Vinyl vs Nitrile Gloves

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak unleashes another wave through the world, it disrupts local industries left, right, and center. But it still hasn’t changed the utmost dedication to safety for some professions. This especially holds for those in the healthcare industry, who now have to think at length about their personal well-being while delivering treatment to COVID-19 patients. Among the plethora of steps that healthcare workers have to take for their safety, donning protective gloves remains right on top.

But with the high demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), primary options such as nitrile gloves are often out of stock or come with a delay in delivery. This brings you to explore other options such as vinyl gloves, which are more widely available even during the pandemic.

To see how vinyl gloves fare against nitrile gloves, read now, here’s a side-by-side overview of both products and their efficacy in various settings.

Both Gloves Are Synthetic, But That’s Where the Similarities End

Unlike latex gloves made from natural rubber, both vinyl and nitrile gloves are made from synthetic materials. Vinyl gloves are made through polyvinyl chloride (PVC), while nitrile gloves are made from a combination of synthetics polymers called acrylonitrile and butadiene.

With that, that’s where the similarities end for both types of gloves. It’s also where the large list of differences begins its course.

Nitrile is a Stronger Material

Due to its overall composition, nitrile holds up as a significantly stronger material than vinyl. This also translates quite well into nitrile gloves, which remain resistant to frequent tugs and direct punctures.

This is in considerable contrast to vinyl, which doesn’t take much to be torn apart. As a result, nitrile is considered more beneficial in those settings where exposure should remain minimal. This also includes COVID-19 treatment rooms, where nitrile gloves provide a more long-lasting performance than vinyl gloves.

Vinyl is Significantly Cheaper

Since vinyl gloves are developed through a widely available thermoplastic, they are also quite affordable. This accessibility becomes even more profound when you compare them with the comparatively expensive nitrile gloves.

With that, the lack of durability of vinyl gloves may cause you to use more than one pair under rougher conditions. For instance, while a pair of nitrile gloves may last you a few hours in your respective setting, you may tear your vinyl gloves at least once or twice during each usage.

Nitrile Gloves Deliver Better Protection

Apart from their overall strength, nitrile gloves also deliver better protection to the wearer as compared to vinyl gloves. The overall composition of nitrile’s polymers ensures that most organic and chemical materials don’t pass through the glove’s barriers. Vinyl doesn’t deliver the same safety.

This makes nitrile a practical choice during medical procedures, especially those in highly viral settings such as COVID-19 treatment rooms. It also makes nitrile superior material while handling certain chemicals and solvents.

Vinyl Gloves Are Widely Available

As mentioned above, their PVC material is one of the many reasons why vinyl gloves are so readily available across various vendors. This makes them a more popular choice in those industries that don’t have to worry about exposure to hazardous chemicals. This includes sectors such as food and beverage, general hygiene, as well as low-risk laboratories.

Under these settings, nitrile can also perform as a highly effective material. As long as you don’t mind their price tag and focus on their durability, you can efficiently utilize nitrile gloves in any setting where vinyl gloves are used.

Nitrile Provides Better Dexterity

No matter your profession, it is highly essential that your PPE doesn’t get in the way of performing your job. This is especially true for certain experts such as surgeons, medical technicians, and tattoo artists who have to protect themselves against bodily fluids but still need to use their hands and fingers nimbly.

In these scenarios, the stretchier material and snugger fit of nitrile gloves make for a better PPE than the loose-fitting vinyl gloves. With their overall feel, nitrile gloves deliver a higher level of dexterity to the wearer.

What Type of Industries Can Use Either of These Gloves?

As mentioned above, the inherent features of both gloves make them an effective fit for specific industries.

When it comes to vinyl gloves, you can count on this looser-fitting and widely available PPE in industries such as:

• Food handling.
• Clinical labs with low-risk of exposure.
• General cleaning and hygiene.

In regard to nitrile gloves, this highly-protective and durable PPE is more effective in settings including but not limited to:

• Medical and surgical treatments.
• Laboratories with exposure to certain chemicals.
• Cosmetic procedures such as tattoo artistry and body modifications.
• Handling and cleaning of biowaste.

With that, nitrile gloves are especially sought after in medical settings. Medical professionals who administer treatments or procedures do not use vinyl gloves due to their risk of exposure. Instead, they utilize either latex or nitrile gloves in such scenarios.

However, latex is a natural substance that can aggravate allergies in certain individuals. In situations where patients are unconscious or unable to tell their healthcare professionals about their possible allergy to latex, nitrile gloves are used to eliminate risks. That is why nitrile gloves are the preferred material for those in emergency medical situations.

Where Can You Buy These Gloves?

Whether vinyl or nitrile suits your needs the best, you should make it a point to purchase your protective gloves through a credible provider. This makes sure that you can benefit from timely deliveries and high-quality materials. This way you can also ensure that you don’t face any delays in necessary procedures or put your safety in jeopardy during a pandemic.

You can purchase high-quality PPE such as vinyl or nitrile gloves through 72hours.ca. With our simple purchase process and proactive customer support, you can easily find the right equipment with the click of a button. This saves you a trip to the pharmacy or hardware store during a pandemic, but still delivers your required quantity of gloves right at your doorstep.

Whether vinyl or nitrile suits your needs the best, you should make it a point to purchase your protective gloves through a credible provider. This makes sure that you can benefit from timely deliveries and high-quality materials. This way you can also ensure that you don’t face any delays in necessary procedures or put your safety in jeopardy during a pandemic.