When buying gloves, you might not know the differences between PVC coated gloves and PU coated gloves. They have different purposes, uses, and suitable applications. Only by selecting the correct gloves can you get proper protection. This article covers the features, pros, and cons of PVC and PU-coated gloves. This will help you make a better choice.
What are PVC-coated gloves?
PVC coated gloves, also called polyvinyl chloride coated gloves, are made by coating a fabric substrate with polyvinyl chloride material. They are relatively thick, offering waterproofing, abrasion resistance, and lower cost. They are often applied to liners made of nylon, polyester, and cotton. Cotton liners are also commonly used. They aren’t as soft or light as PU, but they can be used in chemical labs. They’re also good for fishing, wastewater treatment, and machinery manufacturing. Key features include:
- PVC coating can improve the abrasion resistance and barrier properties of knitted gloves. The coating is relatively stiff, making it suitable for heavy industry. However, flexibility may be limited.
- PVC-coated gloves offer good barrier properties against some acids, alkalis, and oils.
- Some common ways to coat something are palm coating, fully coating, double dip coating, beaded coating, and matte coating.
Advantages of PVC-coated gloves
PVC coating makes gloves stronger, thicker, and provides better barrier properties. Here are the main advantages:
- Excellent Chemical Resistance: PVC coated gloves provide solid protection against some acids, alkalis, oils, and some chemical splashes. They prevent chemical splashes well and are often used in the chemical and petrochemical industries.
- Good Durability: The high rigidity of the PVC molecular chain structure results in good durability, abrasion resistance, and tear resistance after the coating cures. This reduces the risk of hand injuries and is suitable for heavy industry.
- Great Water Resistance: They have strong waterproof features and protect against liquids, making them ideal for humid and oily places.
Disadvantages of PVC-coated gloves
However, PVC-coated gloves also have some drawbacks. However, this does not prevent them from remaining popular in the market.
- Insufficient Breathability: PVC-coated gloves are not breathable. This lack of airflow can decrease comfort during prolonged wear and lead to sweating.
- Reduced Flexibility in Low Temperatures: Cold temperatures may cause PVC coated gloves to harden, which affects hand flexibility. For work in cold environments, insulated coated gloves are a better choice.
- Limited Elasticity: PVC coatings are not as thin as PU coatings. Therefore, operational flexibility is reduced, making them unsuitable for precision operations.
- Environmental issues: PVC is a chlorinated plastic, and environmental compliance needs to be considered in its production, recycling, and disposal.
What are PU-coated gloves?
PU coated gloves have a polyurethane coating on the palm, fingertips, and fingers. They are commonly found in nylon, polyester, or spandex-based knitted gloves. They are suitable for precision assembly tasks. They offer high flexibility, a good tactile feel, and a dry grip. They are typically lighter and more flexible than PVC coated gloves.
- PU is a polyurethane material containing urethane bonds in its molecular structure. It is synthesized from polyisocyanates (hard molecular segments) and polyols (soft molecular segments).
- They provide good breathability and fit. They are commonly used in electronic product assembly, quality inspection, and light sorting.
How to Choose PVC or PU Coated Gloves?
Advantages of PU-coated gloves
PU-coated gloves offer many advantages, making them ideal for light protective gear.
- Excellent grip: Polyurethane provides better grip in dry environments, especially with textured coatings.
- High flexibility: Polyurethane gloves are thinner. This helps with dexterity. It also makes it easier to handle small parts and electronic components. They are suitable for light industrial applications.
- Chemical Protection: PU-coated gloves protect against weak chemicals, including weak acids, alkalis, some oils, and solvents.
- Good breathability: PU coated gloves offer excellent breathability, keeping hands cool and providing good comfort even after prolonged wear.
Disadvantages of PU Coated Gloves
- Poor water resistance: PU coated gloves have limited water resistance, so they are not suitable for prolonged use in humid places. Oil resistance is also average.
- Limited chemical protection: Only protects against weak acids and alkalis. They do not offer protection against chemical or oily environments.
- Limited durability: PU-coated gloves wear out quickly with rough materials or wood.
