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 own unique application. Soft neoprene and hard neoprene are too broad categorizations of the material. Categories like these can give a consumer a general idea about the product which they are purchasing, but they are far too broad to have a real understanding of the product. In fact, they are merely examples of the broad range of durometers that neoprene scales. Sheets and rolls made from this synthetic can take the form of a solid or sponge. The synthetic rubber can even be blended with other elastomers like EPDM and SBR to further increase its chemical and physical properties.

Given the flexible set of specifications of neoprene (also called cholorprene), it’s only natural to find neoprene rubber in a variety of applications. For every application, it is essential to find the correct combination of specifications in a product which might be derived from neoprene sheets. Variations in density, form, and composition will determine which functions the sheet or roll can be best applied to:

• 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 alike might find the ideal durometer of a sheet to be 40 to 75 on the Shore A scale. Both solid sheet and soft neoprene (cellular version referred to as soft here) can be utilized as a gasket, seal or flange; deciding on a form of choloroprene depends on the application.
• Noise and vibration isolation pads: Neoprene—and most elastomers, for that matter—possess the ability to reduce vibrations. The molecular structure of neoprene dissipates some vibrations in the 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 sound and vibration reduction and isolation. Workplaces with mechanical equipment and industrial machinery would usually deem an elastomer with this quality as the best neoprene to suit their needs. When this type of machinery operates without padding, both it and the floors beneath can be damaged, leading to expensive replacement costs. Better to invest in the padding before that happens.
• Wear-resistant pads and bumpers: The physical and all-weather resilience of most neoprene materials makes them an excellent protective pad and bumper for many uses. 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. Chloroprene is also frequently used as weather stripping for fire doors due to the flame-retardant trait that many forms of chloroprene possess.

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 take into account in any neoprene material that you may come across. Simply knowing whether or not a material is a hard neoprene or a soft neoprene is not enough information to make an educated decision. Other factors like tensile strength, temperature range and chemical resistances will determine the type of neoprene sheets you will want to use, especially for more critical applications. For such applications, don’t hesitate to seek assistance from a sheet rubber specialist. Each and every specification matters!