KNITTED FIBRES
| Cotton | a natural fibre that is 90% cellulose. It is soft, supple, does not cause irritation and absorbs perspiration, making it comfortable even when the gloves are worn continuously. In addition, it offers good mechanical resistance. |
| Nylon | a light polyamide fibre (DuPont de Nemours) that produces very little fluff and which is elastic, abrasion and deformation resistant, and dries quickly after washing. When mixed with cotton and acrylic, it makes the glove suppler and prolongs its lifespan. |
| Acrylic | Synthetic fibre made from a polymer that is at least 85% acrylonitrile. High traction and abrasion resistance. Same heat-retaining properties as wool. Good UV resistance, very lightweight. A soft, warm fibre that is perfect for cold insulation. |
| Kevlarâ | a para-aramid fibre devised by DuPont de Nemours. It is light, supple, comfortable, offers exceptional cut resistance and is five times stronger than steel wire. This washable material offers greater performance and is more durable than leather when exposed to mechanical hazards. |
| Dyneemaâ | ultra-high density polyethylene fibre developed by DSM. It offers the same level of cut-resistance as a para-aramid fibre but offers greater abrasion resistance (five times greater than steel wire). It is insensitive to chemicals and solvents and benefits from remarkable longevity. This light and supple fibre retains all its properties under bending. |
| Thunderonâ | an organic fibre that is designed to be electrostatically conductive, so as to avoid damaging from electrostatic the components or objects being handled. |
COATING MATERIALS
| Latex | natural rubber tapped from the hevea tree. Supple, elastic, robust and impermeable to water, alcohols and detergents, it provides an excellent barrier against cuts and perforations. |
| Nitrile | very supple synthetic latex. This material repels all types of oil, grease and hydrocarbon , is resistant to chemicals, acids and non-Ketonic solvents and offers effective protection against abrasion and puncturing. |
| Polyurethane (PU) | a synthetic material that is similar to latex and displays exceptional physical properties. It is not only resistant to wear, abrasion and tearing, but also to aggressive chemicals and oils, without softening in the heat or hardening in the cold. This microporous and highly elastic material helps make the glove more comfortable while ventilating the hand and adapting to each of its movements. |
| PVC (vinyl) | an impermeable synthetic polymer whose performance depends on the purity of its components. Showa uses a superior quality PVC that offers high chemical and mechanical resistance and unequalled suppleness. |
TREATMENTS AND FINISHES
| Flocking | this process involves applying non-uniform lengths of cotton fibre to the inside of a glove by bonding them to an adhesive liner. |
| Slip-on treatment | coating inside the glove made from different types of resin, making the PVC surface smooth and slippery. Putting on and removing the glove is therefore easier. |
| Lined gloves | Glove made by dipping a cotton or nylon knit liner. |
| Unlined gloves | gloves shape dipped directly into the material tank. |
| Cuffs | the wrist is a particularly fragile point of the venous and nervous system. The elasticated cuffs on Showa gloves are designed to hold the glove in place and protect the wrist from risks such as; impacts, shards of glass, metal filings, contaminants etc. |
