Sheets of neoprene rubber can be made into different forms and styles. Although the reasons why may not be immediately obvious, you will quickly see that each form and style is designed for a specific set of applications. Many consumers are familiar with the neoprene manufactured into regular sheets or rolls of solid rubber by a neoprene sheet supplier. But, again, there are many types of neoprene! Neoprene, also known as chloroprene rubber or polychloroprene, can be manipulated during the neoprene manufacturing process to become foam neoprene, or sponge neoprene. But that is not it! There are different types of neoprene sponge rubber, each of which exhibits different characteristics. Open-cell neoprene foam, for example, is a common commodity in many sectors, such as in the making of sound absorbers. At other times, neoprene manufacturers integrate neoprene materials into a fabric-like medium, essentially turning the neoprene elastomer into a woven cloth. Although not every neoprene sheet supplier offers neoprene in a fabric-like form—as rubber sheeting, neoprene is still invaluable to us in many areas of life. In any case, you can see how versatile of a material neoprene is—manipulable in all kinds of ways to take on different forms. In this article, we will discuss the different forms of neoprene and their characteristics, answering a few guiding questions:
• What are the different types of neoprene?
• How big is a sheet of neoprene?
• Is a neoprene rubber sheet waterproof?
• What is the cheapest type of neoprene rubber?
What Are the Different Types of Neoprene?
The different types of neoprene are solid neoprene and foam neoprene. But there are also different types of neoprene foam, as well: closed-cell neoprene foam and open-cell neoprene foam. To get a better understanding of this topic, let us take a look into the history of neoprene. Neoprene was originally developed in its solid form. In 1931, the French chemical giant DuPont developed neoprene as a potential alternative to natural rubber. At first, DuPont’s neoprene formula was heavily flawed—to the point of unmarketability. This was the original neoprene for sale. Neoprene, at this stage of its development, smelled so ghastly that the entire procedure for manufacturing neoprene was reassessed and reorganized. DuPont knew that they were in possession of a valuable idea. They just needed to make it work. After a few years, through various phases of trial and error, DuPont managed to refine their production process to a level where the resulting neoprene rubber products were marketable on a large scale. Without many of the hinderances that plagued previous versions of neoprene rubber products, the neoprene rubber material gained increasing traction with consumers. Having gone commercial, neoprene became known as a better alternative to natural rubber. Neoprene oil-resistance, neoprene temperature-range, and neoprene chemical-resistance are just a few of the characteristics of neoprene rubber that make the material superior to natural rubber. When it comes to the debate about natural rubber vs. neoprene, the difference between neoprene and rubber (natural) is vast—neoprene certainly takes the cake. But the history of neoprene does not stop here! As consumers became more and more aware of the many neoprene rubber sheet properties, the amount of neoprene applications exploded, and the chloroprene rubber market boomed. Scientific developments drastically expanded neoprene’s popularity as knowledge about neoprene properties and uses became more accessible. Nowadays, DuPont is not the only neoprene company. (Neoprene is not even a material offered by DuPont anymore, as the company sold its neoprene unit in 2015.) No doubt, there are many neoprene rubber manufacturers. And neoprene specifications have become more detailed, as well as advanced. Many neoprene rubber sheet manufacturers even standardly offer a neoprene rubber properties PDF for you to make your quest to find neoprene more secure. Neoprene vulcanization, neoprene temperature limits, and neoprene thickness sizes are just some of the ways in which distributors (neoprene) have experimented with its fabrication. Neoprene-rubber-sheet uses have truly become their own field of study. In fact, neoprene goods are so appreciated now that some neoprene companies even offer free neoprene samples!
How Big Is a Sheet of Neoprene?
A sheet of neoprene is typically 3-feet wide and 25- or 50-feet long. Importantly though, when consulting neoprene manufacturers, neoprene is typically customizable, you will find. That is, a distributor (neoprene) will offer custom-made neoprene, which makes neoprene buying even easier for consumers. Cutting neoprene is simple, so a supplier (neoprene) usually engages in custom neoprene manufacturing, making custom neoprene products, such as a custom-size neoprene mat, custom neoprene gaskets, or a custom neoprene playmat, easily attainable. You can even purchase neoprene by the yard or neoprene by the metre! Whether you want your neoprene thin, your neoprene reinforced, your neoprene soft, your neoprene solid, your neoprene hard, or your neoprene tan, even, those who sell neoprene can probably offer you many types of custom neoprene mats. Colored neoprene sheets, high-density neoprene foam, heavy-duty neoprene, high-temperature neoprene, and smooth-skin neoprene are other requests that those who supply neoprene likely accommodate.
