Neoprene is a popular type of rubber used in many residential, commercial, and industrial applications. Because it is made of the polymerized form of chloroprene, polychloroprene, neoprene is also sometimes known as CR rubber. There are a multitude of customizable specifications for neoprene sheets, such as durometer, form, and composition. These specifications will ultimately determine which type of neoprene material is the best neoprene for your unique application. Soft neoprene and hard neoprene may be sufficiently different for you to choose one product over another, but—oftentimes—this one specification is not enough for you to make the best decision possible. Categories like these can give a consumer a general idea about the product which they are purchasing, but they are far too broad to give a real understanding of the product. In fact, this is just one example of the many ways in which neoprene products differ. Along these lines, we’ll answer a few of your questions about CR rubber in this article:
• What are the different types of neoprene?
• What are neoprene sheets used for?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of neoprene?
What Are the Different Types of Neoprene?
Generally, neoprene comes in two types: solid and sponge/foam. However, there are other ways in which neoprene sheets differ—such as durometer and density. Neoprene can even be blended with other elastomers like EPDM and SBR to further enhance its chemical and physical properties. Given the flexible set of specifications of the material neoprene (also called polychloroprene), it’s only natural to find neoprene sheeting in many applications. For every application, if you’re using neoprene sheets, ensure you find the right type of neoprene sheet for the job—after careful research, find the sheet neoprene that has the set of characteristics most fitting to your demands.
What Are Neoprene Sheets Used For?
Neoprene sheets are used for applications such as gaskets, seals, pads, and bumpers. Keep in mind, though, that variations in density, form, and composition will determine which functions a neoprene sheet best matches. Below, we explore the some of the different usages of CR rubber:
Gaskets, Seals, and Flanges: Many forms of neoprene excel in gasket, seal, and flange applications because of their compressibility, wide temperature-tolerance, and resistance to abrasions and oils. Automotive and industrial firms typically find the ideal durometer of a sheet of neoprene to be 40 to 75 on the Shore A scale. Both solid neoprene and soft neoprene (cell neoprene) can be utilized as for gaskets, seals, and flanges. Again, the right form of chloroprene rubber depends on the application.
Neoprene Vibration Pads: Neoprene—and most elastomers, for that matter—absorbs vibrations. The neoprene molecular structure dispels vibrations as they pass through its network of cross-linked bonds. Generally, a thicker-gauge material with a medium durometer, like regular or hard neoprene measuring between 60 to 75 on the Shore A scale, is ideal for vibration reduction and isolation. Workplaces with mechanical equipment and industrial machinery will usually find that neoprene vibration isolation pads are some of the best neoprene products that suit their needs. When this type of machinery operates without padding, both the machine and the floors beneath can be damaged, leading to expensive replacement costs. Of course, it’s better to invest in the padding before that happens.
Wear-Resistant Pads and Bumpers: The physical and all-weather resilience of neoprene materials make them excellent substances for protective padding and bumpers. One of the first uses for neoprene was electrical-wiring insulation due to neoprene’s resistance to UV, ozone and oxidation in addition to its general abrasion resilience. CR rubber (neoprene) is also frequently used as weather stripping for fire doors due to the flame-retardant trait that many forms of chloroprene possess.
What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Neoprene?
As we’ve shown, the advantages of neoprene include its weather, abrasion, oil, and water resistance. Its disadvantages, though, mainly stem from its cost. CR rubber is a relatively expensive material on its own. But, neoprene products are typically made of a neoprene blend, which greatly helps offset neoprene’s cost. These blends reduce the amount of neoprene used in the final product, thereby making the product more affordable since neoprene is one of the more expensive elastomers.
To find the best neoprene for your application, you will need to take things such as density, form, and composition into consideration. While these measurements are perhaps the most important, there are even more specifications to consider in any neoprene material that you may come across. Factors like tensile strength, temperature range, and chemical resistance will determine the type of CR rubber you will want to use, especially for applications that demand specificity. For such applications, don’t hesitate to seek assistance from a sheet rubber specialist.
