Banyan Latex Finger Cots
Banyan Latex Finger Cots provide you a variety of finger cots to choose from. Unlike other finger cots, Banyan Latex Finger Cots are available at a very competitive prices and at a supreme quality.
LIST OF ARTICLES
1. How to protect your finger and items in contact with your fingers
2. Malaysia Natural Rubber Industry in a Nutshell
4. Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)
5. Cleanroom
6. RoHS
7. Latex Allergy in a Nutshell
8. Nitrile Finger Cots - A Solution to Latex Allergy
How To Protect Your Finger and Items In Contact With Your Fingers
Fingers are important parts of human body. We use our fingers to eat, to write, to hold, to carry, to pinch, to fight with enemies etc. Fingers play an important role in the history of mankind. Without fingers, the human history may have to be re-written.
As we involves in different activities, our fingers are exposed to hazards. They may get injured. Cut and bruise at fingers may cause infection to others.
There are many ways to protect our fingers. One of the common method is to wear finger cots. They are also known as finger stools.
If our fingers suffer cut, then wearing finger cots while working may protect your finger from further injuries or re-injury. They help in healing of injuries.
If our fingers suffer dislocated joint or fractured phalanges, we may use aluminum finger cots (aluminum splint) to keep the inter-phalange joint in a required position. They immobilize and protect the dislocated joint and fractured phalanges. The foam-lined aluminum splint can be cut and contoured to our fingers.
Doctor who has to contact a patient’s anus and vagina may use nitrile finger cots to protect himself from possible infection, even though hand gloves are frequently used.
In handling food, vegetables, poultry and seafood (food industry), one may protect his fingers from virus, bacteria and constant contact with foreign materials by using food graded finger cots. They are about 4mm thick and textured on their surface to provide better grip. Wearing them is even more important in handling food if your fingers have infection, cut or bruise. They prevent potential infection to the consumers.
As fingers are in constant contact with different objects, they are surrounded by bacteria, virus, dirt, skin salt etc. The skin salt in particular, may damage items we hold due to corrosion caused by salts. Latex finger cots may protect the items that we handle by preventing items from coming into contact with our finger.
In electronic industries like manufacture of semi-conductor and Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), the main cause of damage to electronic components is Electrostatic Discharge (ESD).
There are two (2) main causes of ESD. The first cause is due to static electricity generated by tribocharging whereby two objects are brought together and separated. This will give rise to difference in electrical potential which may cause ESD event. The second cause is due to electrostatic induction where an electrically charged object, be it conducive or non-conducive, comes into contact or in near contact with a conducive object, for instance a printed circuit board (PCB) isolated from ground. The sudden surge of current may cause ESD event that subsequently damages the PCB.
In order to control ESD, one may prevent the build-up of static charge. The use of anti-static and static dissipative materials may eliminate the charge build-up. Antistatic latex finger cots could assist in this aspect. The finger stools must be powder free; otherwise the movement between the powder and latex finger cots may produce static charge.
In laboratory research, one may need to use a cleanroom. Finger cots are part of protective clothing in cleanroom for researchers. Antistatic latex finger cots are recommended in this respect.
Cloth finger cots are used to protect fingers from injury due to friction for instance, in holding badminton racket.
Leather finger cots serve the same function as that of the cloth finger stools.
In conclusion, even finger cots are small items and available at very low prices, their importance is immensely significant particularly in manufacturing, laboratory and food industries.
This article is posted in ezinearticles.com.
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Natural Rubber Industry in Malaysia in a Nutshell
The natural rubber industry in Malaysia has a decent start when 22 seedlings out of a batch of 70,000 seeds that Sir Henry Wickham collected from the Amazon jungle in Brazil in 1876 were sent to the Singapore Botanic Garden for trial planting. Singapore and Malaysia, formerly know as Malaya were British colonies.
The rubber tree quickly flourished in Malaya. Large areas of jungle were cleared and planted with rubber trees. Large scale planting of rubber trees by the Government was started in 1988 when Henry Hicholas Ridley was appointed the Director of the Singapore Botanic Garden. He encouraged planting of this crop.
The rubber tree planting gained its momentum shortly after Henry Ford started making motorcar.Motorcar industry requires natural rubber tyre. This caused the demand for rubber to make tyre rocketed.
Current position of Malaysia
Malaysia now is the fifth largest consumer of natural rubber after China, USA, India, Japan; the biggest producer of latex glove, catheter and latex thread and the third largest producer of natural rubber. Malaysia also produces finger cots, even though most of the operations have been shifted to other third world countries like Vietnam.
Back in 1980s, Malaysia is the largest exporter of raw material rubber (Standard Malaysia Rubber - SMR); now it is one of the biggest importer and consumer of rubber and major exporter of rubber products.
