by Laureen Belleville
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Gloves are used extensively in all areas of cleanroom manufacturing—frequently to protect the product from human contamination and sometimes to shield the operator from product hazards. Choosing the correct type of gloves depends on a number of factors, including the product you are manufacturing, the environment in which you are manufacturing, personal preferences and usage requirements.
Various materials are used to manufacture the gloves. For example, nitrile is a soft elastic material that has better puncture and abrasion resistance than either latex or vinyl disposable gloves. Nylon fiber gloves are popular for their high strength, durability, low moisture absorption and comfort. Vinyl gloves often represent an economical choice for short-term, low-cost use where durability is not required.
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Gloves used in precision handling and assembly work in the semiconductor and pharmaceutical industries generally undergo a special washing and cleaning process to remove particle matter so that they don't contaminate the product and/or the environment. The gloves themselves are packed in a cleanroom setting. Certain gloves have different cleanliness levels (such as ISO Class 5).
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Fit, form and function are important considerations for choosing the appropriate glove.
Some gloves incorporate special fibers that have anti-static properties so that a charge will not build up on items handled. Others, called static-dissipative gloves, are made with fiber for the purpose of eliminating and controlling static. These are commonly used in the cleanroom, semiconductor and photographic and imaging industries.
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Manufacturers of Gloves (right)
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Manufacturers of Gloves – con’t (right)
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Manufacturers of Gloves – con’t (right)
Distributors of Gloves
The following companies distribute gloves:
- Connecticut Clean Room Corp., Bristol, CT, Ph: (860) 589-0049, Fax: (860) 585-7355, www.connecticutcleanroom.com
- Contamination Control Products, Neptune City, NJ, Ph: (732) 869-3400, Fax: (732) 869-2999, www.ccpcleanroom.com
- General Lab & Cleanroom Supply, Newbury Park, CA, Ph: (805) 376-0901, Fax: (805) 376-6079
- Liberty Industries Inc., East Berlin, CT, Ph: (800) 828-5656, Fax: (860) 828-8879, www.liberty-ind.com
- Miller Products Company Inc., North Bergen, NJ, Ph: (800) 782-7437, Fax: (201) 662-0912, www.millerproducts.com
- Ultrapure Technology, Suwanee, GA, Ph: (800) 932-0309, Fax: (770) 932-0809, www.ultrapuretechnology.com
- VWR Scientific Products, West Chester, PA, Ph: (800) 548-6245, Fax: (610) 918-0310, www.vwrsp.com