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Q What are some "rules of thumb" to help determine if a glove has any shelf-life left?
A Any shelf-life remaining depends on how long the gloves were stored and the materials used. Natural latex gloves have a three-year shelf-life, with a two-year shelf-life for those made from fabrics (cotton, nylon, polyester, Spectra and Kevlar®).
The following materials have a five-year shelf-life: natural latex, nitrile latex, Hycar®, neoprene, PVC, urethane, PVA, EVOH, polyethylene and other synthetic coatings.
These guidelines are void if products have broken packaging seals, are removed from original packaging, exposed to moisture, exposed to ultraviolet light for an extended time, exposed to temperatures over 90 degrees Fahrenheit, or have ozone exposure.
Paul McMorrow, Quality Assurance Manager, Ansell Healthcare
A Determining a glove's shelf-life depends on various factors. What type of polymer is the product? Is the product unsupported or supported? Is it a chemical-resistant glove or not? Is the product a disposable - the least "shelf-life" products?
There is no real standard by which all glove manufacturers abide. End-users should deal with manufacturers that will stand behind their products.
Craig Wagner, President, Global Glove & Safety Manufacturing
A Cut- and puncture-resistant gloves are made with aramid fibers. These gloves should not be exposed for prolonged periods of time to sunlight....