How Latex Gloves are Made

Latex gloves are one of the key items available on the Brosch direct site, they are one of the most important supplies required by a number of different industries, including the medical industry.

Their purpose is to keep both the wearer and the item/person they are dealing with clean and safe from infections or harmful substances. Now, you may work with latex gloves on a daily basis or they might feature in your first aid kit, but how much do you really know about them?

What exactly is latex?
You may be surprised to find out that latex actually does ‘grow on trees’ − rubber trees to be precise. When a rubber tree has its bark shaved it naturally oozes a substance that is then used to create latex. Chemicals are added to this secretion that help it to retain a pliable state as, naturally, as a protective secretion it hardens soon after the tree releases it.

Creating the glove
Hand models are used to create the perfect hand shape of your latex gloves. The collected latex is mixed with substituted phenols that help to strengthen the latex and stop it from eroding. Depending on where the latex is being made, some companies will also add extra chemicals. The latex mix is heated and the hand form is dipped into the liquid. The thin layer of latex that covers the form is then left to dry.

Next, the latex gloves is subjected to a rinsing process which removes any natural protein that has remained from the tree the latex came from, as well as any extra chemicals.

The glove is then removed from the model and sent out!

So, there you have it, now you know how latex gloves are created. Take a look at our range of disposable gloves that include latex as well as synthetic and polythene gloves. If you work within the medical industry why not visit our doctor zone sector for even more medical supplies.