The glove box, as a highly specialized laboratory equipment, provides a controlled inert atmosphere without water or oxygen for sensitive materials and experiments. During the use of the glove box, gloves are not only the part where the experimenter comes into direct contact with the environment and experimental items inside the box, but also an important part of ensuring the success of the experiment. Glove boxes made of different materials are suitable for experimental applications in different fields. If an unsuitable glove material is chosen, it will have a significant impact on the experimental results.
Basic requirements for glove box glove material：
Chemical resistance: Gloves must be able to resist the erosion of various chemicals, protecting experimenters and experimental items from damage.
Durability: Gloves need to withstand long-term use and frequent operation without damage or degradation.
Low breathability: The glove material should have low breathability to prevent external air and pollutants from entering the glove box, maintaining the purity of the environment inside the box.
Flexibility and tactile sensation: The flexibility and tactile sensation of gloves directly affect the accuracy and comfort of experimental operations.
Gloves made of different materials are suitable for different experimental environments：
Butyl rubber gloves
Butyl rubber gloves play a crucial role in experiments that require controlled inert atmospheres due to their extremely low breathability and excellent chemical resistance. It is a great helper for semiconductor manufacturing and experimental applications that require an inert atmosphere without water or oxygen. It ensures the stability of the experimental environment and the purity of the materials in the glove box.
Nitrile rubber gloves
Nitrile rubber gloves have good chemical and oil resistance, and can resist the erosion of various solvents and chemicals. Some glove boxes in chemical laboratories and biotechnology research use gloves made of this material. However, gloves made of this material have high breathability, which can cause gas from the outside of the glove box to enter the glove box and affect the purity of the gas inside the box; When handling hazardous substances, they may seep from gloves into the operator's hands, causing health damage.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gloves
PVC gloves are relatively economical and have some chemical resistance, which is used in some medical and food processing industries. However, PVC gloves can only provide basic protection, and their strength and durability are relatively poor. Frequent operation of the glove box may cause damage to the gloves, thereby affecting the safety of the experiment and the integrity of the materials.
Chloroprene rubber gloves
Chloroprene rubber gloves have good physical strength and durability, and are widely used in industrial fields such as automobiles that require high wear resistance.But its cold resistance is poor, and it will become hard in a lower temperature glove box working environment; Oil resistance is limited, and gloves that come into contact with oily substances for a long time may be penetrated, thereby reducing their protective effect.
Latex gloves
Latex gloves have good elasticity and tactile sensation, and are highly favored in laboratory tests and medical examinations that require precise operation. However, this material can cause allergic reactions in some people with allergies, and its breathability is relatively high. It is not recommended to use it with glove boxes.
The choice of glove material has a significant impact on the accuracy, safety, and reliability of experiments. Choosing the appropriate glove material can ensure chemical stability, environmental control, and operational accuracy during the experimental process. For example, in experimental applications that require high-purity gas environments, choosing butyl rubber gloves can prevent gas pollution; In medical examinations, latex gloves provide better touch and operability. Therefore, it is crucial to choose the appropriate glove material based on the specific requirements and application areas of the experiment.
