Views: 2 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-12-08 Origin: Site
In industrial and manual work environments, hand injuries, particularly those caused by sharp objects such as blades, knives, or sheet metal, remain a significant concern. Effective hand protection is therefore a critical component of occupational safety protocols. Among various solutions, gloves incorporating chainmail have established themselves as a specialized and durable form of cut resistance. Hebei Linchuan Safety Protective Equipment Co., LTD manufactures and supplies a range of safety gloves, including those designed with chainmail or chainmail-composite structures, tailored for demanding applications.
Traditional chainmail gloves are constructed from interlinked metal rings, typically made from materials such as stainless steel or alloys. This design creates a flexible metallic mesh that acts as a physical barrier between the hand and a sharp edge. Modern iterations often combine this metal mesh with other materials to improve functionality. A common configuration involves a chainmail panel or "patch" strategically positioned over high-risk areas like the fingers, thumb, and palm, which is then attached to a base glove made from materials like leather, high-performance yarns (e.g., high-density polyethylene), or a blend of both. This hybrid design enhances dexterity and wearer comfort while maintaining core protection.
The primary function of these gloves is to resist cuts, and their performance is quantitatively measured against established international standards. The key standard is EN ISO 13997, which determines the Coupe Cut Resistance of a material. This test uses a straight-edge blade under a specified load, drawn across the material until it cuts through. The result is expressed as a Newton load—the higher the newton rating, the greater the cut resistance. For example, a material rated at 10 Newtons (N) under this standard provides a baseline level of protection, while specialized chainmail-reinforced gloves can achieve significantly higher ratings, often exceeding 22 N, depending on the metal alloy and base material used. It is important to note that while offering high cut resistance, chainmail gloves are generally not designed for puncture protection from needles or awls, which is tested under a separate standard (EN 388: 6.4 Puncture).
Chainmail cut-resistant gloves are deployed in specific sectors where the risk of laceration from sharp, heavy-duty tools or materials is prevalent.
Metal Fabrication and Stamping: Handling sheet metal, blanks, and stamped parts with sharp burrs and edges.
Glass Manufacturing and Handling: Moving large sheets of glass or handling glass fragments and cullet.
Butchering and Meat Processing: Boning, trimming, and cutting tasks in slaughterhouses and meatpacking plants, protecting against knives and bone splinters.
Aerospace Composites: Trimming and handling carbon fiber and fiberglass components, which can produce sharp splinters.
Disassembly and Recycling: Safely handling discarded materials with unpredictable sharp edges.
Considerations for Selection and Use
Selecting the appropriate glove involves a thorough hazard assessment. While chainmail gloves offer robust protection, they have specific characteristics:
Dexterity and Grip: Full-metal chainmail gloves can reduce tactile sensitivity. Composite designs with leather palms improve grip on tools and oily surfaces.
Conductive Properties: Being metallic, they conduct electricity and heat, making them unsuitable for electrical work or handling very hot/cold items without insulated liners.
Maintenance and Hygiene: Metal components require regular inspection for broken or damaged links. They must be cleaned and sanitized regularly, especially in food processing, to prevent contamination and material degradation.
Sizing and Fit: Proper fit is crucial for safety and performance. A poorly fitted glove can impede movement and create snag hazards.
Chainmail and chainmail-composite gloves represent a specialized tier within the spectrum of hand protection, engineered for scenarios involving severe cut hazards. Their efficacy is grounded in a quantifiable, tested performance metric—the Coupe Cut Resistance (ISO 13997) rating. Hebei Linchuan Safety Protective Equipment Co., LTD provides such specialized gloves as part of a comprehensive approach to industrial safety. The correct application of these gloves requires matching their specific properties—high cut resistance, flexibility, and material composition—to the identified risks of the task, while also considering factors like grip, dexterity, and environmental conditions to ensure overall worker safety and productivity.
International Organization for Standardization. (2019). *ISO 13997:1999/Amd 1:2019 - Protective clothing — Mechanical properties — Determination of resistance to cutting by sharp objects*. Geneva, Switzerland: ISO.
European Committee for Standardization. (2016). *EN 388:2016+A1:2018 - Protective gloves against mechanical risks*. Brussels, Belgium: CEN.
Hebei Linchuan Safety Protective Equipment Co., LTD. (2023). Product Technical Data Sheets: Cut-Resistant Glove Series. Internal documentation on material specifications and test reports.
