Elastomeric covering material and hand glove made therewith

Abstract

An elastomeric material and gloves made therewith are substantially impermeable to water vapor and liquid water, have a relatively high tensile strength, and have a relatively low resilience. The gloves conform to the shape of a hand when stretched to fit about the hand and then relax so that the pressure exerted on the hand is substantially reduced. The gloves are particularly useful in medical applications and most particularly useful as surgical gloves.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A .Iadd.closely fitting .Iaddend.glove comprising a layer of elastomeric material .Iadd.(a) comprising nitrile butadiene rubber, (b) .Iaddend.having an initial configuration adapted to receive .Iadd.and fit closely about .Iaddend.a hand.Iadd., .Iaddend.and .Iadd.(c) .Iaddend.characterized by .Iadd.(i) .Iaddend.being substantially impermeable to water vapor and liquid water, .Iadd.(ii) .Iaddend.having a tensile strength of at least about 1500 psi as measured according to ASTM D-412 on a sample of the elastomeric material having a thickness from about 4.0 to about 4.5 mils, and .Iadd.(iii) .Iaddend.having a .Iadd.thickness and .Iaddend.elastic properties such that .Iadd.the glove is capable of being stretched to fit closely about the hand and .Iaddend.when stretched from the initial configuration to fit .Iadd.closely .Iaddend.about the hand, the elastomeric material conforms to the configuration of the hand, initially exerting . .a predetermined.!. .Iadd.an initial .Iaddend.pressure on the hand and thereafter .Iadd.still fitting closely about the hand, but .Iaddend.relaxing.Iadd., within about 6 minutes after the glove is stretched to fit about said hand, .Iaddend.to exert on the hand a reduced pressure which is . .substantially.!. less than about . .80%.!. .Iadd.50% .Iaddend.of the . .predetermined.!. .Iadd.initial .Iaddend.pressure. 
     
     
       2. A glove as in claim 1, wherein the layer of elastomeric material .Iadd.further .Iaddend.comprises . .nitrile butadiene rubber and.!. a metallic compound which is substantially insoluble in water and is present in an amount effective to impart said tensile strength without significantly stiffening the elastomeric material and altering said elastic properties. 
     
     
       3. A glove as in claim 2 wherein the metallic compound comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of lead, magnesium and zinc. 
     
     
       4. A glove as in claim 2 wherein the metallic compound comprises metallic oxide. 
     
     
       5. A glove as in claim 4 wherein the metallic oxide is selected from the group consisting of lead oxide, magnesium oxide and zinc oxide. 
     
     
       6. A glove as in claim 2 wherein the metallic compound comprises zinc oxide present in an amount from about 0.1 to about 0.5 parts per 100 parts nitrile butadiene rubber. 
     
     
       7. A glove as in claim 1, wherein the .Iadd.nitrile butadiene rubber comprises carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber and the .Iaddend.layer of elastomeric material .Iadd.further .Iaddend.comprises . .carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber and.!. a metallic compound which is substantially insoluble in water and is present in an amount effective to impart said tensile strength without significantly stiffening said elastomeric material and said elastic properties. 
     
     
       8. A glove as in claim 7 wherein the metallic compound comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of lead, magnesium and zinc. 
     
     
       9. A glove as in claim 7 wherein the metallic compound comprises metallic oxide. 
     
     
       10. A glove as in claim 9 wherein the metallic oxide is selected from the group consisting of lead oxide, magnesium oxide and zinc oxide. 
     
     
       11. A glove as in claim 7 wherein the metallic compound comprises zinc oxide present in an amount from about 0.1 to about 0.5 parts per 100 parts nitrile butadiene rubber. . .12. A glove as in claim 1, wherein the layer of elastomeric material is further characterized by having elastic properties such that said reduced pressure is reached within 6 minutes after the glove is stretched to fit about said hand..!.. .13. A glove as in claim 1, further characterized by having elastomeric properties such that the reduced pressure is less than about 50% of said predetermined 
     
     
        pressure..!.14. A glove as in claim . .13.!. .Iadd.1 .Iaddend.further characterized by having elastic properties such that said reduced pressure is reached within about one minute after the glove is stretched to fit 
     
     
        about said hand. 15. A glove as in claim 1, wherein the layer of elastomeric material is further characterized by having elastic properties such that said reduced pressure is less than about . .90%.!. .Iadd.10% .Iaddend.of said . .predetermined.!. .Iadd.initial .Iaddend.pressure. . .16. A glove as in claim 15, wherein the layer of elastomeric material is further characterized by having elastic properties such that said reduced pressure is reached within about 6 minutes after the material is 
     
     
        stretched to fit about said hand..!..Iadd.17.  A glove as in claim 1, wherein the layer of elastomeric material has a thickness up to about 4.5 mils. .Iaddend..Iadd.18. A glove as in claim 1, wherein the layer of elastomeric material has a thickness from about 4 to about 4.5 mils. .Iaddend..Iadd.19. A glove as in claim 1, wherein the layer of elastomeric material is further characterized by having a puncture resistance of greater than about 800 lbs/in. .Iaddend..Iadd.20. A glove as in claim 1, wherein the layer of elastomeric material is further characterized by having an elongation of greater than about 800%. .Iaddend..Iadd.21. A glove as in claim 1, wherein the layer of elastomeric material is further characterized by having a 500% modulus up to about 350 psi. .Iaddend..Iadd.22. A glove as in claim 1, wherein the layer of elastomeric material is further characterized by having a 500% modulus in the range from about 250 to about 350 psi. .Iaddend..Iadd.23. A glove as in claim 1, wherein the layer of elastomeric material is further characterized by having elastomeric properties such that said reduced pressure is about zero. .Iaddend..Iadd.24. A glove as in claim 1, wherein the nitrile butadiene rubber comprises carboxylated nitrile butadiene rubber. .Iaddend.