Overview
Nitrile gloves are made from synthetic nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR). Since becoming widely available in the 1990s, they have replaced latex in many applications due to their superior puncture resistance, no allergy risk, and lower cost at scale. They are the default disposable glove for most professional settings today.
Materials
- ✓Nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR)
Key Features
- ✓Latex-free — no Type I latex allergy risk
- ✓Puncture resistance 3x higher than latex
- ✓Excellent chemical resistance
- ✓Available in medical (AQL 1.5) and industrial grades
- ✓Textured fingertips for grip
✓ Pros
- +Latex-free and hypoallergenic
- +Strong and durable
- +Good chemical resistance
- +Affordable at scale
- +Long shelf life (5 years)
✗ Cons
- −Less elastic than latex
- −Not biodegradable
- −May contain chemical accelerators (Type IV allergy risk for some)
Who Uses Nitrile?
Healthcare workersFood service staffTattoo artistsMechanicsLab techniciansCleanersHome users