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Gloves to Protect From Thermal Risks

A wide variety of protective gloves are available to protect hands from the many hazards that are faced in everyday life such as extreme heat. Thermal protection is crucial for activities involving fire, electricity, certain chemicals, hot water, hot objects or steam. Various gloves are available for different kinds and levels of thermal protection.

  1. Cotton Gloves

    • Gloves for situations with a lower thermal risk are often made of cotton. One of the most common uses for these gloves are in the form of oven mitts for kitchen use. However, they have limitations. Cotton gloves have a tendency to be very thick and are very difficult to use as a result. They are also not flame-resistant and thus should not be used near flames.

    Leather Gloves

    • Leather is used in combination with other materials for use as heat-resistant gloves. Heavy duty leather often makes up the outer part of the glove, while heat liner material coats the inside. Leather has been around for centuries and can be very effective provided it doesn't get wet. It is commonly used in gloves for welders and firefighters since leather doesn't melt or burn as easily as many synthetic materials.

    Kevlar Fiber Gloves

    • Kevlar fiber material was developed by the chemical company DuPont to protect astronauts from the extreme heat conditions when they re-entered the earth's atmosphere. This fiber has been utilized and manufactured in heavy duty gloves for protection from thermal risks. They are particularly useful in rough environments since they are cut-resistant as well.

    Aluminized Gloves

    • For extremely high temperatures, aluminized gloves are available as protection and are effective in reflecting heat away from the hands. They are usually used in combination with Kevlar, whereby the Kevlar material makes up the basis of the glove and the outer layer is coated in mylar or other aluminum-based materials to provide heat-reflecting properties. These types of gloves are commonly used with firefighters or with products with heavy radiant heat.

    Carbon-X Fiber Gloves

    • Carbon-X fibers are a newer technology that provides high thermal protection. They are very thin and allow more flexibility than most other thermal-resistant gloves. These types of gloves are very popular in high performance motor sports or other activities that require more dexterity.

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