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2026
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Latex Vs Rubber Gloves What is the difference?
Author:
小编
Unigloves has been making natural and synthetic rubber gloves for over 30 years and has become one of Europe and the UK’s leading disposable glove manufacturers. In that time, we’ve found that one of the most common misconceptions people make when searching for the right glove is to assume that rubber gloves are a different kind of glove entirely to latex gloves. Here, we demystify the different types of rubber gloves – both synthetic and natural – to help you select the best glove for your workplace or application. <<< Read Our Free Disposable Latex Gloves Guide >>>
Latex vs rubber: What’s the difference? Latex is a stable emulsion of polymer microparticles in an aqueous medium. It is found naturally, but synthetic latexes (or latices) can be made too. It is the liquid form, usually before it is converted into a solid product. Rubber is a durable, waterproof, elastic substance made from latex, either natural or synthetic. This is usually the finished product or at the very least a solid intermediary. Even at reasonably senior levels within the health & safety industry including HSE, this got mixed up. HSE for a time thought rubber gloves were washing gloves made from one material while latex gloves were medical gloves made from an entirely different material. Natural rubber versus synthetic rubber The term ‘rubber’ refers to durable, waterproof and elastic material made from natural or synthetic latex. Where rubber is usually the finished product, latex refers to the liquid form; a stable emulsion of polymer microparticles in an aqueous solution. It can be found naturally or manufactured synthetically and is eventually processed into a solid (non-liquid) rubber product. ‘Natural rubber latex’ (NRL) is sourced from the Hevea brasiliensis or ‘rubber tree’, which is then processed by manufacturers to create rubber. Depending on how it is treated, the resultant product is elastic, waterproof, and resistant to a range of chemicals and other hazards. Nowadays the term latex is used interchangeably with rubber, which is why we see the confusion in searches for ‘latex vs rubber’.
