After finding the appropriate type of rubber—such as neoprene compound—for an application, one of the most important specifications to consider is durometer. Neoprene and other elastomers are available in a number of different combinations to suit any and most uses: such as thin or thick sheets of neoprene, a sponge neoprene roll, 100%-neoprene padding, or a neoprene blend sheet. Using a durometer will allow you to determine whether you need hard neoprene or soft neoprene. Durometer is one variable present in all of different forms of the product, and it is needed to determine the density of neoprene as well as of other elastomers. Neoprene durometer is an effective way to measure the flexibility and the pliability of the material. This synthetic rubber’s array of physical and chemical properties is so valuable most neoprene manufacturers opt to produce this all-purpose elastomer in multiple forms. In this article, we’ll answer the following questions:

• What is a durometer rating of neoprene?
• What is 40-durometer neoprene rubber?
• What durometer is neoprene?
• Are there different grades of neoprene?

Neoprene – Commercial Grade – 60A – 1/4″ x 72″

• Tasks that require flexible materials
• Industrial gasket, bumper, or sealing applications
• Industrial applications that involve oils, chemicals, ozone
• Applications that involve temperatures between -20° F and 212° F

72” Wide Sheet: This black neoprene sheet is specifically made to be 72” wide. The reason for this is because the standard 36” or 48” wide sheet rolls cannot satisfy the requirements of every application. We make 72” wide sheets of neoprene available so that you do not have to order too many materials for your job. It will help make sure that you have more to work with at a lower cost, minimizing the chances of you being stuck with unused leftover material. A standard roll of 72” wide flexible neoprene is well suited for large-scale industrial applications.

Good Resistance: The oil and chemical resistance of neoprene is in very popular with consumers. Being a synthetic elastomer, it comes with good resistance characteristics against some oils and chemicals. This feature comes in handy for industrial applications that see the presence of abrasive oils and chemicals. As a bumper, pad, or gasket, neoprene is well suited to performing in the presence of such hazards. It also possesses a good level of resistance against ozone.

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What Is a Durometer Rating of Neoprene?

The durometer rating of neoprene is the quantitative measurement of neoprene material’s hardness. To gain a deeper understanding of this concept, let’s ask: What exactly is durometer? Neoprene—and all rubbers, in general—have their hardness measured. Neoprene hardness, according to Wikipedia, is “a material’s resistance to permanent indentation.” In the 1920s, a hardness-measuring device was invented by Albert F. Shore. Confusingly enough, the device was named after the very unit of measurement the device was designed to measure. What this amounts to is a linguistic conundrum that persists to this day: A durometer measures a material’s durometer. Nonetheless, the durometer is a remarkable tool, and it has helped us categorize materials like neoprene rubber into different classes of hardness.

How does a durometer work? The device drives an indenter through a given material at a constant and steady rate. The indenter is then removed, and the depth of the indentation is measured. The depth of the indentation is what determines the number that the device displays—from 0 to 100. If the indenter fully penetrates the material, the durometer will read “0” (which indicates a very soft material). if the indenter does not penetrate the material at all, the durometer will read “100” (indicating a hard material). If one is measuring the durometer of neoprene material, it is imperative that the neoprene block being tested is at least 1/4” neoprene (in terms of thickness) and that there is a hard subsurface under the subject. Testing 1/4″ neoprene or thicker (such as 3/8” neoprene, 3/4” neoprene, or 2” neoprene) allows for proper results. Thin neoprene that fails this requirement lacks the sufficient matter for accurate testing.

Neoprene – Commercial Grade – 70A – 3/16″ x 36″

• Industrial gasket applications
• Applications involving temperatures between -20° F and 170° F
• Applications that may involve the presence of moderate levels of oil or ozone or even chemicals

Tough Elastomer: The most common reason why people choose a hard neoprene is because of its physical thickness and durability. It is very reliable when used for physically demanding applications. Although its flexibility is limited, the overall thickness of this neoprene (durometer 65-75) means that it is highly desirable for guarding surfaces or parts against any physical abrasions and damages. Unlike softer neoprene, this material is well suited to handle physical abuse.

Customization: Rubber-Cal provides multiple customization options for this thick neoprene material. Although the width comes in 36” and 48” options, widths that are up to 78” are available upon request. In addition a wide range of popular gauges are available in stock for immediate delivery. If a different gauge is required for a project, gauges of up to 2” thick can be produced to specification. In terms of fabrication, hand cutting is not the only option for customizing your neoprene sheets. Water-jet, die, and laser cuts are available if needed. The goal is to get you the perfect hard neoprene material for your application.

Neoprene – Commercial Grade – 70A – 3/16″ x 36″

What Is 40-Durometer Neoprene Rubber?

In short, 40-durometer neoprene rubber is relatively soft. But, notice that when we use terms like hard and soft, we implicitly invoke comparisons. Thus, when we examine a material’s hardness without a reference, the resulting measurement gives us little understanding of how hard the material actually is. For example, hard neoprene would have a durometer of approximately 65 to 75, while soft neoprene would measure at about 45 durometer. There are softer and harder products in the market though, so viewing this matter through a more holistic scope benefits our understanding of neoprene durometer. The density of neoprene and any other elastomer determines which scale the material belongs to. Softer materials, like a bicycle gel-seat or a household sponge, are measured with the Shore 00 scale. Denser materials, like a rubber sheets or skateboard wheels, are measured with the Shore A scale. The Shore D scale is used for even harder materials, such as plastics.