The natural rubber industry in Malaysia can be broken down into 2 sectors i.e. (i) upstream sector – cultivation and (ii) downstream sector – latex products and furniture.
The rubber products manufacturing industry has achieved a remarkable progress with the launching of Industrial Plan (IMP 1985-2007). In the last 17 years, total rubber consumed by the industry increased by 209% from 187, 592 tonnes to 579,248 tonnes. Export earnings of the industry increased by 438% from RM1.87 billion to RM10.09 billion in 2007.
Being an uprising sector, rubber wood has been successfully accepted as an alternative timber to the natural forest species for products like mouldings, furniture and carpentry. 80% of total wood furniture exported from Malaysia comer from rubber wood.
The popularity of rubber wood furniture and demand for rubber wood soared when its nearest compatible wood – ramin come into short supply.
As the price of rubber wood remain low, rubber wood furniture is very competitive in the market especially it has very high value and added features.
Rubber wood output can be maximized by planting rubber forest based on 15 years cycle and regular annual planting.
Factors inducing the growth of the industry:-
i. Research and Development
In the public sectora, RRIM (Rubber Research Institute of Malaysia) and LGM (Lembaga Getah Malaysia) have been in place for 75 years conducting research and development.
The area covered are plant science, agronomy, plantation management, processing, rubber and rubber product technology, rubber wood furniture design and manufacturing.
Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre (TARRC) in the United Kingdom deals in R & D on consumer end.
Besides, Malaysia Rubber Board (MRB) instills new technologies for adoption in private sector especially in rubber product manufacturing companies.
In private sector, large plantation agencies have their in-house research and development facilities.
Conclusion
Malaysia has transformed from an exporter to a natural rubber consumer. Rubber product manufacturing and rubber wood industry offer lucrative return.
Malaysia as opposed to other countries, has competitive edge as it has comprehensive research and development, technical back-up and incentives offered by the Government. The future of natural rubber industry is undeniably bright.
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The Story of Vulcanization
In time immemorial, the ancient Mesoamericans extracted from Castilla elastica, a type of rubber in South America, and mixed it with juice of a local vine, Ipmoea alba and produced a processed rubber. This is the earliest vulcanized rubber.
The modern story begins with the second adventure of Christopher Columbus. His armada found the people of Haiti made a ball which bounced from a gum of a tree.
This novelty substance gets its name when an English chemist, Joseph Priestly noticed that this substance could “rub out” pencil mark. It was thereafter used as eraser.
Other usage then was found in medical devices for connecting tubes and for inhaling medical gases.
Rubber found its application in waterproofing coating after the discovery that it was soluble in ether. This technique was applied to shoes and coats.
There was indeed very little use of rubber then. It was sticky in the summer and brittle in the winter.
In 1839, Charles Goodyear accidentally discovered that raw rubber could be improved by heating with sulphur. The new material produced, vulcanized rubber was not affected by changes in temperature.
In about the same time, a scientist and engineer in UK, Thomas Hancock also discovered the vulcanization process and applied for UK patent in 1843.
Goodyear applied for the patent 8 weeks later even though he was said to have discovered the vulcanization process in 1839.
Vulcanization is a rubber curing process involving addition of sulphur or other equivalent curatives into the rubber under high temperature.
Unvulcanized rubber is made of long polymer chains. These polymer chains can move independently relative to each other. This explains change of shape, being sticky when hot and brittle when cold.
The process builds linkage between original rubber polymer molecules using sulphur or carbon atoms. Even cross-links are formed in the process. The end result is that there is no more movement between the chains of polymer. The vulcanized rubber becomes more durable, harder and more resistant to chemical attacks.
The process is named after Vulcan, Roman God of fire.
The vulcanization set an important milestone in the industrialization of the world. This is witnessed by the high demand for rubber tyres when the automobile industry started to boom in the USA.
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Electrostatic Discharge (ESD)
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) is a momentary electric current that occurs when 2 objects at different potential come into contact with each other. These 2 objects can be nonconductive objects. The static electricity charge potentials may be formed at these objects.
ESD is one major cause of device failure in semi-conductor industry as it causes damage to electronic equipment and its components.
Integrated circuits are made from semiconductor materials such as silicon. When these materials are subjected to high voltage, permanent damage may result.
ESD Related Failures
ESD related failures will show the following attributes:-
i. Junction leakage;
ii. short;
iii. burn-out;
iv. dielectric rupture;
v. resistor-metal interface rupture;
Causes of ESD
There are 2 causes of ESD
i. Static electricity
Static electricity is generated through tribocharging which means 2 different objects brought together and then separated. For instance, walking on vinyl floor, combing dry hair, vacuuming carpet, pulling and releasing safety belt in a car will generate static electricity. The resulting difference of electrical potentials may lead to ESD event.
ii. Electrostatic induction.
