Gloves against mineral oils and mechanical hazards: composites of carboxylated acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber latex

Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2016 Sep;22(3):350-9. doi: 10.1080/10803548.2015.1136111. Epub 2016 Apr 19.

Abstract

Resistance to permeation of noxious chemical substances should be accompanied by resistance to mechanical factors because the glove material may be torn, cut or punctured in the workplace. This study reports on glove materials, protecting against mineral oils and mechanical hazards, made of carboxylated acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (XNBR) latex. The obtained materials were characterized by a very high resistance of the produced materials to oil permeation (breakthrough time > 480 min). The mechanical properties, and especially tear resistance, of the studied materials were improved after the addition of modified bentonite (nanofiller) to the XNBR latex mixture. The nanocomposite meets the requirements in terms of parameters characterizing tear, abrasion, cut and puncture resistance. Therefore, the developed material may be used for the production of multifunctional protective gloves.

Keywords: XNBR latex; bentonite; gloves; nanocomposite; oils; permeation.

MeSH terms

  • Acrylonitrile / chemistry*
  • Bentonite / chemistry
  • Butadienes / chemistry*
  • Elastomers / chemistry*
  • Gloves, Protective*
  • Materials Testing
  • Mechanical Phenomena
  • Mineral Oil / chemistry*
  • Nanocomposites / chemistry
  • Permeability

Substances

  • Butadienes
  • Elastomers
  • Bentonite
  • Mineral Oil
  • Acrylonitrile

Grants and funding

This paper is based on the results of a research task carried out within the scope of the second stage of the National Programme ‘Improvement of safety and working conditions’ partly supported in 2011–2013 – within the scope of research and development – by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education/National Centre for Research and Development. The Central Institute for Labour Protection – National Research Institute (CIOP-PIB) was the Programme's main coordinator.