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A neoprene sheet, both solid and foam, offers excellent chemical and physical properties that make them ideal for industrial applications. The chemical composition of industrial neoprene allows it to be a versatile material that can be used both indoors and outdoors. Neoprene, in general, retains excellent resistance to oil, chemicals, and high temperatures making it a reliable material for making industrial parts. A solid neoprene sheet offers more impact-absorption and is ideal for protective seals, gaskets, and neoprene bearing pads. Contrastingly, neoprene foam sheets are lighter and more porous materials that are best used for insulating applications. Due to neoprene’s outstanding versatility and chemical and physical-resistance properties, neoprene sheets are highly valued and popularly used in industrial settings.
Neoprene – Commercial Grade – 70A
Is Neoprene Resistant to Gas?
Is Neoprene Resistant to Oil? (XXD40)
What is Neoprene Sheet?
A neoprene sheet or roll is the raw material from which other products, such as seals, gaskets, and pads, are cut out of and are available in varying thicknesses and durometers for industries to use as needed. Industrial neoprene sheets are available in two forms: solid and cellular. Solid neoprene sheets are well-known for their resilience and resistance to abrasions. Also referred to as “rebound resilience”, resilience refers to “the ratio of the energy returned to the energy applied for deformation by an indentation due to a single impact.” In other words, a solid neoprene sheet has the ability to return to its original form after being under a considerable amount of pressure or heavy impacts without being permanently misshapen or deformed. A solid neoprene sheet is also resistant to ozone, UV, oxygen, and moisture allowing it to be used and left outdoors without worry of damage. In addition, it retains a high operating temperature of up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit making for durable neoprene industrial parts. Furthermore, solid neoprene sheets retain a high tensile strength meaning it is a resilient material that is difficult to tear or break even when stretched out or pulled to great lengths.
Neoprene foam sheets are slightly less durable and resilient than their solid counterparts; however, they still retain a high degree of resistance to oil, chemicals, heat, and, for closed cell foam, moisture. Neoprene foam sheets are able to withstand temperatures as high as 200 degrees Fahrenheit and can resist damage caused by chemicals and oil. Closed cell foam sheets also have the ability to resist moisture due to their tight knit structure of air pockets. Open cell foam sheets, in contrast, are not resistant to moisture due to their large pockets of air. Neoprene foam sheets have better compressibility compared to solid neoprene sheets and are often used as seals and gaskets in industrial applications that require a tight seal. Regardless of form, both solid and foam industrial neoprene sheets are widely used for abrasive applications where oil, chemical, and heat-resistance are necessary.
Is Neoprene Made from Oil?
Neoprene is made from chemical compounds that are derived from petroleum oil called “petrochemicals”. One of these petrochemicals, chloroprene, is the main chemical compounds used in the production of neoprene rubber. Because it is a petroleum-derived chemical, it has to be mechanically taken from the depths of the earth. For example, “Like gasoline and most synthetic chemicals, the origins of butadiene for making chloroprene…start with oil exploration and drilling. Then the crude must be transported. At the refinery, components of crude oil are broken apart and separated to make different organic compounds, including butadiene.” Butadiene is a common chemical compound found in most synthetic rubbers due to its ability to create a durable elastomer with enhanced physical and chemical properties. When used in the production of durable neoprene, butadiene reacts to the chlorine that is also used in the material’s makeup to create a material that is resistant to heat and oil (essentialchemicalindustry.org). This chemical reaction prevents a neoprene sheet from deteriorating when coming into contact with oil or drying out when exposed to heat.
Closed Cell Rubber – Neoprene
- Durometer rating of 20-25 Shore C
- 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.
Neoprene – Commercial Grade – 45A
Does Ozone Deteriorate Neoprene?
A neoprene sheet is able to resist deterioration caused by ozone and can also resist damaging effects of other outdoor damaging factors, such as UV rays and moisture. Damage caused by ozone is called “ozone cracking” and it can render rubber parts unfit for use which can lead to hazards in the workplace. Ozone cracking is a detrimental phenomenon that occurs as “Tiny traces of ozone in the air will attack double bonds in rubber chains, with natural rubber, polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene rubber and nitrile rubber being most sensitive to degradation. Every repeat unit in the first three materials has a double bond, so every unit can be degraded by ozone” (Wikipedia.org). A neoprene sheet will be impervious to ozone cracking and can be used and left outdoors for extended periods of time. Along with ozone-resistance, industrial neoprene sheets are also resistant to a number of other outdoor factors, such as UV rays and moisture. UV rays and moisture can severely damage rubber materials by causing them to fade in color, swell, and lose its strength. A neoprene sheet holds up well against outdoor damaging factors making them ideal for outdoor use.
How Thick is Neoprene?
