Disposable gloves

Abstract

A disposable glove for a hand of a human wearer that comprises polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and is substantially impermeable to liquid water. The glove provides an elastic material with superior restore rate and elasticity parameters, while maintaining good tensile strength.

1 . A disposable glove comprising polyvinyl chloride having a tensile strength before aging of at least about 12 Mpa as measured in accordance with ASTM D 412-98a on a glove sample having a thickness at the hand area of from about 0.08 mm to about 0.12 mm, and a modulus of elasticity of less than about 2.5 Mpa as measured in accordance with ASTM D 412-98a on a glove sample having a thickness at the hand area of from about 0.08 mm to about 0.12 mm, and wherein the material forming the glove is substantially impermeable to liquid water.  
   
   
       2 . The glove of  claim 1  wherein the glove comprises a plasticizer.  
   
   
       3 . The glove of  claim 2  wherein the plasticizer is diisononyl phthalate.  
   
   
       4 . The glove of  claim 1  wherein the glove further comprises a plasticizer and an elastomer.  
   
   
       5 . The glove of  claim 1  wherein the glove has a tensile strength before aging of at least about 14 Mpa as measured in accordance with ASTM D 412-98a on a glove sample having a thickness at the hand area of from about 0.08 mm to about 0.12 mm.  
   
   
       6 . A disposable glove comprising polyvinyl chloride having a tensile strength before aging of at least about 12 Mpa as measured in accordance with ASTM D 412-98a on a glove sample having a thickness at the hand area of from about 0.08 mm to about 0.12 mm, and an elongation of break of greater than about 450% as measured in accordance with ASTM D 412-98a on a glove sample having a thickness at the hand area of from about 0.08 mm to about 0.12 mm, and wherein the material forming the glove is substantially impermeable to liquid water.  
   
   
       7 . The glove of  claim 6  wherein the glove comprises a plasticizer.  
   
   
       8 . The glove of  claim 7  wherein the plasticizer is diisononyl phthalate.  
   
   
       9 . The glove of  claim 6  wherein the glove further comprises a plasticizer and an elastomer.  
   
   
       10 . The glove of  claim 6 , wherein the elongation of break is greater than about 500% as measured in accordance with ASTM D 412-98a on a glove sample having a thickness at the hand area of from about 0.08 mm to about 0.12 mm.  
   
   
       11 . The glove of  claim 6  wherein the glove has a tensile strength before aging of at least about 14 Mpa as measured in accordance with ASTM D 412-98a on a glove sample having a thickness at the hand area of from about 0.08 mm to about 0.12 mm.  
   
   
       12 . A disposable glove comprising a first polyvinyl chloride resin having a degree of polymerization of from about 1,400 to about 1,700 as measured in accordance with JIS K 6721-77, a second polyvinyl chloride resin having a degree of polymerization of at least 1,750 as measured in accordance with JIS K 6721-77, a plasticizer and an elastomer.  
   
   
       13 . The glove of  claim 12  further comprising a viscosity reducer.  
   
   
       14 . The glove of  claim 13  further comprising a stabilizing agent.  
   
   
       15 . The glove of  claim 12  wherein the glove comprises a ratio of the first polyvinyl chloride resin to the second polyvinyl chloride resin of from about 0.40 to about 0.75.  
   
   
       16 . The glove of  claim 15  wherein the glove comprises a ratio of the first polyvinyl chloride resin to the second polyvinyl chloride resin of from about 0.55 to about 0.65.  
   
   
       17 . The glove of  claim 12  wherein the plasticizer is diisononyl phthalate, dioctyl phthalate, diisodecyl phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, diisodecyl phthalate, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       18 . The glove of  claim 12  wherein the plasticizer is diisononyl phthalate.  
   
   
       19 . The glove of  claim 12  wherein the glove comprises a greater amount by weight of the plasticizer than the first polyvinyl chloride resin and wherein the glove comprises a greater amount by weight of the plasticizer than the second polyvinyl chloride resin.  
   
   
       20 . The glove of  claim 19  wherein the glove comprises a greater total amount by weight of the first and second polyvinyl chloride resins than the amount by weight of the plasticizer.  
   