Electrostatic induction poses danger to ESD sensitive components. The electrostatic induction happens when an electrically charged object, which can be nonconductive object, come in contact or near contact with a conductive object isolated from ground. The sudden and momentary current surge may cause ESD event and result in damage to the component.
Prevention
As the ESD can cause damage to ESD sensitive components, ESD must be prevented. This can be done by having Electrostatic Protective Area (EPA).
EPA operates basing on the theory that there should be no highly charging materials in the vicinity of ESD sensitive components. All conductive components are grounded. Charge build-up on nonconductive materials is prevented.
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Cleanroom
The air is full of environment pollutants such as dust, aerosol, air-borne microbes, particles and chemical vapour.
Cleanroom is an area in which the air has to be cleaned to a defined particles per cubic foot. It is typically used in manufacturing and scientific research.
How it works
1. Air entering cleanroom from outside has to be filtered to exclude dust.
2. Air inside the clearoom is constantly recirculated through high efficiency particulate air (HPPA) and ultra low penetration air (ULPA) to remove internally generated contaminants.
3. Staff must wear protective clothing such as hats, face mask, gloves, boots etc.
4. Equipments are designed to generate minimum air contamination.
5. Common materials such as paper, pencil and fabric made from natural fibers are excluded.
Classification.
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RoHS
RoHS is Restriction of Hazardous Substance Directive adopted by European Union in February 2003. It finally took effect in the European Union on 1 July 2006.
There is a global issue of increased consumer electronic waste, mostly end up in third world countries. RoHS reduces hazardous materials in electronic such TV, computer, handphone etc.
RoHS restricts the use of the following substances in the manufacture of various types of electronic and electrical equipments:-
i. lead;
ii. mercury;
iii. cadmium;
iv. hexavalent chromium;
v. polybrominated biphenyls (PBB);
vi. polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE).
In general, the directive applies to equipments as follows:-
i. large and small household appliances;
ii. IT equipments;
iii. telecommunication equipments;
iv. consumer equipments;
v. lighting equipment;
vi. electronic and electrical tools;
vii. toys, leisure and sport equipments;
viii. automatic dispenser.
Apparent from the list, medical devices and monitoring and control equipments are exempted. Medical devices are manufactured in small numbers. They have long product life. Furthermore, the long term effect of lead-free solder is not known for a period of at least 5 years. The EU therefore has imposed moratorium on these two types of materials.
How RoHS applies
The maximum permitted concentration is set at 0.1% or 1000 ppm, except for cadmium 0.01% or 100 ppm, by weight of homogeneous material. This means the limits do not apply to the weight of the finished product, or even to a component but to a single substance that can be separated mechanically.
Beside its application in EU, in the USA, California State has promulgated law which prohibits the sale of electronic devices that are prohibited from being sold under EU RoHS . China has showed its intent to establish similar restriction but with different approach. Japan has moved to lead free process. Korea has showed sign of similar direction.
For the moment, there is no special product labeling. Many manufacturers have adopted their own compliance marks to reduce confusion. Marks like “RoHS compliant”, green leaves, check mark, “PB-free” marking can be seen on products.
Advantages
RoHS mitigates damage to people and environment in the third world countries where the “high tech waste” is sent to.
The use of lead-free solder and components provides immediate health benefits to electronic industry workers in manufacturing operation.
Disadvantages
RoHS has adverse effect in product quality and reliability. To comply with RoHS, one has to incur higher cost.
Research shows that life cycle effect of lead-free solder is more than that of traditional solder materials. Restricting lead content in solder for electronics requires expensive retooling of assembly lines and different coating for lead of the electronic parts.
Conclusion
RoHS initiated by EU sets a standard for the world to follow in restricting certain materials in electronic and electrical products in particular. This helps to reduce the hazard of health to human caused by dangerous materials. Its contribution to the preservation of environment is unquestionable. Some controversies lingering around the use of lead-free solder are yet to be debated and resolved in the future.
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Latex Allergy in a Nutshell
Latex is derived from the milky sap of the rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis, found in South America and Southeast Asia.
The sap is extracted and heated while chemical preservatives, primarily ammonia, are added to enhance the rubber structural qualities. Latex therefore, contains low-molecular-weight soluble proteins (latex proteins), which are the cause of allergic reactions. Added accelerators and antioxidants may be significant mediators of allergic reactions like allergic contact dermatitis (Type iv) or may cause or exacerbate irritant contact dermatitis.
Latex products like hand gloves, finger cots, condoms, balloons and so on are manufactured using dipped process or by pouring the latex in a mould forming a coating. Dipped or very soft rubber products appear to have the highest content of latex protein.
Cornstarch powder is applied to latex gloves, finger cots and balloons during the manufacturing process to prevent stickiness and give the latex products a smooth feel. Latex protein particles have been shown to adhere to the surface of these cornstarch particles and to aerosolize on removal of the products.
