The Kimberly-Clark Nitrile-XTRA nitrile powder-free disposable glove is purple, allowing for differentiation from other gloves. The glove meets National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) code 1999 for emergency medical gloves and is suitable for medical and laboratory examination applications. This glove has a palm thickness of 4.7 mils and a finger thickness of 5.9 mils, and is 9.5" long from the tip of the middle finger to the edge of the beaded wrist cuff, which is 3.5 mils thick. Nitrile provides better elasticity than vinyl, better puncture resistance than latex or vinyl, better abrasion resistance than chloroprene, and reduces the likelihood of allergic reaction. The glove has textured fingertips for improved grip compared to a glove with a smooth texture. This powder-free glove leaves no residue, reducing the risk of contamination compared to a powdered glove, and is ambidextrous.
Specifications
| Material | Nitrile, powder free |
| Palm thickness | 4.7 mils |
| Finger thickness | 5.9 mils |
| Cuff thickness | 3.5 mils |
| Length | 9.5" |
| Color | Purple |
| Minimum tensile strength | 21 megapascals (MPa) before and after aging |
| Elongation before aging | 550% |
| Elongation after aging | 550% |
| Acceptable Quality Level (AQL) | 1.5 |
Tensile strength, measured in MPa, is the amount of force required to rip a glove; the higher the number, the stronger the glove material. Elongation measures how much a glove can be stretched before it breaks. It is expressed as a percent of the original length of the glove at the moment of breakage; the higher the percent, the more the glove can stretch. AQL is an FDA quality specification for the defect rate in surgical and exam gloves. The FDA requires an AQL of 1.5 for surgical gloves and 2.5 for exam gloves.
Disposable and limited-use gloves are used in medical, forensic, scientific, food service, and industrial applications. Disposable gloves are commonly made from flexible materials such as latex, nitrile, chloroprene, and vinyl. While most disposable gloves are designed for use on either hand, some can be purchased in hand-specific models. They are offered powdered or powder-free; silicone or silicone-free; chlorinated or non-chlorinated; coated or uncoated; with a standard- or extended-length cuff; sterile or non-sterile; and with textured or smooth fingers, fingertips, and palms. A glove's abrasion, cut, and puncture resistance are defined by glove material and thickness, and may be improved with the use of exterior coatings. Abrasion resistance means the glove helps protect the hand from contact with rough surfaces. Cut resistance means the glove helps protect the hand from blades and sharp instruments. Puncture resistance means the glove helps protect the hand from objects such as needles. Chemical resistance means the glove helps protect the hand from certain chemicals, and varies by glove material.
Kimberly-Clark manufactures products for personal and health care, industrial, and laboratory applications under the brands Kleenex, Scott, WypAll, Kimtech, and Kleenguard, among others. The company, founded in 1870, is headquartered in Dallas, TX.