- Not suitable for heavy-duty work: PU is only suitable for light protection and in dry or slightly damp environments.
How to Choose PVC or PU Coated Gloves?
In the past, customers often asked me, “I don’t know whether PVC or PU coating is more suitable.” They weren’t clear about the coating materials or the coating coverage methods either. When choosing, you can refer to the following suggestions:
- For delicate tasks in dry places, like parts assembly and sorting, use PU-coated gloves.
- For tasks in liquid environments like wastewater treatment or oily processing, use PVC-coated gloves.
- For tasks involving contact with chemicals, like cleaning agents or handling solvents, check if the gloves have professional chemical testing. Also, pay attention to the specific types of chemicals they protect against.
- For tasks that need a lot of handling and friction on rough surfaces, pick PVC coated gloves. They offer better abrasion resistance.
- For delicate handling tasks, choose finger-dip or palm coating structures. For continuous work in liquid environments, choose fully coated or double-dipped structures.
Comparison of PVC and PU coated gloves
| Comparison Item | PVC Coated Gloves | PU Coated Gloves |
|---|---|---|
| What They Are | Protective gloves coated with polyvinyl chloride | Protective gloves coated with polyurethane |
| Common Applications | Heavy industry, wastewater treatment, chemical handling, maintenance | Logistics sorting, electronic component assembly, light assembly work |
| Key Features | Strong barrier protection, durable, not easy to tear | Thin coating, soft feel, good breathability |
| Protection Performance | Good water resistance, abrasion resistance, and limited protection against certain acids, alkalis, and oils | Good dry grip and limited protection against weak acids and alkalis, but poor water resistance |
| Breathability and Flexibility | Less breathable and relatively stiff | More breathable and highly flexible |
| Durability | More durable for rough handling and heavy-duty tasks | Less durable when used with rough materials or sharp edges |
| Cost | Economical and cost-effective | Usually affordable, depending on coating quality and liner material |
Summary
PVC coated gloves are ideal for wet and oily tasks, handling chemicals, wastewater treatment, and heavy-duty work. They have strong water resistance, abrasion resistance, and barrier properties. However, they lack breathability and flexibility. PU coated gloves are lighter and softer. They work well for electronic assembly, parts sorting, and delicate handling. However, their water, oil, and chemical resistance are limited.
M-Tide Coated Glove Manufacturer
M-Tide focuses on researching and making high-performance PVC and PU coated gloves. We provide solutions for many applications. We have a wide range of sizes and plenty of raw materials to meet different protection needs. Our gloves undergo rigorous testing to achieve the best possible protection. For more information about PVC and PU coated gloves, please contact us!
FAQ
What is the best coating for work gloves?
There is no best coating for work gloves. Each coating is made from a different material and has its own advantages.
- Latex-coated gloves: better dexterity. Excellent grip in wet conditions. Low cost and cost-effective.
- Nitrile-coated gloves: excellent chemical protection. Excellent durability. Good grip in greasy environments. And the nitrile material does not have latex proteins and does not cause allergic reactions.
- Polyurethane-coated gloves: provide slight chemical protection against weak acids and alkalis or solvents. Also, polyurethane is very breathable. It can improve the wearing comfort.
What are PVC-coated gloves used for?
PVC-coated gloves have excellent performance and can be used in many applications.
- Chemical scenarios: PVC-coated gloves can resist certain acids, alkalis, and solvents. They can be used in chemical scenarios as they can prevent splashing or leaking of chemicals.
- Machining scenarios: PVC-coated gloves are cut-resistant and have excellent durability. They can be used to work on surfaces with sharp or rough edges and can reduce the risk of injury.
- Household cleaning scenarios:PVC-coated gloves can protect hands from being corroded by cleaning agents. They help protect hands during long-term use. They can be used for household cleaning tasks.
Is PVC safe for skin?
The PVC coating does not touch the skin directly, so it is unlikely to cause allergies or other problems. PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is a rigid plastic. Our PVC coated gloves have a PVC coating of appropriate thickness applied to a base material, which does not directly contact the skin. Therefore, they pose no risk to the skin. They also keep hands safe from chemicals and other reagents. This provides great impermeability.