Latex allergy is an allergic reaction to latex protein in natural latex. Repeated exposure to latex and rubber products may induce symptoms of latex allergy.
Among the high risk people developing latex allergy are health care workers, those with defects in their bone marrow cells, those with deformed bladder or urinary tract, those with history of multiple surgery, those with food allergies to bananas, avocados, kiwis or chestnuts, rubber industry workers and condom users.
People may get exposed to latex protein through skin, mucous membrane like eyes, mouth, vagina and rectum, inhalation and blood i.e. through contact with medical device containing rubber.
There are 3 types of allergy reaction:-
i. Irritant contact dermatitis (nonimmune)
Its symptoms include redness, cracks, fissures, scaling, dryness, itching burning and lesion. It is caused by handwashing, occlusion, antiseptic and repeated exposure to chemical in latex products.
It is the least threatening among the 3 types of allergy reactions and is classified as non-allergic skin reaction. The reaction is developed gradually and over days.
ii. Allergic contact dermatitis (Type IV)(delayed hypersensitivity)
It has same type of reaction as irritant contact dermatitis. It is more severe, spreads to more parts of the body and lasts longer.
It develops within 6 to 48 hours after contact with latex products.
iii. Immediate hypersensitivity (Type I)
Its symptoms include local and generalized urticaria, feeling of faintness, feeling of impending doom, angiodema, nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, pink eye (conjunctivitis), rapid heartbeat, chest pain, difficulty in breathing, low blood pressure, anaphylactic shock and potentially death.
It is the most serious and develops within minutes and rarely longer than 2 hours.
As the consequence of latex allergy can be dire, management of the cause is very important. Avoidance is the key to the management.
For health care workers and patients who are allergic to latex, non-latex gloves must be used.
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends that non-latex gloves and finger cots be used for all activities that are not likely to involve contact infectious materials e.g. food preparation, routine house keeping and maintenance.
Cautious investigation of products at home, work place and at sites of medical and dental care must be done.
Effort must be made in work place to reduce airborne latex protein antigen exposure.
Latex proteins are water soluble. Manufacturing process like washing and chlorination can reduce burden of latex protein antigen. Low protein and powder free latex products are preferable to minimize sensitization to people.
The manufacturers should label their products whether it contains latex.
One must consult a doctor if allergy reaction symptoms appear after using latex products for immediate treatment.
This article has been posted in www.ezinearticles.com
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Nitrile Finger Cots – A Solution to Latex Allergy
The American Heritage Dictionary defines “Nitrile” as an organic cyanide containing a CN group. Nitriles are typically colorless solids or liquids and have a distinctive smell.
Nitrile finger cots or stools are made of synthetic materials. They are powder free and sulphur free. They are specially designed for cleanroom environment. They provide lowest level of particulates possible.
Latex finger cots are commonplace but they may not be suitable for all people. Their latex protein may cause latex allergy in some people.
Latex allergy is an allergic reaction to latex protein in natural latex.
Latex protein in contact with human skin, mucous membrane like eyes, mouth, vagina and rectum may cause latex allergy.
They are three types of latex allergic reaction namely (i) Irritant contact dermatitis (non-immune), (ii) Allergic contact dermatitis (Type IV) (delayed hypersensitivity) and (iii) Immediate hypersensitivity (Type I). Irritant contact dermatitis is the least serious whereas immediate hypersensitivity (Type I) is the most severe whereby it develops within minutes, seldom longer than two hours after a person in contact with the latex protein
The solution of latex allergy is to avoid contact with latex protein. One of the methods is to use non-latex finger cots such as nitrile finger cots. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends this method for all activities that are likely to involve contact infectious materials.
Beside its advantage over latex finger cot on the latex allergy, nitrile finger cots have the following benefits:-
i. They have permanent ESD properties. They do not use antistatic surface coating materials.
ii. They achieve cleanroom cleanliness without using chlorine or surface antistatic coating materials. Powder free latex finger cots actually are produced using a process called chlorination.
iii. They conform to the contour of the fingers after donning. Compared to latex finger stools, there is relatively little pressure on the finger after a moment. In contrast, due to its elastic property, latex finger cotl continues to exert pressure on the fingers. As a result nitrile finger cots are more comfortable.
iv. They are sulphur free. Sulphur may damage metals like gold, silver and copper.
v. They contain no copper staining chemicals. Latex finger cots may contain chemical that may impair the purity of copper.
vi. Their washing process ensures low ionic, non-volatile residue and particles levels.
It is obvious that nitrile finger cots are suitable for cleanroom, pharmaceuticals and electronic products manufacturing.
They are slightly more expensive than latex finger cots. One however, may be willing to pay a little bit more for the various benefits listed above beside its unique property of latex allergy proof.
This article is posted in ezinearticles.com.
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