Glove Materials and Their Performances

Protective gloves come in a wide range of materials and coatings. Compare the strengths and drawbacks of each and choose the compositions that best meet your needs!

COTTON

Natural cellulose fibre. Flexible, soft and non-irritating, it protects against mechanical aggression (impacts, low vibration, iron filings, splinters, glass fragments), absorbs perspiration and gives you great comfort when wearing dipped protective gloves continuously. Cotton fibres are mixed with polyester fibres in order to associate comfort with a higher mechanical resistance and more elasticity.

NYLON

A lightweight elastic polyamide which is largely lint-free and washable, dries quickly and is resistant to abrasion and deformation. Mixed with cotton and acrylic, it makes the glove more flexible and extends its lifetime.

ACRYLIC

A polymer that is resistant to water, common solvents, acids and weak alkalis, and that is resistant to abrasion and to traction. Soft and warm, it insulates you from the cold. Mixed with cotton, it makes the knit more lightweight.

ARAMID

It is lightweight, supple, comfortable and washable. It provides effective protection from cuts (above level 5, with stainless steel reinforcing) and from convective heat and offers durability and performance that far exceed that of leather (five times higher) and cotton (three times higher).

HPPE

High-performance polyethylene is flexible, light and durable. As resistant to cutting as a para-aramid but with more resistance to abrasion (10 times more resistant to flexion than a wire), it remains resistant to chemicals, in particular solvents.

Previously Featured on SHOWA's Expert Corner.

Download SHOWA's latest catalog to learn more about the different materials and coatings available and browse their line of protective gloves.