At Banom®, we believe that there are three types of cut hazards:
1. S
heet Metal Edges These include rough edge sheet metal that is punched, stamped, roll formed, or sheared
2. K
nife Blades
Which include shop knives and razor blades
3. S
heet Glass
Raw, annealed, and tempered
In the United States, our industry currently measures cut resistance for knife blades with the Cut Protection Performance Test
on ASTM Standard F1790-05. This test measures the weight (in grams) required for a razor sharp blade to cut through a glove
on a 20-millimeter pass.
In Europe, cut resistance is determined using the European Norms Standard, EN 388, which measures the number of cycles
required for a rotating sharp circular blade to cut through a glove surface using a constant force.
At present, there is no test to measure the hazard presented by either sheet metal or glass.
Sheet metal edges do not cut – they tear – and consequently they present a different type of cut hazard than knife blades.
Sheet glass presents an entirely different set of problems since glass is the hardest substance. It is also brittle and thus more
prone to shatter and puncture.
In sheet metal applications, the following factors should be considered:
Cut Test Data
In our opinion, when protecting against sheet metal edges, the ASTM and EN388 cut tests should only be used as a guideline.
Both tests utilize knife blades, which do not represent the hazard presented by sheet metal edges. Knife blades cut.
Sheet metal tears. Many gloves are designed to meet these cut tests rather than to protect against the actual hazard.
Therefore, glove components become very important when selecting protection for a particular hazard. Information about
yarn construction for sheet metal is listed later under the section: Protecting Against Sheet Metal Edges.
Edge Roughness Thin-gauge sheet metal has a smaller burr when stamped or punched as compared to thicker gauge sheet metal. Bigger burrs
or rougher edges require thicker or heavier weight gloves. The glove thickness will prevent the burr from penetrating the glove
and cutting the hand, and heavier weight gloves will wear longer when exposed to rougher edges. Yarns with higher tensile
strength combined with coatings for abrasion resistance should be considered in these applications.
Length of the Edge Exposed
When handling longer edges, there is a potential for more of the edge to move through the palm of the hand. Since sheet metal
edges tear as they move, longer edges require more abrasion and cut resistance for better protection.
Gloves with a positive grip can keep an edge from moving thus increasing cut resistance.
Weight
How much an object weighs has a direct impact on the glove chosen. Heavier objects put more stress on cut resistant fibers
as they add force to an abrasive cutting edge. The greater the force, the higher the tensile strength required. In addition, heavier
objects require thicker cut-resistant gloves in order to provide greater wear as well as additional comfort for the working hand.
Edge Hardness
Certain metals are harder than others. Stainless steel and tempered metal can pose enormous stress to cut-resistant fibers.
At Banom, we protect against these edges with stainless steel composite yarns.
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Surface Texture
Dry surfaces require gloves with a tacky grip. Oily surfaces require gloves with absorption in order to get a good grip.
Keeping an edge from moving is as important as the cut resistance itself. Therefore, grip is a key component in preventing
lacerations.
Gloves that grip well reduce the hand power required to hold an object, which also reduces hand fatigue.
On the other hand, if handling a nut, bolt or screw being driven by a power tool, the grip should allow movement in order
to prevent a “wrap-up.”
Lubricants
Today, lubricants are both hydrocarbon and water-based. When handling sheet metal coated with either oil-based lubricants
or water-based emulsions, absorbing the liquid into the grip can provide a positive surface contact.
PowerTrac® is a special coating that absorbs lubricants for an increased grip without allowing liquids to penetrate to the
hands. Gloves that grip well keep edges from sliding thus reducing the possibility of a hand laceration.
Glove Coatings and How They Relate to Lubricants
Glove coatings can provide grip and additional wear resistance. In sheet metal applications, the coatings are usually nitrile,
PVC, latex, or polyurethane. Each compound has its preferred applications. Using the wrong coating in a lubricant can not
only cause premature wear but also increase the risk of a glove failure.
Nitrile is a water-based chemical so it performs very well in oil-based lubricants. However, when exposed to water-based
surfactants this coating can become soft and lose its tensile strength.
