ESD can cause some irreversible damage to equipment or instruments in the workplace. Especially for electronic components, the seemingly harmless static electricity can cause unimaginable damage, and ESD gloves are products that can protect sensitive electronic components from static electricity.
This post will take 3 minutes to introduce you to the factors you need to pay attention to when buying ESD gloves.
Key Factors You Should Consider When Buying ESD Safety Gloves
In my years of working in the glove industry, I often come across people who ask me about the key points and factors they need to pay attention to when selecting ESD gloves. So here I’ll give you a closer look.
ESD gloves made of materials
The main reason that ESD gloves can prevent electrostatic damage is the material from which they are made. So when selecting gloves, you can select them according to the material of the gloves.
- Nitrile rubber: insulating material. Need to be used with conductive materials. Such as carbon black or conductive fiber.
- Natural rubber: with anti-static properties; Natural products, environmentally friendly; high elasticity, high sensitivity.
- Nylon: itself does not have conductivity. But suitable for use with conductive fibers. High durability; with good breathability and comfort.
- Polyester: not easy to drop fibers or particles. Can prevent static electricity generation.
These materials can effectively prevent or dissipate static electricity. Or by releasing static electricity, thus protecting the equipment at work from problems.
ESD glove construction
Not only does the material affect the anti-static effect. The structural design of the glove also affects the anti-static effect, such as coatings and the arrangement of conductive fibers, which will also affect the anti-static effect.
Base Liner of ESD gloves: This layer is made of the above materials and forms the base structure of the gloves.
Conductive structure of gloves: generally divided into two kinds.
- Conductive Fiber: including carbon fiber, Conductive Stainless Steel Fiber, Copper Filament, carbon, and other fibers. The collection of static electricity dissipation, thus preventing Electrostatic Damage.
- Coatings: usually composed of carbon, silver, and other special compounds. PU polyurethane and nitrile coatings are common in the market today. It mainly reduces the accumulation of dust particles on the hands by increasing the friction properties of the gloves.
The reason why ESD gloves can prevent Electrostatic Damage, the key lies in the material used to make the gloves. Conductive fibers and coatings are added to the gloves afterwards to prevent Electrostatic Damage.
ESD gloves can withstand the range of resistance
Among the considerations for selecting ESD gloves, the ESD gloves‘ ability to dissipate static electricity also needs attention. Usually:
- Anti-static gloves range from 105-1011ohms
- Conductive gloves have a range of 103-105 ohms
Size of ESD gloves
The most important aspect of a glove’s ability to provide perfect protection is its fit. If the size of the gloves is too big or too small, it will have an impact on the work. Gloves that are too large in size may risk slipping off during use. Here are some sizes to choose from.
| Size | Length | Width |
|---|---|---|
| XS | 7 inches | 3 inches |
| S | 8 inches | 3 inches |
| M | 9 inches | 3 inches |
| L | 10 inches | 3.5 inches |
| XL | 10.5 inches | 3.75 inches |
| 2XL | 11 inches | 4.5 inches |
ESD Glove Compliance
This is a very important point, and over the years that I have been in the business, I have become acutely aware of the mixed quality of ESD gloves on the market. If the gloves picked are not Compliant with the standards. Then, not only may there be losses in terms of money, but also risks in terms of life safety.
So, before picking and buying gloves, make sure you recognize whether the ESD gloves are compliant with the standards. Here are a few standards for compliance, and it’s important to recognize them when making your selection:
- ANSI/ESD S20.20 Standard (American standard for ESD control programs)
- EN 16350:2014 Electrostatic Properties Standard (European standard for electrostatic properties)
- ISO 9001 Quality Management System Certification for quality management systems
Dexterity and comfort of ESD gloves
As an example, if I wear gloves for a long time, my fingers turn white. Especially in hot weather. So I know how important it is to have a pair of gloves that are comfortable and breathable.
If your work environment requires you to wear gloves for long periods of time to manipulate Precision Components or objects. The dexterity and comfort of the gloves are very important. Be sure to pick gloves that do not feel uncomfortable even after wearing them for long periods of time.
Why choose M-tide for ESD gloves / How to choose quality ESD gloves?
M-tide is a glove manufacturer with many years of experience in providing quality products to thousands of organizations.
The ESD gloves we offer at M-tide start at the source. We use the best anti-static materials. We have very strict inspection standards before the products are sold.
M-tide is equipped with a very professional R&D team. We ensure that our ESD gloves are not only fully protective but also very comfortable.
All of our ESD gloves have been officially certified and standardized. If you need to buy ESD gloves, you can rest assured in buying our M-tide gloves. We look forward to working with you!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the three main measures to control ESD problems?
In many electronic factories and other industries, in order to reduce the Electrostatic Damage. They will not only equip workers with ESD gloves, but they will also take other effective measures. The static charge will be discharged, and three of the main measures are: personnel grounding methods, Static Dissipative Worksurface, and public grounding points.
What are the ESD standards for gloves?
The most important basis for whether ESD gloves can truly prevent Electrostatic Damage is their certification and standards. According to EN16350, ESD gloves must have a resistance value of 10⁸ ohms. So you must ask before you buy the gloves.
When can I use Electrical Insulating Rubber Gloves?
First of all before you use any ESD gloves, you need to be aware of what is the maximum voltage that can be generated in your working environment. This is because it will determine whether the gloves you use will be able to withstand it or not. The same goes for rubber insulated gloves, so you should always check this out when you use them.
What two types of damage can be caused by ESD?
Generally, we categorize the damage caused by static electricity into two types:
- Latent Damage: It refers to the damage caused by ESD to electronic components or equipment. However, it is not a very significant damage, which will lead to a reduction of its performance and a shorter service life.
- Catastrophic damage: It means that ESD damages electronic products completely, making them unusable. It may also damage metal circuits and damage nodes.
