What Is Neoprene Rubber?
Neoprene is a type of synthetic rubber. Neoprene rubber, therefore, is a bit redundant. It was developed in the 1930s, and since then has been incorporated into numerous products popular in daily life, from wetsuits to protective gear. Neoprene has a variety of properties that make it quite useful, including being abrasion-resistant, chemical-resistant, waterproof, somewhat stretchable, and buoyant.
One of the most popular and visible uses of neoprene is in the structure of wetsuits. In wetsuits, the neoprene traps water between the wetsuit and the wearer's skin. Body heat warms the water against the skin, which works to reduce heat loss from the body; this allows the wearer to comfortably stay in colder water for a longer time. Neoprene rubber can also be quite buoyant in the water. Many sports enthusiasts use neoprene wetsuits, including scuba divers, surfers, and windsurfers.
Neoprene wetsuits come in a variety of thicknesses, from very thin wetsuits of about 1/16 inch (about 1.6 mm) used to prevent abrasions and sunburns in tropical water to thick suits that are about 1/4 inch (about 6.4 mm) used in cold water. Not surprisingly, the thicker the neoprene in a wetsuit, the more insulating it is. While the black head-to-toe wetsuit commonly seen on television is the image many people have of neoprene wetsuits, they come in any number of colors, sizes, and styles.
Outside of the water, neoprene rubber has a number of other uses. Neoprene is resistant to many chemicals and oil, making it particularly useful for protective gloves and similar articles. Neoprene is used in some situations where abrasion can be a problem as well. It is often used as a protective cover for items such as cellular telephones. It is also lightweight.
Neoprene is also used in a number of industrial applications. Certain types of neoprene rubber are used in conveyor belts, hoses, and seals. It is also often used to protect wiring and cables.
The versatility of neoprene rubber has made it a popular material in a number of items. Its many insulating and protective properties have made neoprene a household name. It is incorporated into products as diverse as scuba-diving gear to protective coatings.
Written by RR
