Types of ESD Gloves: Carbon Fiber, PU, Nylon Explained

Types of ESD Gloves and How to Choose

Quick Comparison

Type	Measured resistance	Reusable	Best for
Carbon fibre knitted, PU fingertip	2.52 × 106 – 2.01 × 107 Ω/sq	Yes	General assembly, inspection, all-shift wear
Carbon fibre knitted, PU palm	Same base material	Yes	Heavier handling, more grip
Carbon fibre, PVC dotted	Same base material	Yes	Smooth or slippery components
Nitrile, powder-free	3.72 – 4.28 × 108 Ω/sq	No	Contamination control, cleanroom, flux exposure

All measurements taken at 60–65% RH, 30 °C, on a calibrated ACL Staticide Model 800.

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Carbon Fibre Knitted Gloves

The conductive path is carbon fibre spun into the yarn. It is structural, so it survives washing and does not wear off with the coating.

These are the default choice for operators who wear gloves for a full shift: breathable, reusable, and the lowest cost per shift of any ESD glove.

Three coating options change the grip, not the electrical performance.

→ Top Fit, Palm Fit and dotted gloves

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ESD Nitrile Gloves

Disposable, powder-free, latex-free. The reason to choose nitrile is not electrical — it is barrier performance.

Where the process involves flux, solvents, adhesives or cleanroom protocol, a knitted glove cannot keep contamination off the product. A disposable nitrile glove can.

→ ESD nitrile gloves

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How to Choose

Start with the contamination requirement, not the resistance.

Both glove types measured inside the static-dissipative range. Either will meet an EPA resistance specification. What separates them is everything else:

Question	If yes
Does the process involve flux, solvent or adhesive?	Nitrile
Is it a cleanroom with a disposable-only protocol?	Nitrile
Are gloves worn for a full shift?	Carbon fibre
Is breathability a comfort complaint?	Carbon fibre
Do operators handle sharp or heavy parts?	Carbon fibre, PU palm
Are components smooth and hard to grip?	Carbon fibre, dotted
Is cost per shift the main constraint?	Carbon fibre

Many EPAs use both: carbon fibre on the general assembly line, nitrile at stations where contamination matters.

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Gloves Are One Part of Personnel Grounding

Gloves are one part of a personnel grounding system, not the whole of it.

A glove limits charge transfer at the point of contact. It does not ground the operator. Grounding requires either:

• A wrist strap connected to a common point ground, or
• ESD footwear used with a dissipative or conductive floor

Specify gloves alongside footwear and wrist straps, not instead of them. See ESD gloves overview for how the parts fit together.

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Related

• ESD gloves overview
• ESD gloves vs anti-static gloves
• Vinyl vs nitrile vs latex for ESD use
• Bulk and OEM supply