allergies: Many people experience allergic reactions when using latex gloves. In this case, vinyl gloves provide a vital advantage as they are entirely latex free, making them suitable for anyone who may have latex allergies.
Versatile: One of the significant advantages of vinyl gloves is their versatility. Although they are all made of the same synthetic material (PVC) you can find many types of vinyl gloves on the market, each suited for a different industry.
Suitable for food prep: Standard vinyl gloves are suitable for food preparation tasks. They offer a safe barrier between the wearer’s hands and the ingredients, keeping the food items safe from contamination. Vinyl also provides sanitation personnel with adequate protection against germs and bacteria.
Reasonable price: PVC, the primary material found in vinyl gloves, is the third most produced plastic polymer and one of the least expensive choices. This characteristic makes vinyl gloves less costly. The cost-effectiveness of vinyl gloves increases with bulk purchases. Purchasing a higher quantity means a lower individual cost of single glove.
Durability: Vinyl gloves are durable. Their high tearing, stretching and puncture resistance allow them to hold up well to wear and tear, reducing the number of torn gloves your facility goes through. Vinyl gloves suited for higher risk tasks (medical grade, exam grade) usually feature higher thickness ratings. This eventually gives them additional sturdiness.
There are powder free versions available: There are specific brands of disposable vinyl gloves feature a powdered label. Powdered gloves possess a cornstarch powder coating on the inside of the glove. The purpose of this powder is to make the gloves easier to put on and remove. Vinyl gloves are also available in powder-free variants. These models feature safer and allergen free agents, making them safe to use in food service and medical contexts.
What makes vinyl gloves safe for medical use?
Dental and medical practitioners use vinyl gloves because of the below reasons:
Affordable: To make vinyl gloves PVC is needed, one of the world’s most produced plastic materials. Hence, vinyl gloves are the most cost-effective and affordable choice for most people.
Better options for people with latex allergies: Vinyl gloves is latex free. Although not many people have latex allergies as a dental and medical practitioner is still best to take precautions. Using latex free types of gloves is a better option.
Protection against chemicals and more: Vinyl gloves provides pathogen protection from liquids, blood or bodily fluids for a short time. Vinyl gloves are appropriate for short term procedures and examinations.
Latex-free: Vinyl gloves are latex free and so are suitable for anyone that may have a latex allergy.
Vinyl Gloves are a great fit for many different industries. These gloves are comfortable, affordable and great for protection against non-hazardous chemicals. However, Vizocare all depends on what your needs are. If you are looking for a disposable option that provides good value, vinyl might be your best choice.