A neoprene sheet, both solid and foam, is offered in an array of gauge thicknesses up to 1-inch-thick; however, it can also be offered in thicknesses up to 2 inches based on custom orders. The range of gauge thicknesses can vary depending on the durometer of the neoprene sheet. Durometer refers to the hardness of a material and neoprene sheets are measured using two different scales, one for each type. Solid neoprene sheets are measured in the Shore A scale and is offered in multiple different durometers, ranging from as soft and pliable as 45A to as hard and stiff as 80A. Closed cell neoprene foam sheets are measured in the Shore C scale and are offered in 20-25 Shore C durometer rating. Thickness, along with durometer, dictates the flexibility and pliability of the neoprene sheet. Thicker sheets can be used as impact-absorbing industrial neoprene pads to help protect existing floors from dents or cracks caused by falling objects. In contrast, a thinner neoprene sheet is better suited for sealing and weatherstripping applications where their flexibility and pliability can be beneficial.
What Can Neoprene be Used For?
Solid and closed cell neoprene sheets can be used as shock-absorbing bearing pads or as insulators for sounds and vibrations. A solid neoprene sheet is ideal for shock-absorption in industrial settings due to their resistance to damaging solvents and conditions. Durable neoprene is the ideal material for use as bearing pads due to its high tensile strength and low compression set. This creates a durable and reliable application that will not fail or lose its shape. In addition, closed cell neoprene foam sheets can be used to dampen sound created by falling objects and vibrating machinery. The air pockets within its structure allows for better sound insulation compared to a solid neoprene sheet and will help dramatically reduce the amount of noise. With the option of solid or foam sheets, industrial neoprene can be used for a wide range of applications.
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.
Neoprene – Commercial Grade – 80A
Neoprene – Commercial Grade – 50A
- Black neoprene with smooth finish
- Can handle outdoor weather conditions
- Great as industrial seals, gaskets, and bumpers
- Can operate in temperatures between -20° F and 212° F
- Can be used in applications that may involve the presence of oils and chemicals
A More Flexible Rubber: This black neoprene sheet has a durometer rating of 50, which is a medium grade level. This medium durometer level attributes a moderate amount of flexibility and durability. It is a moderately pliable and elastic rubber when compared to neoprene material of a higher durometer rating. This increased elasticity makes it more open to physical indentation. This flexible neoprene can easily be applied to any industrial applications that need pliable rubber components.
Neoprene Resistance Quality: Neoprene rubber is known to exhibit moderate levels of resistance against oils, chemicals, and environmental factors. These resistance qualities were 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.
What is Neoprene Bearing Pad?
Neoprene bearing pads are durable and reliable products that are used in the construction of bridges and buildings as a buffer that allows the metal frames of the structures to flex with movement. Neoprene bearing pads fall under the category of elastomeric bearing pads which AASHTO defines as “a structural device that transmits loads while facilitating translation and/or rotation” (dot.ca.gov). Neoprene’s high tensile strength makes it a durable material that is difficult to tear while its low compression set gives it excellent compressibility allowing it to be put under an extreme amount of pressure without becoming permanently damaged. For instance, “Internal structure consists of a sandwich of mild steel shims and rubber molded as one unit. Elastomeric bearing pads compress on vertical load and accommodate horizontal rotation and provide lateral shear movement. Elastomeric bearing pads are the most economical solution used in construction of large span bridges and buildings” (Wikipedia.org). Neoprene bearing pads offer optimal shock-absorbing abilities that effectively dissipates any impacts or vibrations that may damage the structure of a bridge or building. It can also promote the absorption of movements caused by thermal expansion and contraction of the materials within the construction of the structure. Furthermore, due to its flexibility, neoprene bearing pads will not restrict movement when used in bridges. It will allow the bridge to absorb the shock of movement as being too stiff may cause cracks due to the amount of pressure being placed on the support beams.
Does Neoprene Insulate?
Neoprene foam sheets provide excellent insulation properties whether it be for heat, moisture, or sound. Closed cell neoprene foam sheets are better suited for insulation purposes because of their cellular makeup. Due to its cellular makeup, durability, and flexibility, closed cell neoprene foam sheets are ideal for insulating sound, vibrations, heat, and moisture. In addition, neoprene foam sheets are also popularly used to make industrial seals and gaskets for applications that require a tight seal. Closed cell neoprene can be compressed into very tight applications and return to its original shape when the pressure is removed due to its light and airy structure. Industrial seals and gaskets are often exposed to moisture, harsh solvents, and extreme heat; however, though lighter and more porous than solid neoprene, closed cell neoprene foam is able to withstand temperatures as high as 200 degrees Fahrenheit and will resist the permeation of moisture and chemical solvents. Furthermore, the cellular structure of neoprene foam sheets also makes for excellent insulators for sound and vibrations. Its cellular composition is ideal for dissipating the energy of sound as it passes through the material effectively dampening the amount of noise emitted. Closed cell neoprene foam sheets can be used directly underneath the vibrating object or can be used to line an entire room for all-around noise insulation. Compared to solid neoprene, closed cell neoprene foam is better designed for insulation and high compression applications.
Both solid and foam neoprene sheets are durable materials that are frequently used in chemically and physically abrasive industrial settings. A solid neoprene sheet is commonly used for protective applications involving heavy impacts or moving equipment while neoprene foam sheets are generally used for light to medium-duty applications that require high compressibility or insulation. With its excellent chemical resistance properties, neoprene sheets will provide a long-lasting application that will not fail when coming into contact with corrosive chemicals or oil. Overall, a neoprene sheet is the ideal material for creating reliable industrial rubber parts that will promote a safe work environment.
