When a Singapore semiconductor facility recently switched from latex to nitrile gloves after a customer audit, the procurement team asked a question we hear regularly: “Are we just following a trend, or is there a genuine technical reason?”
There is a genuine technical reason. And in Singapore’s manufacturing environment — where humidity is controlled, ESD compliance is audited, and latex allergies create legal exposure — the reasons matter more than in many other contexts.
The ESD Problem With Latex Gloves
Latex gloves have high electrical resistivity — typically above 10 to the power of 12 ohms — placing them in the insulative range. In an ESD Protected Area, insulative materials cannot be grounded or dissipated, meaning latex gloves can accumulate and hold electrostatic charge that discharges directly onto the component being handled.
In Singapore’s semiconductor backend facilities running at 35–45% RH, where low humidity amplifies charge generation, this effect is more significant than in humid environments. Nitrile gloves, by contrast, have resistivity in the dissipative range and are compatible with ANSI/ESD S20.20 EPA requirements.
Chemical Resistance Comparison
| Chemical Exposure | Nitrile | Latex |
|---|---|---|
| IPA and alcohols | Excellent | Degrades with exposure |
| Dilute acids | Good | Good |
| Oils and greases | Excellent | Poor |
| Aqueous solutions | Excellent | Excellent |
| Ketones (acetone) | Poor | Poor |
For electronics assembly involving IPA cleaning, flux removers, and general component handling — nitrile is the clear choice for chemical protection. Both materials perform similarly for aqueous environments.
The Latex Allergy Risk and Your Legal Exposure Under WSH
Type I latex allergy affects approximately 1–6% of the general population and can cause reactions ranging from contact dermatitis to anaphylaxis. Under Singapore’s Workplace Safety and Health Act, employers are required to identify and control workplace health hazards including allergen exposure. Switching to nitrile eliminates this risk category entirely.
Many multinational customers now mandate latex-free workplaces in their supplier quality requirements, particularly in medical device, pharmaceutical, and food-adjacent manufacturing. Specifying nitrile from the outset avoids a compliance change later.
Powder-Free: The Only Option Below ISO Class 7
Both nitrile and latex gloves are available powdered or powder-free. In ISO Class 7 and below, powdered gloves are never appropriate — the powder is a major particulate contamination source. In Singapore’s electronics and pharmaceutical cleanrooms, powder-free nitrile is the baseline specification across the board.
Polyco Healthline Gloves at Phil Industries Singapore
Phil Industries is the authorised Polyco Healthline distributor in Singapore, stocking nitrile disposable and industrial gloves for semiconductor, pharmaceutical, and electronics assembly applications — all powder-free, cleanroom-compatible, with same-week delivery.
Browse Polyco Healthline gloves or contact our team for grade selection and volume pricing.
