Medical Rubber Glove Waste As Potential Filler Materials in Polymer Composites

Abstract

Rubber gloves, especially medical gloves, have been widely used in various fields for barrier protection because they are extremely elastic, very resilient, durable, and resistant to many chemical, gaseous, and environmental agents. The manufacturing process for medical rubber gloves is very strict and must comply with the specific requirements for gloves in order to ensure that the gloves are of the finest quality and are capable of providing full protection. Growing demand for rubber products, including rubber gloves, has a negative impact on the environment as the highly durable properties of rubber make it difficult to degrade. Hence, ideas for recycling the rubber products have been developed, and the works are evolving. Waste rubber products, rubber medical gloves included, were used as an alternative to new raw materials or to replace existing material. Additionally, waste rubber gloves are relatively inexpensive and easy to obtain, which results in low processing costs. Many studies have found that the use of the waste rubber in composites has improved the composites' properties. Rubber provides composites with better toughness, damping, and fatigue properties as well as enhanced durability and flexibility. In conclusion, the recycling of waste rubber and waste medical rubber gloves into composites has a great potential to benefit many areas while at the same time helping to save the environment.