Importance

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Abstract

An elastomeric article (e.g., glove, condom, and so forth) coated with a hydrogel is provided. The hydrogel coating facilitates dry and/or damp donning. In addition, due its low coefficient of friction, the hydrogel allows stripping of a dip-formed article without the use of an antiblocking powder. Thus, the present inventors have discovered that certain treatment steps, such as chlorination and/or lubrication, conventionally conducted 'off-line' (i.e., after stripping) are no longer required. Moreover, even when such treatments are used, they may conducted 'in-line' (i.e., before stripping). The ability to eliminate certain off-line treatment steps provides a significant improvement in the efficiency of the forming process.

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First Claim