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First developed in the early 1930s, neoprene material was the first successful synthetic elastomer to hit the market. With World War II raging, natural rubber materials were becoming scarce which led to the United States’ discovery of chemically engineered neoprene elastomers. This new neoprene material was made with the intention of replacing natural rubber with a stronger and more resilient synthetic rubber. Its unique chemical makeup allows a neoprene rubber sheet to be used in highly abrasive environments that may involve chemicals, oils, and extreme temperatures. However, as time went on, neoprene elastomers’ usage spread worldwide, making it more accessible to other countries. Today, neoprene manufacturers are able to make custom neoprene parts fabricated specifically to the measurements provided by the customer.
General Purpose Rubber – Black – 60A
- Smooth black finish
- Stocked width of 36”
- A rubber sheet for a variety of applications
- Working temperature range of -10° F to 190° F
- Black rubber roll available in lengths of 25ft or 50ft depending on the thickness of the rubber
SBR Rubber: Our General Purpose Rubber sheets are made using styrene butadiene rubber (SBR). This synthetic elastomer is known for its durability. SBR’s physical qualities are present in this solid rubber sheet. With a durometer rating of 60, it can handle physical abrasions pretty well. This rubber sacrifices some elasticity and pliability, but it is meant more for physical applications that require a moderate degree of strength. In addition, its durability is enhanced by the fact that it is a vulcanized rubber sheets.
Meant for Not So Sensitive Applications: General Purpose Rubber is very adaptable. A sheet of this elastomer can be made into various seals and gaskets that can then be used for a large variety of different applications. This solid rubber material is well suited for use in residential, commercial, and industrial applications. The material of this black rubber roll functions very well as bumper and pad material too thanks to their good durability.
Who Invented Neoprene?
Neoprene material, also known as “chloroprene”, was invented by two DuPont chemists, Wallace Carothers and Arnold Collins, in 1930. Originally invented in 1930, neoprene elastomers’ popularity rose during World War II due to the shortage of natural rubber material caused by the war. The neoprene material is dubbed “DuPrene” after the company but was soon changed to “neoprene” in 1937 as a result of the DuPont laboratories’ effort to inform consumers “that the material is an ingredient, not a finished product” (Wikipedia.org). Additionally, a year later in 1938, foam neoprene material was accidentally discovered by Otto Bayer and, in the long run, invented a new way to manufacture neoprene elastomers. By the 1940s, with World War II in play, the demand for neoprene doubles as the natural rubber supply to the United States was cut off by Japan. At the time, synthetic rubbers, including neoprene material, were the only elastomers available to countries who were not allied with Japan. During that time, neoprene material was used as a more durable and resilient alternative to natural rubber. Today, neoprene elastomers are used around the word to replace natural rubber in highly abrasive applications.
Where is Neoprene Made?
Neoprene material was originally invented and produced in the United States; however, today, it is produced and used worldwide. A neoprene rubber sheet can be used for many different purposes, such as seals and gaskets, with many manufacturers offering custom neoprene cut products. Neoprene manufacturers use various methods, such as die cutting, laser cutting, water jet cutting, and even hand cutting, to provide consumers with custom neoprene parts. Each method of cutting a neoprene rubber sheet determines the precision of each cut. For instance, hand cutting is generally used for less precise cuts because it is not a computer operated method. On the other hand, die, laser, and water jet cutting offers a more precise cut where measurements are entered into a computer. Most often, neoprene manufacturers cut the custom neoprene parts according to specifications provided by the customer. Due to the expansion of neoprene material production, it is a widely used and easily accessible material around the world.
Neoprene – Commercial Grade – 50A
Neoprene – CG – 60A – 72″ Wide
- Tasks that require flexible materials
- Industrial gasket, bumper, or sealing applications
- Projects that would be better served with wider sheets
- 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.
What is Neoprene Made Out Of?
Neoprene elastomers are synthetic rubbers that are made mostly out of chloroprene, hence the scientific name “polychloroprene”. In scientific terms, “Neoprene (CR), also called polychloroprene or chloroprene rubber, is a synthetic rubber produced by the polymerization (or linking together of single molecules into giant, multiple unit molecules) of chloroprene” (brittanica.com). Chloroprene is a toxic and flammable liquid chemical that is produced by the chlorination of butadiene or isoprene. Both are common chemical compounds used in the composition of synthetic rubbers due to their ability to enhance the material’s strength. The chlorination process of butadiene or isoprene introduces chlorine into the molecular structure of the elastomer causing neoprene rubber to “resist swelling by hydrocarbon oils, to have greater resistance to oxidation and ozone attack, and to possess a measure of flame resistance” (Britannica.com). Due to the chemicals used to produce neoprene material, it is a resilient and durable synthetic rubber that has enhanced protection and resistance properties when compared to natural rubber.
What Natural Resources are Used to Make Neoprene?
One of the primary natural resources used in the production of neoprene material is petroleum oil. According to Patagonia, “The most common method [of creating neoprene] – Method 1 – takes butadiene through a two-step process of chlorination and subsequent dehydrochlorination. The butadiene for Method 1 is derived from petroleum” (Patagonia.com). The chemicals derived from petroleum oil are called “petrochemicals” and they are used in the production of neoprene material for its ability to create a strong synthetic elastomer. Butadiene, a common chemical found in neoprene and other synthetic rubbers, is a by-product of petroleum. In fact, butadiene is “the major constituent of many synthetic rubbers…During World War II, butenes from petroleum and natural gas were the raw material for 60 percent of American butadiene production, ethyl alcohol for the rest” (Britannica.com). The use of petrochemicals creates a resilient, chemical and oil-resistant neoprene rubber sheet that is ideal for highly abrasive applications.
Although neoprene material was invented by the United States for a specific purpose, today, neoprene manufacturers around the world are producing and cutting custom neoprene parts. Neoprene material is being manufactured and used worldwide for a variety of applications in industrial, commercial, or residential settings. Due to the strengthening petrochemicals found in its composition, neoprene elastomers are highly valued materials in industrial environments for their resistance to harsh solvents and heavy impacts. From the time of conception, the use and manufacturing of neoprene material has expanded throughout the world and continues to be a valued synthetic rubber material over natural rubber.
Neoprene – Commercial Grade – 80A
