MICROFLEX® MidKnight™ MK-296 Features
Engineered for automotive technicians, law enforcement, maintenance workers, and tattoo artists requiring a durable black nitrile gloves that hides oil, grease, and contamination while contrasting light-colored objects and small parts, the Ansell MICROFLEX MidKnight MK-296 delivers 4.7 mil palm and 5.5 mil finger thickness in a silicone-free, powder-free black nitrile construction. Full-hand texture using a non-foaming formula maintains consistent grip in wet and dry conditions. FDA exam grade and ASTM D6319 AQL 1.5 extend the MK-296 to clinical and food handling applications.
Silicone-free construction makes the MK-296 safe around paints, coatings, and lacquers where silicone transfer causes fisheye defects in finish films. Latex-free nitrile eliminates natural rubber latex allergy risk. Eco packaging uses a minimum of 70 percent recycled material, vegetable-based inks, and a plastic-free recyclable box. Available in Small, Medium, Large, and X-Large, 100 gloves per pack, through LabSupplies.com.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Ansell |
| Product Line | MICROFLEX® MidKnight™ |
| Part Number | MK-296 (S: MK-296-S | M: MK-296-M | L: MK-296-L | XL: MK-296-XL) |
| Material | Nitrile — latex-free |
| Color | Black |
| Palm Thickness | 4.7 mil |
| Finger Thickness | 5.5 mil |
| Length | 9.5" (245mm) |
| Texture | Fully textured — non-foaming formula |
| Cuff | Beaded |
| Powder | Powder-free |
| Silicone | Silicone-free |
| Count | 100 gloves per pack |
| Medical Grade | FDA exam grade — suitable for medical applications |
| Standard | ASTM D6319 — AQL 1.5 |
| Food Contact | Compliant with US FDA food contact regulations |
| Latex | Latex-free nitrile construction |
| Packaging | Eco-friendly — min. 70% recycled material, vegetable-based inks, plastic-free, recyclable |
Applications
The Ansell MK-296 is used by automotive and diesel technicians, body shop personnel handling coated surfaces, law enforcement professionals requiring black PPE, tattoo artists requiring medical-grade black gloves, maintenance staff for heavy-soil chemical handling, and food processing operations requiring FDA food contact compliance at higher puncture resistance than standard exam gloves.
MidKnight MK-296 vs. MICROFLEX® Cobalt N19
| Feature | MidKnight MK-296 (Black) | Cobalt N19 (Blue) |
|---|---|---|
| Color | Black — hides dirt, stains, oils | Cobalt blue |
| Palm Thickness | 4.7 mil — heavier duty | 3.9 mil |
| Finger Thickness | 5.5 mil | Not separately spec'd |
| Silicone-Free | Yes — paint and coating safe | Not specified |
| Texture | Fully textured, non-foaming | Fully textured |
| Medical Grade | FDA exam grade | FDA 510(k) approved |
| Chemo Tested | Not listed | Yes |
| Primary Use | Automotive, industrial, law enforcement, tattoo | Clinical, lab, food, general |
| Price | $17 / 100 pack | $12 / 100 pack |
Academic and Institutional Pricing
LabSupplies.com offers tiered quantity pricing for academic and research institutions. As an authorized dealer, we ship directly from USA inventory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why choose black nitrile gloves over blue or clear for automotive and industrial work?
Black nitrile gloves serve two practical purposes in automotive and industrial settings. Black hides oil, grease, and contamination immediately visible on blue or clear gloves, allowing the glove to stay in use without visual distraction. Black also provides a contrasting backdrop against which light-colored objects — small fasteners, parts, and debris — stand out more clearly. For law enforcement and security professionals, black color meets duty dress standards where colored gloves would be inappropriate.
What does silicone-free mean and why does it matter for certain applications?
Silicone transfer from gloves to painted, coated, or finished surfaces causes fisheye defects — small craters in the paint or coating film that require stripping and refinishing to correct. For automotive body technicians, painters, and woodworkers handling coated parts and surfaces, silicone contamination is a significant quality control problem. Silicone-free construction on the MK-296 eliminates that transfer risk, making it safe around paints, lacquers, and finishes without surface contamination.
What is the non-foaming formula on the MICROFLEX MidKnight MK-296?
Standard textured nitrile gloves use a foaming process that creates raised areas on the glove surface. Foam-based texture can degrade in heavily wet or contaminated conditions as the structure saturates. The MK-296 non-foaming formula creates full-hand texture through a different method that maintains grip geometry in both wet and dry conditions — providing consistent tactile feedback with oils, lubricants, and other liquids that would compromise foamed-texture performance.
How does the Ansell MidKnight MK-296 compare to the MICROFLEX Cobalt N19?
Both are FDA exam grade Ansell MICROFLEX nitrile gloves with full-hand texture, powder-free construction, and FDA food contact compliance. Key differences: the MK-296 is black at 4.7 mil palm and 5.5 mil finger, silicone-free, suited to automotive, industrial, and law enforcement use. The Cobalt N19 is cobalt blue at 3.9 mil, FDA 510(k) approved, and chemotherapy drug tested, suited to clinical, dental, and laboratory use. Stock both to cover industrial and clinical roles from a single supplier.
Ansell MICROFLEX® Glove Family
Ansell's MICROFLEX product line covers a broad range of exam-grade nitrile specifications for different application profiles. The MidKnight MK-296 is the black, heavy-duty, silicone-free option for automotive and industrial environments. For clinical, dental, laboratory, and food service applications, the MICROFLEX Cobalt N19 (blue, 3.9 mil, FDA 510(k) approved, chemotherapy tested) is available at LabSupplies.com. Additional MICROFLEX and Ansell glove lines covering extended cuff, ultra-thin, and chemical splash resistance applications are also available.