Is a Neoprene Rubber Sheet Waterproof?
You might ask: Is neoprene waterproof? Is neoprene water-resistant? Generally, sheets of neoprene are waterproof. But is all neoprene waterproof? Kind of, but not quite. Open-cell neoprene sponge, because of its porous neoprene material properties, absorbs water—much like a household sponge. What is difference between closed-cell and open-cell form that makes them behave differently in response to water? Closed-cell neoprene sponge rubber’s pockets of gas do not connect to the sponge neoprene roll’s surrounding environment, thereby still providing a neoprene seal against all matter that comes into contact with the neoprene foam rubber sheet. On the other hand, neoprene made in the form of open-cell neoprene foam essentially behaves as a water- and air-permeable membrane. Neoprene (high-quality) foam sheets that are open-celled have gaseous pockets that are directly exposed to the neoprene foam pad’s external environment. However, one of the many neoprene physical properties is that neoprene is waterproof, even if a particular pad (neoprene) has a neoprene rubber structure that absorbs water. Thus, open-cell neoprene foam likely will not work as a neoprene seal material, but it can still stay submerged in water without becoming damaged. When you need waterproofness as part of a neoprene (polychloroprene) product’s specifications, neoprene specs sheets will be of great help.
What Is the Cheapest Type of Neoprene Rubber?
The cheapest type of neoprene rubber is a neoprene blend. When it comes to neoprene, industrial, commercial, and residential consumers often buy neoprene material that is mixed with other, cheaper elastomers, such as SBR. These products are only part neoprene. This is not to say, though, that neoprene made of a neoprene blend is cheap neoprene or discount neoprene. In this case, the chloroprene rubber price reflects the amount of neoprene ingredients used in the neoprene material for sale; a neoprene blend still has the potential to be considered premium-grade neoprene. If the application permits the use of a neoprene blend, such as a buna-n-neoprene, a neoprene-NBR, an SBR-neoprene, a neoprene-silicone, an EPDM-neoprene, or a neoprene-plastic (neoprene-thermoplastic) blend, then using a neoprene blend may be the best way to minimize the neoprene sheet price. And if you are unsure of the proportion of polychloroprene polymer in your neoprene purchase, you can always check the neoprene rubber technical data sheet or the neoprene SDS (safety data sheet). There, you will find more information about your product, such as the neoprene chemical-resistance chart, neoprene durometer chart, neoprene rubber sheet weight, neoprene rubber sheet density, neoprene rubber Shore hardness, neoprene rubber temperature range, and neoprene thermal properties. Recycled neoprene products are also sometimes an option when you are looking for a neoprene pad price that is affordable. In sum, when it comes to monetary price, neoprene rubber sheet prices do not have to be unaffordable. When looking for neoprene material to buy, with the right research, you can find a neoprene sheet material at a reasonable cost.
Neoprene—what is it? In our neoprene material spotlight, we have highlighted some of the ways in which neoprene sheet suppliers optimize sheets of neoprene to meet the world’s various needs. Regardless of whether your (CR) chloroprene rubber comes in the form of solid neoprene rubber rolls or as a neoprene sponge sheet—because it is neoprene, it will still offer you moderate degrees of neoprene resistance. These resistances include neoprene chlorine-resistance, neoprene fire-resistance, neoprene fuel-resistance, neoprene rubber chemical-resistance, and neoprene rubber heat-resistance. Over the many decades since its inception, neoprene rubber has proven to be a very useful material. Products like a neoprene gasket sheet, neoprene discs, a neoprene gasket seal, a neoprene gasket roll, and neoprene yarn are widely available commodities. This growth in popularity is owed to the many courageous thinkers that pushed this material to its limit, continuously expanding its potential. Pioneering minds have given the compound more forms and uses than what its original creators could have ever imagined. New developments will continue to revivify our perspectives of sheets of neoprene. Although it can be cliché to say, it is true: the possibilities are endless!
