There are many different aspects that go into making the perfect glove. From which style of fibers the yarn is crafted from, to the material they're produced with. From the coating type to the grip style. All carefully designed to maximize protection, comfort, durability, and dexterity for each glove, each with a different purpose.
The guide below shows you some of the different options for each aspect of our PIP gloves. Meet with your sales rep today to decide which glove is tailored exactly to your needs!
Fiber Basics
Fibers come two different ways. Very long fibers are called filament and shorter fibers are staple fibers. Filaments are twisted together to create filament yarns with high tenacity while staple fibers are twisted at high-speeds to create a spun yarn that varies in thickness. Gauge is the number of rows of stitches per inch. More stitches means less bulk and greater dexterity.
Material Basics
Materials play a key role in the glove selection process. Each glove is designed with these in mind to maximize protection, dexterity, durability, and comfort. The three main materials used are natural leather, synthetic leather, and fabric - either synthetic or natural. Each of these has different properties that affect the final glove. Natural leather is durable and can be split into two layers - a high quality top grain and a pliable bottom layer. While synthetic leather is made from high-tensile resins and fabric to create a man-made, soft, durable and tear resistant material. Then there are many different fabric types and additions you can play with, such as adding Spandex to create a more flexible glove.
Liner Basics
Advanced polymer fibers can be transformed into various types and forms to be used as a support for gloves and arm sleeves. Dyneema® Diamond® and Dyneema® are two ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene liners which offer high protection and cut resistance while being much thinner and more flexible than traditional materials, such as leather. HPPE, or a High-Performance Polyethylene, is great for protection against mechanical hazards, abrasions, and chemicals at different levels, while still maintaining a high level of comfort. Another liner type is DuPont® Kevlar®, known for one of the best materials to protect against heat, cuts, and lacerations while still being light and comfortable. A great silicone free liner is ACP Technology which also provides excellent cut resistance at a lower cost. Blended yarns are another common liner, made from nylon, polyester, cotton, and/or acrylic.
Coating Basics
Coatings are used to increase the glove's grip and resistance to snags, abrasion, punctures, and tears and to offer protection against liquids or contaminants. There are multiple common coating types ranging from nitrile to polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Nitrile is great for increasing grip and cut resistance in dry conditions, and when paired with a foam coating, provides excellent grip with chemicals and oils. Latex and neoprene coatings work well with both dry and wet conditions, offering good grip and resistance to snag, cut, puncture, and abrasion. Polyurethane (PU) has good grip in dry conditions, but only fair grip in slightly wet conditions. However, the PU has excellent tactility and dexterity due to its thin coating. PVC is another coating that's also flexible, however, it doesn't have the tactile sensitivity most rubber products offer, but of course it does offer excellent resistance and protection against petrochemicals, oils, and grease.
Grip Basics
Different coatings are applied to give the gloves different types of grips ranging from smooth to honeycomb. Each style of grip has different uses and changes the gloves grip and resistance to cuts and punctures. A smooth grip common in latex, nitrile, PVC, neoprene and polyurethane is excellent for dry grip. While rough or sandy finishes, on the other hand, enhance grip in dry and wet conditions. Microfinish or microsurface grips are created out of soft and flexible materials such as nitrile formed into thousands of tiny suction cups that disperse fluids away from objects to enhance contact and grip in both wet and dirty applications. Foam grips also work well in wet and dirty applications by channeling away liquids. Another grip style that channels away liquids to increase handling in wet and dirty conditions is a crinkle latex coating that also provides cut and puncture resistance. Pattern grips usually are found on knit gloves in the shape of dots or blocks proven to enhance grip, performance, and durability. Raised diamond or honeycomb textures are commonly used for enhancing grip in wet and dry applications on unsupported products, while the former is more commonly used with food handling and processing, and the latter in janitorial, sanitation, and general maintenance applications.
Whether it's a string knit glove with PVC blocks or a nitrile coated cut resistant glove, each of them is carefully crafted with you in mind. Built to protect, these gloves are designed with the basics in mind to ensure they maximize protection, dexterity, and comfort. Talk to us about finding the right glove for you! Shop PIP today!