Neoprene Rubber
What is Neoprene Rubber?
Neoprene Rubber or Polychloroprene (CR) is a versatile synthetic rubber with exceptional resistance to oil, petroleum, and weathering. It also offers good UV, ozone and chemical stability; flexibility over a wide temperature range, and superior abrasion resistance. Neoprene is often found in laptop sleeves, electrical insulation, automotive fan belts, and various other industries and applications.
Neoprene production involves the free-radical polymerization of chloroprene. In commercial production, however, it is prepared by free-radical emulsion polymerization. Chloroprene polymerization is initiated with potassium persulfate. Bifunctional nucleophiles, metal oxides, and thioureas are then used to cross-link individual polymer strands.
Although natural rubber offers better mechanical properties, Neoprene’s resistance to degradation is far better than both natural and synthetic rubber. As a result, it is ideal for particularly demanding applications: gaskets, hoses, tubing, corrosion-resistant coatings.
Advantages of Neoprene Rubber
- Exceptional physical toughness
- Heat resistance
- Hydrocarbon oil resistance
- Sun, ozone and weathering resistance
- Wide temperature range for continuous use
- Superior flame retardant properties relative to hydrocarbon-based elastomers
- Resistance to twisting and flexing damage
- Versatile compounding capabilities
Properties of Neoprene Rubber
- ASTM D-2000 Classification BC, BE (Standard Classification System for Rubber Products in Automotive Applications)
- Chemical Definition: Polychloroprene
- Abbreviations: CR
Processing
- Transfer Molding
- Injection Molding
- Compression Molding
Physical & Mechanical Properties
- Durometer: 20 – 95 Shore A
- Tensile Strength: 500 – 3,000 PSI
- Elongation (Range %): 100% – 800%
- Abrasion Resistance: Very Good – Excellent
- Adhesion to Metal: Excellent
- Adhesion to Rigid Materials: Good – Excellent
- Compression Set: Poor – Good
- Flex Cracking Resistance: Good
- Impact Resistance: Good – Excellent
- Resilience & Rebound: Fair – Good
- Tear Resistance: Good – Excellent
- Vibration Dampening: Good – Excellent
Chemical Resistance
- Dilute Acids: Excellent
- Concentrated Acids: Poor
- Organic Acids (Dilute): Good – Excellent
- Organic Acids (Concentrated): Poor – Good
- Inorganic Acids: Good – Excellent
- Alcohols: Excellent
- Aldehydes: Poor – Fair
- Dilute Alkalies: Good
- Concentrated Alkalies: Poor
- Amines: Poor – Good
- Animal & Vegetable Oils: Good
- Non-Petroleum Brake Fluids: Fair
- Diester Oils: Poor
- Alkyl Phosphate Esters: Poor
- Aryl Phosphate Esters: Poor – Fair
- Ethers: Poor
- Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Fuels: Poor – Good
- Aromatic Hydrocarbon Fuels: Poor – Fair
- Extended Fuels (Oxygenated): Fair
- Halogenated Solvents: Poor
- Halogenated Hydrocarbon: Poor
- Ketones: Poor – Fair
- Lacquer Solvents: Poor
- LP Gases & Fuel Oils: Good
- Mineral Oils: Fair – Good
- Oil Resistance: Fair
- Aromatic Petroleum: Good
- Non-Aromatic Petroleum: Good
- Ammonia Refrigerant: Excellent
- Refrigerant Halofluorocarbons: R-11, R-12, R-13, R-21, R-22
- Refrigerant Halofluorocarbons with Oil: R-11, R-12, R-22
- Silicone Oil: Fair – Excellent
- Solvent Resistance: Fair
Thermal Properties
- Low Temperature Range: -70ºF – -30ºF
- Minimum for Continuous Use (Static): -80ºF
- Brittle Point: -85ºF
- High Temperature Range: +200ºF – +250ºF
- Maximum for Continuous Use (Static): +250ºF
Environmental Performance
- Colorability: Fair
- Flame Resistance: Fair – Good
- Gas Permeability: Fair – Good
- Odor: Fair – Good
- Ozone Resistance: Good – Excellent
- Oxidation Resistance: Good – Excellent
- Radiation Resistance: Fair – Good
- Steam Resistance: Fair – Good
- Sunlight Resistance: Good – Excellent
- Taste Retention: Fair – Good
- Weather Resistance: Fair – Good
- Water Resistance: Fair – Good
Applications of Neoprene Rubber
Neoprene rubber is a versatile synthetic rubber often used in a wide variety of industries and applications:
- Automotive: Transmission belts, brake and steering system components, vibration mounts
- Construction: Window seals and gaskets, highway and bridge seals, washers
- Music: Speaker Cones, Piano hammer tips
- Home accessories: Laptop sleeves, remote controls, mouse pads
- Civil Engineering
- Aquatics
- Mass Transit
- Conveyer belts
- Industrial hoses
- O-rings
- Diaphragms
- Grommets