Colored nitrile gloves? What is it? What are their uses?
In a much simpler time, gloves were only available in two colors.
Latex gloves were white, and nitrile gloves were blue. And back then, that was enough to differentiate between the two materials and protect yourself from latex sensitivity.
However, you can find disposable gloves of all shades and colors these days.
So, if you are wondering what these colors mean and how they affect the quality of your gloves, let us help you.
In this article, we will discuss the color-coding of nitrile gloves, mention the features of nitrile gloves, and tell you about their different uses.
The colored nitrile gloves in a glance!
As we formerly mentioned, nitrile gloves were previously manufactured in blue color only.
But these days you can find them in green, blue, white, black, pink, orange, purple, and any other color you want.
You are probably wondering now what difference the color of the glove makes?
It’s essential in some professions to choose specific glove colors.
Yet, this difference in glove colors doesn’t impact the glove function or performance.
Nevertheless, this variety in the gloves coloring made it easier to use different glove colors to avoid cross-contamination.
It also allowed the customer to choose a suitable color for their industry.
Are you asking, “How is that?”…
Let’s dig deeper and discuss some available colors and their uses.
Dark-colored nitrile gloves category
Dark-colored nitrile gloves are used in different professions. Police officers and postal workers use them to help them detect powdery substances on their hands. At the same time, automotive professionals use dark-colored nitrile gloves to hide grease and oils.
1. Black nitrile gloves
Black gloves can detect dust and powders.
Thus, using black gloves during the 2001 anthrax mail attack could have protected several victims.
Tattoo artists use these gloves to help differentiate between their skin and the customer’s skin.
Additionally, black gloves are commonly used in the food industry as they don’t show stains.
Bottom line:
Mechanics, postal workers, tattoo artists, and law enforcement workplaces use black gloves more often.
Light-colored nitrile gloves category
Color coding with light-colored gloves to prevent cross-contamination. They are used to detect fluids and contaminants.
1. Blue nitrile gloves
Blue gloves are the most commonly used in hospitals, laboratories, and scientific research.
Physicians use them in different scenarios, including performing examinations and surgeries.
They are also worn by nurses while administering vaccines or drawing blood.
Furthermore, blue gloves are usually inexpensive and preferred by many individuals.
2. White nitrile gloves
White gloves were initially made using latex.
Yet, recently nitrile has been used to manufacture white gloves as well. Many lab techs use it.
Additionally, white nitrile gloves are preferred when a person is seeking a double gloving. They act as the base because they are easy to spot in case of a tear.
3. Pink nitrile gloves
Pink gloves are used to show support to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF).
Therefore, many physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers use it.
4. Purple nitrile gloves
Some patients are not comfortable with the blue-colored exam gloves.
This includes chemotherapy patients. Thus, purple exam gloves can be a suitable substitute for chemotherapy applications.
Bottom line:
The medical and scientific fields are the most common users of blue nitrile gloves.
White gloves are used in hospitals and laboratories to prevent cross-contamination and facilitate double gloving.
For supporting breast cancer cases and chemotherapy, pink and purple gloves are common in these workplaces.
Bright-colored nitrile gloves
Bright-colored nitrile gloves are the most common when working in a dark or dim environment.
For instance, mechanics can use them as they are easy to spot in a dark workshop.
1. Orange and red nitrile gloves
Since nitrile is resistant to several types of chemicals, orange nitrile gloves are used by petroleum workers and mechanics.
2. Green nitrile gloves
Contrary to bright-colored gloves, green nitrile gloves are used in the medical setting.
Physicians, nurses, and healthcare providers in hospitals are the primary users.
Bottomline
Mechanics mainly use bright-colored gloves except for green-colored gloves, which healthcare providers use.
Color coding technique!
Using gloves of different colors can help laboratories and hospitals to prevent cross-contamination.
This takes place by ensuring that each department has its color of gloves.
The staff then remove their gloves before leaving each department.
Moreover, color coding is essential for physicians and surgeons using the double gloving technique.
Characteristics of colored nitrile gloves
Now that we have discussed nitrile gloves’ different colors let’s talk more about what makes nitrile gloves the best choice in several industries.
How are colored nitrile gloves made?
The manufacturing process was the main reason nitrile gloves were expensive when they were first introduced to the market.
However, technology helped facilitate this process and lower the price of nitrile gloves.
It also helped eliminate the use of a sulfur accelerator in the manufacturing process. The sulfur accelerator used was found to cause an allergic reaction.
Thus, these days accelerator-free nitrile gloves offer a safer and more durable alternative to regular nitrile gloves at a lower price.
Bottomline
Nitrile gloves are made from copolymer nitrile, which is safer, more durable, and non-allergic, unlike latex gloves.
What are the features of colored nitrile gloves?
1. Puncture resistance and durability
Nitrile gloves are as five times as puncture resistant as latex gloves.
This makes nitrile gloves the perfect choice for medical use. They will offer a broader range of protection for healthcare providers when they are dealing with patients and pathogens.
However, this doesn’t mean that nitrile gloves can be used forever.
Yet, if they are stored away from light and heat, they can live through their shelf-life without tearing.
2. Barrier protection and chemical resistance
Nitrile offers high chemical resistance, thus, making it suitable for protection against blood-borne pathogens.
They are also recommended in work environments that require handling chemicals. Nitrile gloves offer better protection against chemicals than latex and vinyl gloves.
However, the thickness of the nitrile gloves plays an essential role in their ability to resist chemicals.
Thicker gloves were found to provide better protection.
