These high performance Anti-Static gloves were one of my first patented glove inventions going back to 1991. In November of 1991, I proclaimed when we introduced these new ESD gloves “that we will change static control procedures at the stroke of a hand”. This claim eventually became true.
FYI: ESD stands for electrostatic discharge.
Our ESD Gloves were also made famous by the legendary rock musician Graham Nash. See footnote.
The basis of the concept was initiated by an unusual question from one of my photo glove dealers from England during a trade show in Las Vegas at a photo industry trade show.
For those of you who enjoy a bit of nostalgia, at this time we were largest manufacturer and supplier in the world of special lint-free knit glove liners that photographic professionals and photo labs used in handling photo films and prints. I’m sure many of you remember the days of those one-hour photo mini-labs that dotted the landscape and local pharmacies around the world. We still sell these gloves today but to a limited number of users that deal with handing delicate photographic prints and precious artwork since the world has since gone digital.
Being a large dealer in the UK and EU markets with our photo gloves and knowledgeable about photographic processing pitfalls, my dealer mentioned that he wished I could make an anti-static glove model to remove static charges from films to help eliminate the films from attracting dust and lint due to the high build-up of static on the films during the drying process. This was because the dust and lint particles left white specs on the finished photo images and prints. The only other option at the time was to use special and very expensive anti-static brushes. However, having a glove like our photo liners that protected processors from leaving fingerprints and hand oils on the photographic negatives as well as remove the static build-up at the same time would be extremely useful and practical.
To make a long story short and due to my creative instincts, I set out to the local university engineering libraries to learn what I could about static and how to deal with it. The fortunate issue was that I live in an area of the country that hosts many computer manufacturing companies that must deal with static problems with static sensitive computer chips and computer boards.
My biggest challenge was to find a company that could make me a semi-conductive fiber that I could knit into a thin 13-gauge glove. I originally found a fiber made in Pennsylvania made with a carbon compound that was effective, but the fiber broke down quickly due to flexibility when knit into a glove making them useless over time.
My next prototypes were made using a silver coated fiber but they were too expensive and too conductive for the type of static control flow that I was seeking.
After extensive research, I eventually found a company in Asia that could coat my thin nylon 6/6 fibers with a special copper semi-conductive solution and the rest is history.
Today, we sell our ESD Gloves world-wide, and we help many manufactures and users with the following applications:
Our ESD Gloves are ideal for handling delicate static sensitive parts, films, electronic instruments, circuit boards and components. Assembly and repair work in electronics, telecommunications, precision instrumentation and optics, etc. Video film handling and motion picture industry. They are also a vital component used in the Electrostatic painting, powder coating, and petrochemical industry.
For those of you looking for a superior Anti-Static ESD glove that meets your criteria see the points below.
Unique Electro-Static Properties
- Patented continuous filament fiber
- Greater static dissipation
- Contains no carbon compound fibers
- No surface chemical finishes or treatments
- Reduces static build-up by corona discharge
- Complete uniform resistivity throughout entire glove
- Built-in writs strap properties
Unequaled Comfort and Design
- Ultra-thin, lightweight and close fit
- More resilient and flexible than cotton
- Eliminates finger prints and scratches
- Comfortable to wear all day
- Reduces clamminess, perspiration and sweating
- Ends allergic reactions and rashes from latex
- Can also be used as a glove liner
- Universal size – One size fits all
- Ambidextrous
- Offers natural sensitivity, flexibility, dexterity and less bulk
- Dust free, continuous filament yarn (not spun)
- Breathable knit and seam-free construction
Economical
- Built-in writs strap properties
- Durable
- Universal size
- Reusable/Washable
- Wear all day
Typical Specifications
- Average surface resistivity: <104 Ohms/Sq.
- ASTM D 257 specification, Class I – Category A
- Static decay: 5 KV to 0 V = <0.1 sec.
I hope that this synopsis has been helpful to learn more about the evolution of these superior anti-static ESD gloves and provides the technical information you need to help select the proper ESD glove for your particular use.
As a footnote, I will soon be posting a brief about what the legendary rock musician, Graham Nash, has to do with our All-Day ESD Anti-Static gloves. Stay tuned, it’s an interesting story.
Link to: All-Day ESD Antistatic Gloves
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Joe McGarry
That Glove-Guru