PPGM Process Page

The freshly molded gloves in gel form are leached to remove residual water-soluble substances from them, these may include some protein and chemicals. Beading brushes are run over the cuff ends to create a zone called beads. Most gloves are beaded although beadless gloves are still popular with some users.

The next stage involves drying and curing the gloves inside a long and deep oven heated either electrically, by natural gas or hot air. Curing converts the gloves into an elastic state by causing the chemicals added during compounding to react with the rubber molecules in the latex. This is the most critical step as without curing the gloves will not be elastic as well as they will tear easily.

Research showed that dry leach contributes to further and substantial removal of latex protein which managed to bloom to the glove surface during the curing stage. Therefore before the gloves are removed from the molds in the last step, they are dipped in hot water to give them a final wash. The gloves are then dried and stripped from the molds.