There are many considerations when selecting the appropriate glove for use in cleanrooms. The wrong combination of glove and application can cause contamination and even can result in injury if the glove is not resistant to the chemicals being used.
Ask these five questions1 when making a choice about the right glove for the job.
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Will these gloves prevent contamination of the product by human contact? (No pinholes, tears, cuts, plus provide proper length and fit over garment)
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Will they provide the chemical protection you need? (Gloves should be liquid proof, plus provide appropriate chemical resistance)
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Are you sure they will not be a source of contamination? (Minimum particle shedding, low levels of surface contaminants, should not contain components that could cause corrosion)
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Do the gloves provide electrostatic dissipative (ESD) properties necessary for your application? (Need to prevent particle attraction and concentration, along with discharge that can damage circuits)
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Do they meet your functional requirements? (Material strength—physical properties, flexibility and elasticity for maximum dexterity)
Answering these question defines the use for the gloves and narrows the choices in glove selections. Glove characteristics include: lint-free, continuous-filament yarn, cut and abrasion resistance, beaded cuff, anti-static and many, many others.
There is also a wide variety of glove materials to choose from including: nitrile, synthetic rubber, and neoprene. In addition, there are glove liners to reduce perspiration and contact dermatitis associated with wearing latex, vinyl, nitrile and other gloves.
The Controlled Environments website offers information as well as suppliers for of information cleanroom gloves and related products.
http://www.cemag.us/product-categories/gloves-chemical-over-8-mil
http://www.cemag.us/product-categories/gloves-disposable-8-mil-and-under
http://www.cemag.us/product-categories/gloves-fabric
1. From Are Your Gloves Measuring Up?
