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Technical Performance
Cut Resistance
The primary reason for buying hand protection is to ensure that employees are protected against injuries. Cutresistance
properties in protective products like gloves are a pre-requisite. Many different materials are used in
traditional cut-resistant protective gloves, including leather, cotton, Aramids and PE fibers. Each material has its
own specific advantages, limitations and protection levels.
Dyneema® is the world’s strongest fiber and is commercially produced by DSM Dyneema. It is made from Ultra
High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMW-PE) and has a very high cut resistance compared to both natural
fibers (cotton, leather) and other man-made fibers.
When used in protective gloves, Dyneema®
yarn provides cut-resistance levels of up to 3 /
4 (EN388) without using composite fibers. If the
highest level of cut resistance is required (level 5),
Dyneema® yarns can easily be combined with
glass or steel fiber.
Puncture and Tear Resistance
For knitted products (like gloves) puncture resistance is generally low, which increases the importance of tear resistance of the fiber. Puncture and tear resistance go hand-in-hand. Dyneema® fiber is the strongest fiber in the world and therefore the best choice of material. The combined performance of cut, abrasion, puncture and tear defines the actual performance of gloves in use.
Abrasion Resistance
Protective gloves are often exposed to sharp objects that can abrade the glove. The more a glove is abraded
the less protection it offers. Naturally, the higher the abrasion resistance a glove offers, the longer the wearer
is protected. Thanks to the smoothness and high crystalline properties of the Dyneema® fiber, the abrasion
resistance is extremely high and cannot be matched by any other fiber. Tests have demonstrated that gloves
made with Dyneema® have up to 20 times more abrasion resistance than gloves made, for example, with Aramidbased
(spun) yarns.
For knitted products (like gloves) puncture resistance is generally low, which increases the importance of tear
resistance of the fiber. Puncture and tear resistance go hand-in-hand. Dyneema® fiber is the strongest fiber in the
world and therefore the best choice of material.
Hence the combined performance of Cut, Abrasion, Puncture and Tear defines the actual performance of gloves
in use.
Chemical Resistance
The conductive and effusive properties of Dyneema® are indicators of the yarn’s capability to absorb and transmit heat. Both of these properties are very high compared to other fibers used in cut-resistant gloves, which means that gloves made with Dyneema® yarn can disperse (body) heat quickly.
Conductivity and Effusiveness
Thanks to the structure of Dyneema®, the yarn is resistant to both acid and alkaline chemicals without adversely affecting its performance. Gloves made with Dyneema® can therefore be laundered many times.
Cost Efficiency
Although personal injuries should be prevented at any cost, the cost efficiency of personal protection
products is an important factor in the decision-making process. Of course, cost efficiency should not only
depend on the actual price of the gloves, but also on the total cost of use until the gloves are disposed of.
This means that three factors determine overall cost efficiency:
1. Actual price of the gloves
2. Useful lifetime of the gloves
3. ‘Indirect’ costs (relating to injuries)
While the initial price of gloves made with Dyneema® is higher than other typical cut-resistant
gloves, the fact that the lifetime of gloves made with Dyneema® is much longer means that
the gloves are less expensive to use in the long term.
Gloves made with Dyneema® last much longer because they offer high abrasion resistance and can
be washed many times.