Antistatic gloves and process for making same

Abstract

The present invention is directed to antistatic elastomeric articles and methods of making the same. The articles can be single layered or multilayered. The single layered articles possess desirable antistatic properties and desirable properties of comfort and feel. The multilayered articles have an outermost layer/surface that possesses desirable antistatic properties and an innermost layer/surface that exhibits desirable properties of comfort and feel. In preferred embodiments, the elastomeric articles are made form a nitrile/natural rubber blend. Articles of the present invention have antistatic properties measured as having a surface resistivity below about 1014 Ω/sq and a static decay time of less than about 60 seconds.

1 - 45 . (canceled) 
     
     
         46 . A process for making an antistatic multilayered elastomeric article having a first layer and a second layer comprising:
 a) preparing a first latex composition by mixing natural rubber latex with nitrile rubber latex, wherein the natural rubber latex in said first latex composition is in a lesser amount than the nitrile rubber latex in said first latex composition,   b) preparing a second latex composition by mixing nitrile rubber latex with natural rubber latex, wherein the nitrile rubber latex in said second latex composition is in a lesser amount than the natural rubber latex in said second latex composition, and   c) forming the first layer from said first latex composition and the second layer from said second latex composition.   
     
     
         47 . The process of  claim 46 , wherein step a) further comprises mechanically mixing the natural rubber latex with the nitrile rubber latex, and wherein step b) further comprises mechanically mixing the nitrile rubber latex with the natural rubber latex. 
     
     
         48 . The process of  claim 47 , wherein step a) further comprises adjusting the first latex composition to a pH of about 9.5. 
     
     
         49 . The process of  claim 47 , wherein step c) further comprises forming a first latex gel from the first latex composition and a second latex gel from the second latex composition. 
     
     
         50 . The process of  claim 46 , wherein step c) further comprises dipping a latex article former a first time into a coagulant solution, dipping the former a second time into the first latex composition, and dipping the former a third time into the second latex composition. 
     
     
         51 . The process of  claim 46 , wherein step c) further comprises vulcanizing the article. 
     
     
         52 . The process of  claim 46 , further comprising a step
 d) chlorinating the article.   
     
     
         53 . The process of  claim 52 , wherein the chlorinating step further comprises:
 inverting the article a first time,   exposing the article to a chlorine solution a first time   inverting the article a second time, and   exposing the article to a chlorine solution a second time.   
     
     
         54 - 55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . A process for making an antistatic multilayer elastomeric article having a first layer and a second layer comprising:
 a) preparing a first latex composition by mixing synthetic rubber latex with nitrile rubber latex, wherein the synthetic rubber latex in said first latex composition is in a lesser amount than the nitrile rubber latex in said first latex composition,   b) preparing a second latex composition by mixing nitrile rubber latex with synthetic rubber latex, wherein the nitrile rubber latex in said second latex composition is in a lesser amount than the synthetic rubber latex in said second latex composition, and   c) forming the first layer from the first latex composition and the second layer from the second latex composition.