3. Allergenic properties
Nitrile gloves are latex-free; thus, it has zero chance of causing latex sensitivity.
They are recently being manufactured without an accelerator to avoid an allergic reaction due to the use of sulfur.
Additionally, powder-free nitrile gloves are manufactured to avoid contact dermatitis from wearing powdered gloves.
4. Comfortable fit
Nitrile gloves are easy to wear and easy to take off.
This can be attributed to several factors, including powdering the gloves, coating them with a polymer to facilitate their application, or chlorination to reduce the gloves’ stiffness.
Also, nitrile gloves are more elastic, and they provide perfect coverage. The body’s heat warms the nitrile gloves and allows them to conform to the hand’s shape, making them feel snug.
Furthermore, they are available in a variety of cuff sizes.
5. Waterproof abilities and temperature resistance
Since nitrile is an end product of rubber, it is waterproof. Therefore, nitrile gloves provide a good grip even in a wet environment.
Moreover, nitrile gloves retain efficacy in temperatures ranging from – 40 to 226-degree Fahrenheit.
This makes nitrile gloves suitable for workers handling hot chemicals and those who work in extreme conditions.
6. Tactile sensitivity
The delicate nature of nitrile adds to and improves the gloves’ tactile function. Nitrile gloves offer a better grip with less effort.
Bottomline
Nitrile gloves offer superior puncture resistance, making them a preferable choice in many industries, especially medical ones. They provide a high level of chemical resistance and protection against pathogens.
Additionally, nitrile gloves can be manufactured with different thicknesses. Yet, they provide an excellent grip and don’t lose their function in wet work environments.
What’s the difference between medical-grade and industrial-grade colored nitrile gloves?
To be used in the medical field, nitrile gloves must be FDA approved.
The gloves are evaluated to prove that they are resistant to blood-borne pathogens. They are also examined to ensure they are powder-free.
On the other hand, industrial-grade nitrile gloves are not required to go through this evaluation process.
They are manufactured to handle hard labor, and they are chemically resistant.
How do colored nitrile gloves differ from other glove types?
1. Nitrile and latex
Nitrile gloves offer more puncture resistance and protection the latex gloves.
Yet, surgeons still prefer latex gloves as they offer a more comprehensive range of motion.
While nitrile gloves are favored for medical examinations.
However, since latex gloves can cause allergies in some cases, nitrile gloves can be the perfect alternative.
On the other hand, latex gloves are made from natural rubber and therefore are more biodegradable.
2. Nitrile and vinyl
Vinyl gloves are manufactured using polyvinyl chloride to help soften the gloves. The polyvinyl chloride can lead to the gloves fitting loosely. Thus, it can’t be used in the medical field as it can cause contamination.
Thus, nitrile gloves are preferred in environments where the gloves’ fit is essential.
Bottomline
Nitrile gloves are less biodegradable than latex gloves, yet, they are less allergic. They are also more form-fitting than vinyl gloves.
Uses of colored nitrile gloves
Nitrile gloves are chemically resistant to aniline, asphalt, benzylic alcohol, brake fluid, fertilizers, household detergents, and mineral oil. This makes them suitable for several industries.
1. Healthcare services
According to the United States, the Food and Drug Administration [1] or the FDA site, medical gloves are one part of an infection-control strategy.
Surgeries, wound dressing, and vaccinations require the healthcare provider to wear protective gear.
This includes surgical gloves that can protect from pathogens while ensuring puncture resistance.
Thus, the features of nitrile gloves make them the popular choice for examination gloves and surgical gloves in cases of latex sensitivity.
Additionally, the variety of colors offered by nitrile gloves facilitates the process of double gloving.
2. Automotive industry
Mechanics use their hands all the time in their workshops.
They handle grease, oil, and other chemicals.
Therefore, they need thorough protection to ensure their safety.
Nitrile gloves provide the chemical resistance needed by mechanics while offering them temperature resistance. This enables them to handle hot chemicals up to 226-degree Fahrenheit.
Additionally, nitrile gloves can be manufactured to meet the customer’s preferred thickness.
3. Food Services
Wearing gloves is essential in cooking, handling, or serving food.
And nitrile gloves offer a snug fit that facilitates the don and doffs of gloves.
Thus, making it easier for the staff to change their gloves frequently and quickly. The snug fit of the gloves also reduces the risk of food contamination.
Additionally, several sectors of the food industry replaced latex and vinyl with nitrile gloves.
4. Tattoos and piercing
Tattoo artists handle needles and ink all the time.
This requires a protective measure that allows for an excellent grip to ensure their art is perfect.
Nitrile gloves offer them the protection they need from punctures and body fluids.
And the glove’s tactile sensitivity allows tattoo artists to perform with accuracy.
5. Hair and Beauty Salons
In a beauty salon, the staff handles hair dyes, bleaches, and other hair products that are full of chemicals.
Thus, chemical-resistant nitrile gloves are essential in this work environment.
Bottomline
Colored nitrile gloves are used in the healthcare, food, automotive, hair and beauty, and tattoo industries.
This can be attributed to the gloves’ puncture and chemical resistance.
Additionally, the tactile sensitivity of nitrile gloves makes them a preferable choice.
Final thoughts
This article discussed the features and uses of colored nitrile gloves.
We also discussed the several colors offered by manufacturers. Therefore, you are ready to make your purchase.
Even though the color of your glove doesn’t affect its quality, you, first, still need to choose the right color for your industry.
Afterward, it would help if you considered the thickness of your colored nitrile gloves to ensure they provide optimum protection.
Finally, you can order them and enjoy their safety and comfort.
