PE gloves are popular in various industries because of their cost-effectiveness and ease of use.

Besides normal PE gloves, there are 4 types of popular plastic gloves,

 LDPE gloves, HDPE gloves, TPE gloves and CPE gloves, all of which originate from PE gloves.

They sound similar, and actually, they are a little hard to distinguish as well.

Here we’ll help you know the differences between LDPE gloves, HDPE gloves, TPE gloves and CPE gloves and learn them briefly.

Keep reading!

Content

• Definitions of LDPE, HDPE, TPE and CPE Gloves

• Differences Between LDPE, HDPE, TPE and CPE Gloves

• Conclusion

What are LDPE, HDPE, TPE and CPE Gloves?

Definitions of LDPE Gloves and HDPE Gloves

Let’s talk about LDPE gloves and HDPE gloves together.

LDPE stands for Low Density Polyethylene and HDPE means High Density Polyethylene. They are both created by polymerising ethylene but are produced in different ways.

That means HDPE gloves and LDPE gloves have different physical features caused by their materials' physical structure.

LDPE is the combination of polymer chains with side branches, which make them line up unorderly.

While the HDPE polymer chains line up regularly, resulting in higher density.

LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) has the most excessive branching. This causes the low density to have a less compact molecular structure which is what makes it less dense. It has a density of 0.91-0.925g/cm3.

HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) has minimal branching of its’ polymer chains. Because it is denser it is more rigid and less permeable then the LDPE. It has a density of 0.941-0.965g/cm3.

Therefore, HDPE gloves are harder and thinner than LDPE gloves, while LDPE gloves are softer and stronger, and LDPE gloves are more flexible.

In terms of applications, LDPE gloves and HDPE gloves are more widely used in these industries requiring simple protection:

Food service, house healthcare, beauty salon...

Besides vinyl, latex, and nitrile gloves, two new kinds of gloves have begun to grow in popularity: cast polyethylene (CPE) gloves and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) gloves.

Definitions of TPE Gloves and CPE Gloves

TPE means Thermoplastic Elastomer, while CPE means Chlorinated Polyethylene. They all are materials with rubber-like features.

Actually, they have different melting points and physical properties, so their production processes are very different.

CPE(Chlorinated Polyethylene) gloves are made of polyethylene, a kind of resin (i.e., organic compound) created during the polymerization process of ethynylene.

Polyethylene is known as a “commodity” resin since it can be produced in high volumes at low costs. It’s also the most commonly used kind of plastic in the world.

Many other products are made of polyethylene including food wrap, detergent bottles, and shopping bags, among others.

CPE gloves offer many positive benefits – most notably their durability. They also tend to weigh more in grams than TPE gloves.

TPE(THERMOPLASTIC ELASTOMER) gloves are made of thermoplastic elastomers, polymers that can be molded more than once when heated. Thermoplastic elastomers also have the same elasticity as rubber.

Industrial fabricators classify thermoplastic elastomers as “specialty” plastic resins for two reasons. Firstly, they’re produced at lower volumes than “commodity” resins like polyethylene and at higher costs as well. Secondly, they’re used for more specialized applications than “commodity” resins.

Besides TPE gloves, products including adhesives and footwear are manufactured using thermoplastic elastomers.

In terms of applications, they are widely used in food services, house healthcare, beauty salon, cleaning, light industrial and lab work...

When ethylene is polymerized the result is relatively straight polymer chains. From the main chain they can branch out. We get different kinds of Polyethylenes from the varying degree of branching in their molecular structure. Below are brief descriptions on how the polyethylenes differ from each other.

What are the Differences between HDPE, LDPE, CPE and TPE Gloves?

Their materials have different physical characteristics, and they would perform differently.

Durability

HDPE gloves are more durable than LDPE gloves, but they are used in light industries that won’t damage them quickly, like food service.one  party, time job and so on

However, TPE and CPE gloves are more durable than HDPE and LDPE gloves. They both are strong enough to work lasting half a day.

Elasticity

In terms of elasticity, TPE gloves have the best elasticity, followed by CPE gloves, and finally, HDPE gloves and LDPE gloves.

Fitness

Regarding fitness, neither TPE, CPE, HDPE, or LDPE gloves are close to your hands.

But CPE gloves are the best, followed by TPE gloves and LDPE gloves and HDPE gloves.

Cost

The higher production cost, the higher price it has.

TPE gloves generally have a higher price than CPE gloves and are much higher than LDPE gloves and HDPE gloves. In addition, HDPE gloves are cheaper than LDPE gloves.

Size

Actually, HDPE and LDPE gloves are bigger than CPE and TPE gloves for changing easier because they are not strong enough.

Embossing

LDPE Gloves and HDPE gloves have emboss in one direction, while TPE and CPE gloves have emboss one side but  smooth on another side.

Conclusion

In summary, HDPE, LDPE, TPE and CPE gloves all give unique features suitable for different environments. You should know your clients' applications well when choosing the best PE gloves.

Pidegree are professional LDPE, HDPE, TPE and CPE gloves suppliers and manufacturers, and we are looking for distributors and wholesalers for PE gloves. Pidegree offers various PE gloves in various sizes, colors, and thickness, and they all pass certificates.

If you’re interested in them and want to know more about them, feel free to contact us.