There are a number of alternatives to latex for the manufacture of gloves, but none of them have the same unique combination of properties as latex. The following lists alternative materials along with their advantages and disadvantages. Citation:Lyszkowski Amsterdam Conference 1996 Citation:Morris health considerations of synthetic alternatives to natural rubber latex 1994
Plasticised PVC - usually only used for examination gloves, PVC is cheap, but has poor elasticity and tear strength, and there have been reports of allergic reactions to additives from the manufacturing process. Citation:Estlander Jolanki 1986 Contact Dermatitis Disposal of PVC by incineration is known to release the monomer vinyl chloride, a known human carcinogen. PVC will tend to have higher levels of chemical additives than latex.
Nitrile & Neoprene (polychloroprene) are similar to natural rubber when vulcanised, but their tensile strength is usually lower whilst their elastic modulus tends to be higher (leading to finger fatigue over time). Incineration of both can lead to the release of hazardous chemicals, such as cyanide from nitrile and hydrogen chloride from Neoprene. Citation:Morris health considerations of synthetic alternatives to natural rubber latex 1994
Copolymer film gloves are not an acceptable substitute for NRL gloves, as they have reduced tear strength, and have been shown in the laboratory (SMTL Welsh NHS contract testing, unpublished) to be unsuitable for rectal or vaginal examinations due to bursting of the seam. They have a very limited field of use.
Styrene Block Copolymer - can be manufactured into gloves strong enough for medical use, but their poor ability to return to their original shape after repeated stretching is worse than that of NRL gloves. It has been reported that styrene can cause Type I allergic responses, Citation:Moscato Biscaldi Cottica 1987 but there is little evidence at present on how well tolerated these products are due to the small numbers being used.
Polyurethane - can be used to manufacture very high tensile strength gloves, but its modulus of elasticity and elongation at break can make the gloves uncomfortable to wear. There have been reports of reactions to polyurethane implants Citation:Berrino Galli Rainero 1986 but LRC Citation:Lyszkowski Amsterdam 1996 claim that polyurethane can be made into very clean medical devices, with low levels of extractables, irritants and allergens, which is why they chose it for their Avanti® condom. Polyurethane gloves also tend to be very expensive.