   
       21 . The glove of  claim 12  wherein the second polyvinyl chloride resin has a degree of polymerization of from about 1,800 to about 2,200 as measured in accordance with JIS K 6721-77.  
   
   
       22 . The glove of  claim 21  wherein the second polyvinyl chloride resin has a degree of polymerization of from about 1,900 to about 2,100 as measured in accordance with JIS K 6721-77.  
   
   
       23 . A disposable glove comprising polyvinyl chloride having a durometer hardness reading less than 56 on a glove sample having a thickness at the hand area of from about 0.08 mm to about 0.12 mm, and a compressive strength of less than about 230 Mpa at 0.100 inch deflection on a glove sample having a thickness at the hand area of from about 0.08 mm to about 0.12 mm, and wherein the material forming the glove is substantially impermeable to liquid water.  
   
   
       24 . The glove of  claim 23  wherein the glove comprises a plasticizer.  
   
   
       25 . The glove of  claim 24  wherein the plasticizer is diisononyl phthalate.  
   
   
       26 . The glove of  claim 23  wherein the glove further comprises a plasticizer and an elastomer.  
   
   
       27 . The glove of  claim 23  wherein the glove has a durometer hardness reading less than 55 on a glove sample having a thickness at the hand area of from about 0.08 mm to about 0.12 mm, and a compressive strength of less than about 215 Mpa at 0.100 inch deflection on a glove sample having a thickness at the hand area of from about 0.08 mm to about 0.12 mm.  
   
   
       28 . The glove of  claim 23  wherein the glove has a durometer hardness reading less than 53 on a glove sample having a thickness at the hand area of from about 0.08 mm to about 0.12 mm, and a compressive strength of less than about 200 Mpa at 0.100 inch deflection on a glove sample having a thickness at the hand area of from about 0.08 mm to about 0.12 mm.  
   
   
       29 . The glove of  claim 23  wherein the glove has a tensile strength before aging of at least about 14 Mpa as measured in accordance with ASTM D 412-98a on a glove sample having a thickness at the hand area of from about 0.08 mm to about 0.12 mm.  
   
   
       30 . The method of forming a disposable glove comprising the acts of: 
 providing a first polyvinyl chloride resin having a degree of polymerization of from about 1,400 to about 1,700 as measured in accordance with JIS K 6721-77, a second polyvinyl chloride resin having a degree of polymerization of at least 1,750 as measured in accordance with JIS K 6721-77, a plasticizer and an elastomer;    mixing the first polyvinyl chloride, the second polyvinyl chloride, the plasticizer and the elastomer to form a mixture;    dipping the mixture onto a glove-forming surface; and    drying the mixture to form the glove.    
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30  further includes heating the mixture after the mixture is dipped.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 30  further including providing a viscosity reducer and mixing the viscosity reducer with the first polyvinyl chloride, the second polyvinyl chloride, the plasticizer and the elastomer to form the mixture.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 30  further including providing a stabilizing agent and mixing the stabilizing agent with the first polyvinyl chloride, the second polyvinyl chloride, the plasticizer and the elastomer to form the mixture.  
   
   
       34 . The glove of  claim 30  wherein the glove comprises a ratio of the first polyvinyl chloride resin to the second polyvinyl chloride resin of from about 0.40 to about 0.75.  
   
   
       35 . The glove of  claim 34  wherein the glove comprises a ratio of the first polyvinyl chloride resin to the second polyvinyl chloride resin of from about 0.55 to about 0.65.  
   
   
       36 . The glove of  claim 30  wherein the plasticizer is diisononyl phthalate, dioctyl phthalate, diisodecyl phthalate, diisodecyl phthalate (DIDP) or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       37 . The glove of  claim 30  wherein the plasticizer is diisononyl phthalate.  
   
   
       38 . The glove of  claim 30  wherein the glove comprises a greater amount by weight of the plasticizer than the first polyvinyl chloride resin and wherein the glove comprises a greater amount by weight of the plasticizer than the second polyvinyl chloride resin.  
   
   
       39 . The glove of  claim 38  wherein the glove comprises a greater total amount by weight of the first and second polyvinyl chloride resins than the amount by weight of the plasticizer.