What Durometer Is Neoprene?

It is important to know how to read durometer in relation to the durometer scale. As mentioned above, higher durometers generally apply to harder materials (e.g., 80-durometer neoprene is harder than 70-durometer neoprene). However, if hardness is compared across two different scales (e.g., Shore 00 versus Shore A), you might find yourself confused. By way of example, a sponge neoprene roll might have a durometer of 60 on the Shore 00 scale, while soft neoprene that’s nonetheless solid might have a durometer of 45 on the Shore A scale. The sponge rubber is evidently less dense and less hard than the sheet neoprene; but, being measured by different scales makes it seem as if you’re dealing with two very different materials—even when they are very similar to each other. The Shore scale groups and measures materials relative to other materials in the same scale. The neoprene durometer-metric would then always be followed with an indication of what type of Shore is being used: for example, “60-Durometer Neoprene Shore A.” Again, if you do take the measurement, make sure that you do use 1/4” neoprene or thicker to test.

Closed Cell Rubber – Neoprene – 39″ x 78″

Closed Cell Rubber – Neoprene – 39″ x 78″

• Has a high level of compression strength
• Preferred for use in some automotive and industrial settings
• Neoprene foam can operate in temperatures as low as -40° F and as high as +200° F

Oil Resistance: Neoprene rubber is widely used in tasks that see a moderate presence of oils and greases. It offers a good level of resistance to those substances. Other materials can be stained or damaged by oil, but neoprene can stand up to such corrosive elements. Neoprene still demonstrates this trait even when comes in cellular rubber form. Closed cell neoprene sponge rubber can handle light to moderate contact with oils and greases without suffering from any immediate damage to its structure. As a result, a gasket made from neoprene foam rubber will last for a much longer period of time.

Weathering Resistance: In addition to oils and greases, neoprene can also operate in the outdoors. It can resist the degrading effects of UV rays, ozone, and even moisture from rainfall. It is very strong when it comes to UV rays. UV rays can cause damage such as discoloration in some materials, but will have a very hard time doing so with this foam rubber material. A big benefit of having a closed cell sponge rubber in wet and moist conditions is that the closed cell structure will not soak up any of the moisture. Water will be prevented from seeping into the material and causing any damage.

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Are There Different Grades of Neoprene?

Simply put, there are different grades of neoprene, but the demarcations we assign to neoprene rubber are most-often based on durometer, or hardness. One might consider sponge neoprene and solid neoprene to be different grades of neoprene, but this way of distinction isn’t the norm. (We’re better off considering neoprene foam and solid neoprene as different types of neoprene.)

It’s important to pay attention to the specifications of a neoprene rubber sheet, like neoprene compression-set, neoprene temperature-range, and neoprene durometer. Neoprene, in particular, is available in a host of unique combinations of physical and chemical traits, and it is crucial to understand how these differing traits specialize in different applications. Soft neoprene is going to be used for applications in which a pliable neoprene material is needed, whereas hard neoprene will be used for applications in which a rigid, sturdy material is necessary. One must also remember that the density of neoprene will determine the type of Shore by which neoprene durometer is measured. There are three different scales—each will produce a different reading for the same product. Neoprene durometer doesn’t seem so complicated at first, it can get confusing quickly without the right technical expertise. We hope this article gives you more insight into the concept of not just neoprene durometer, but durometer in general.

Neoprene – Commercial Grade – 80A – 1/32″ x 36″

Neoprene – Commercial Grade – 80A – 1/4″ x 36″

• Temperature range of -20° F to 212° F
• Features an excellent resistance to salt water
• Great for use as laboratory equipment protectors
• This is 80 Shore A hard neoprene rubber is available in custom fabrication options upon request

High Durometer Neoprene: A durometer rating of 80 Shore A, or simply 80A, is one of the highest ratings around. This 80A hard neoprene is definitely the highest of its kind available from Rubber-Cal. The high rating means that the rubber is superb at resisting permanent physical indentation from external sources. When people have physically demanding applications, such as in the construction and industrial fields, they generally tend to prefer the rubbers that have high durometer ratings.

Outdoor Use: You can use this black neoprene rubber in the outdoors. Neoprene has the ability to endure the presence of environmental elements such as moisture and ozone. While most other materials may tend to degrade over time after exposure to these factors, this durable neoprene will last for a longer period of time. This is another reason why you can find neoprene sheet rubber in use at outdoor construction sites and marine related applications.

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Neoprene – Commercial Grade – 60A – 3/4″ x 48″

• Can handle outdoor weather conditions
• 60 durometer neoprene with smooth finish
• Great as industrial seals, gaskets, and bumpers
• Can operate in temperatures between -20° F and 212° F

Physically Durable Rubber: This type of neoprene has a durometer rating of 60, making it one of the more physically durable rubbers available. This durometer level attributes a moderate amount of flexibility and durability to the material itself. It is a moderately pliable and elastic rubber, but it can function well in physically demanding applications. This 60 durometer neoprene can easily be applied to any industrial applications that need rubber components with a good balance of durability and pliability.

Neoprene Resistance Quality: Neoprene rubber is known to exhibit moderate levels of resistance against oils, chemicals, and environmental factors. These resistance qualities are what made neoprene material famous in the first place. Its durability in the presence of oils and chemicals means that it is good for industrial applications in the forms of seals and gaskets. As an added benefit, our neoprene sheet rubber can also be used in the outdoors because it features resistance capabilities against weathering factors such as ozone.

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