Latex, though water-based, performs very poorly in oil-based lubricants which can cause the coating to bubble, swell or get
gummy.
PVC is excellent in water-based chemicals, but can deteriorate in certain oil-based lubricants since it is an oil-based
compound itself.
Solvent-based polyurethane performs very well in oily, wet, or dry applications. It is normally impregnated into the knit cloth
of a glove. Due to its porous structure, this coating can breathe for increased user comfort, but it will also allow a quicker
penetration of liquids. It is the least abrasion resistant of the four coatings. For this reason polyurethane gloves rely on their
base fabric for wear resistance while the impregnated coating provides a positive grip throughout the usable life of the glove.
Puncture
Punctures are often categorized as cut hazards because they cause lacerations. When dealing with this type of hazard it is
important to remember that the initial protection needed is not cut resistance, it is puncture resistance. The hand is getting
cut because the barb or shard is penetrating the surface of the glove. Cut-resistant gloves are inherently not puncture
resistant because they are knit, not woven.
Knit fabrics can stretch allowing pointed objects to penetrate.
Moving Edges Versus Stationary Edges
No glove can protect against a continuously moving or rotating edge or blade.
Protecting Against Sheet Metal Edges
Since 1949, our family has provided cut-resistant gloves to the sheet metal industry. Our 64 years in this industry have
taught us that only HTF (High Tenacity Filament)® yarns can provide protection from the abrasive sharp edges of sheet metal.
HTF (High Tenacity Filament)® yarns utilize a bundle of continuous filaments that together provide such high tensile strength
that they resist breaking when exposed to the burrs which are part of sheet metal edges that have been punched, stamped,
extruded, or sheared.
In contrast, spun yarns, which comprise individual fibers twisted into a yarn, can be abraded as metal burrs pull the
individual fibers out of the yarn. This is why spun yarns “fuzz” when exposed to sheet metal for even short periods of time.
As these fibers are pulled out, the base fabric is reduced and the cut resistance of the glove diminishes in direct proportion
to the wear of the glove surface.
Yarns that utilize a glass fiber core are NOT recommended for protection against sheet metal edges as the glass fibers
are prone to shatter when exposed to the rough burrs on the metal’s edge.
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HTF (High Tenacity Filament)® Yarns
ArmorPlateTM yarn combines the strength of HTF (High Tenacity Filament)® with a dulling action. This combination of
tensile strength and yarn hardness protects against a variety of cut hazards including sheet metal, glass and knife blades.
ArmorPlateTM is non-friable and non-conductive which makes it an ideal replacement for gloves made with either glass or
stainless steel. The continuous filament construction of ArmorPlateTM yarn offers more strength and durability than gloves
made with aramid spun yarns and allows these gloves to be laundered repeatedly with the Bantex® cleaning process.
MaxPly® Dyneema® This HTF (High Tenacity Filament)® yarn is the combination of the raw material Dyneema® made in
a filament structure plied with a stretchable elastic in a patented process unique to Banom. Trademarked as the MaxPly®
process it keeps the individual filaments parallel in order to increase cut and abrasion resistance while allowing stretch and
sensitivity. Parallel filaments slip and roll on each other as they slide across sheet metal burrs, while the tensile strength of
the continuous Dyneema® filament resists breaking on the rough surface of the metal edge. Parallel filaments are less likely
to trap dirt, which increases abrasion resistance and makes these gloves easier to clean.
Abratex® is made specifically for Banom. It is an HTF (High Tenacity Filament)® yarn that works on a principle of tensile
strength. The combined strength of the continuous fibers resists breaking when encountering a metal burr, while the
individual fibers slip and roll as they pass along the rough metal edge.
Duratex® replaces the Abratex® trademark for sales in Europe.
Composite Stainless Steel provides the highest level of cut resistance on a per weight basis. When stainless steel
hardness is combined with HTF (High Tenacity Filament)® Abratex® or Dyneema® the resulting composite yarn has both
tensile strength and a dulling action to help prevent sheet metal edges from cutting through the glove. (It should be noted
that stainless steel gloves can be conductive and the user should not be exposed to electricity.)
How to Test – Carefully
We never want the actual glove user to be a “guinea pig” for any new product. When evaluating a new glove for an
application, we suggest that the proposed glove be exposed to the potential hazard. For sheet metal applications, move
the glove along the edge with a force that replicates the hazard. This should be done with proper protective equipment and
WITHOUT anyone’s hand in the glove. Sheet metal edges should be changed with each new glove being tested.
When selecting a glove to handle knives or razor blades, the following shouldbe considered:
Edge Sharpness
The ASTM F1790-05 Standard provides a guideline for selecting the type of gloves needed for knife blade hazards.
Cut-resistant gloves in this category combine high tensile strength yarns with a fiber that actually dulls the blade edge before
it can cut through the glove. The following combinations are used by Banom:
ArmorPlateTM combines the tensile strength of an HTF (High Tenacity Filament)® with a yarn hardness that makes this
cut-resistant yarn very effective in its protection against shop knives. When dealing with razor blades, we recommend
upgrading in protection to TriMax® Dyneema® or filament composite stainless steel listed below.
TriMax® Dyneema® This yarn combines HTF (High Tenacity Filament)® Dyneema® spiral wrapped around glass. This
patented construction allows the glass to dull the blade while the filament Dyneema® helps prevent the force of the blade
from coming through the glove. The filament Dyneema® completely encapsulates the glass to keep it from becoming friable.
Composite Stainless Steel combines the tensile strength of an HTF (High Tenacity Filament)® with the dulling action
of one of the hardest metals – stainless steel. In Banom products, the stainless steel is always spiral wrapped in order to
prevent the steel from breaking. Spiral wrapping also increases the cut resistance of the yarn by allowing the cutting edge
to encounter the stainless steel wrap in more than one area of the yarn.Stainless steel gloves are potentially conductive and
should be evaluated for electrical hazard as much as they are evaluated for cut resistance.
Moving Edges Versus Stationary Edges
(worth mentioning again)
No glove can protect against a continuously moving or rotating edge or blade.
Glove Testing
For knives or razor blades, the blade edge can be pulled on a diagonal pass across the glove while positioned on a flat
surface. When testing different gloves, remember to change the test blades for each pass, as their edges will be dulled by
the glove being tested.
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Sheet Glass
Kevlar® resists glass edges with its fiber’s hardness but must rely on a coating to protect its spun fibers from quickly
abrading.
At Banom, our composite yarns have a center glass core that is spiral wrapped with an HTF (High Tenacity Filament)®
which adds tensile strength. The filament cover wraps prevent the glass fibers from abrading in order to increase the glove’s
wear resistance while the strength of the filament resists the force of the cutting edge.
ArmorPlateTM combines tensile strength with a yarn hardness that helps resist the hazard presented by glass edges.
The continuous filament structure of ArmorPlateTM provides superior abrasion resistance as well as the ability to launder the
product repeatedly.
Longer edges pose greater hazards because of the potential for an entire edge to move across the hand. Loss of grip can
create additional problems if the glass should drop and break. Latex and nitrile coatings, which provide a tacky grip and
additional puncture resistance, should be considered in these applications. Glass can be wet or lubricated when cut. A
glove’s coating should be selected based on its resistance to the type of lubricant being used. If the glass is wet, latex
coatings are preferred. If the lubricant is hydrocarbon-based or mineral spirits, then nitrile coatings will be more effective.
When handling smaller sheet glass like that used in windowpanes, filament MaxPly® Dyneema® should be sufficient if
combined with a positive grip to keep the edges from moving. MaxPly® Dyneema® liners may be worn underneath for
additional protection.
Cut Test Data
The ANSI cut test data listed in this catalog are the results on ASTM F1790-05. ANSI also recognizes ASTM F1790-97.
For our products, the ’05 test results have always been lower.
The ’97 Standard mandates the use of a double face tape to secure the test fabric on the mandrel. This means that the blade
has to cut through both the fabric and the tape. The length of the cut is a 25-millimeter pass.
The ’05 Standard requires a copper filament to be placed in between the double face tape and the test fabric. The cut length
is reduced to a 20-millimeter pass and the test result reflects the weight required to cut through the fabric only.
© Banom 2013
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