Neoprene
A neck seal, wrist seal, manual vent, inflator, zip and fabric of a neoprene dry suit. The soft seal material at the neck and wrists is made from single backed closed-cell foam neoprene for elasticity. The slick unbacked side seals against the skin. The blue area is double-backed with knit nylon fabric laminated onto closed cell foamed neoprene for toughness. Some insulation is provided by the suit, and the rest by garments worn underneath.
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Chemical structure of the repeating unit of polychloroprene
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Identifiers | |
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ECHA InfoCard
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100.127.980 |
EC Number |
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CompTox Dashboard (EPA)
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Properties | |
Density | 1.23 g/cm3 (solid) 0.1-0.3 g/cm3 (foam) |
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Neoprene (also polychloroprene) is a family of
Production
Neoprene is produced by free-radical polymerization of chloroprene. In commercial production, this polymer is prepared by free radical emulsion polymerization. Polymerization is initiated using potassium persulfate. Bifunctional nucleophiles, metal oxides (e.g. zinc oxide), and thioureas are used to crosslink individual polymer strands.[3]
Property[4][5] | Value |
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Hardness, Shore A
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40–95 |
Tensile failure stress, ultimate | 500–3000 PSI |
Proportional elongation after fracture | ≥ 600% maximum[clarification needed] |
History
Neoprene was invented by
DuPont first marketed the compound in 1931 under the trade name DuPrene,[8] but its commercial possibilities were limited by the original manufacturing process, which left the product with a foul odor.[9] A new process was developed, which eliminated the odor-causing byproducts and halved production costs, and the company began selling the material to manufacturers of finished end-products.[9] To prevent shoddy manufacturers from harming the product's reputation, the trademark DuPrene was restricted to apply only to the material sold by DuPont.[9] Since the company itself did not manufacture any DuPrene-containing end products, the trademark was dropped in 1937 and replaced with a generic name, neoprene, in an attempt "to signify that the material is an ingredient, not a finished consumer product".[10] DuPont then worked extensively to generate demand for its product, implementing a marketing strategy that included publishing its own technical journal, which extensively publicized neoprene's uses as well as advertising other companies' neoprene-based products.[9] By 1939, sales of neoprene were generating profits over $300,000 for the company (equivalent to $6,600,000 in 2023).[9]
Applications
General
Neoprene resists degradation more than
In its native state, neoprene is a very pliable rubber-like material with insulating properties similar to rubber or other solid plastics.
Neoprene foam is used in many applications and is produced in either closed-cell or open-cell form. The closed-cell form is
Civil engineering
Neoprene is used as a component of elastomeric bridge bearings, to support heavy loads while permitting small horizontal movements.[14]
Aquatics
Neoprene is a popular material in making protective clothing for aquatic activities. Foamed neoprene is commonly used to make
Home accessories
Recently, neoprene has become a favorite material for lifestyle and other home accessories including
Music
The Rhodes piano used hammer tips made of neoprene in its electric pianos, after changing from felt hammers around 1970.[18]
Neoprene is also used for speaker cones and drum practice pads.[19]
Hydroponic gardening
Hydroponic and aerated gardening systems make use of small neoprene inserts to hold plants in place while propagating cuttings or using net cups. Inserts are relatively small, ranging in size from 1.5 to 5 inches (4 to 13 cm). Neoprene is a good choice for supporting plants because of its flexibility and softness, allowing plants to be held securely in place without the chance of causing damage to the stem. Neoprene root covers also help block out light from entering the rooting chamber of hydroponic systems, allowing for better root growth and helping to deter the growth of algae.[citation needed]
Face mask
During the COVID-19 global pandemic, neoprene was identified by some health experts as an effective material to use for home made face masks.[20] Some commercial face mask manufacturers that use Neoprene have claimed 99.9% filtration for particles as small as 0.1 microns.[21] The size of coronavirus is identified to be on average 0.125 microns.[22]
Other
Neoprene is used for Halloween masks and masks used for face protection, for insulating CPU sockets when extreme overclocking at subzero temperatures, to make waterproof automotive seat covers, in liquid and sheet-applied elastomeric roof membranes or flashings, and in a neoprene-spandex mixture for manufacture of wheelchair positioning harnesses.
In tabletop wargames, neoprene mats printed with grassy, sandy, icy, or other natural features have become popular gaming surfaces. They are durable, firm and stable, and attractive in appearance, and also favoured for their ability to roll up in storage but lie flat when unrolled.
Because of its chemical resistance and overall durability, neoprene is sometimes used in the manufacture of dishwashing gloves, especially as an alternative to latex.
In fashion, neoprene has been used by designers such as
Precautions
Some people are allergic to neoprene while others can get dermatitis from thiourea residues left from its production.
The most common
See also
References
- ^
- ^ "Technical information — Neoprene" (PDF). Du Pont Performance Elastomers. October 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2008-08-29. Retrieved 2008-02-06.
- ISBN 0471440264.
- ^ "Neoprene (SBR) Rubber Material Specs". Exonic Polymers. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 15 May 2019.
- S2CID 137100596.
- .
- S2CID 113234844.
- ^ "Neoprene: 1930 - Overview". DuPont Heritage. DuPont. Archived from the original on 9 March 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
- ^ ISBN 0-521-32767-9.
- ^ "Neoprene: 1930 - In Depth". DuPont Heritage. DuPont. Archived from the original on 10 May 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
- ^ "Neoprene - polychloroprene". DuPont Elastomers. Archived from the original on 2008-01-11. Retrieved 2008-04-09.
- ^ "3E Protect" (PDF). MSDS.DuPont.com. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ^ Maier, Clive; Calafut, Teresa (1998). "Additives". Polypropylene: The Definitive User's Guide and Databook. Plastics Design Library.
- ^ Damon Allen.Stiffness Evaluation of Neoprene Bearing Pads under Long-Term Loads. A Dissertation Presented to the Graduate School of The University Of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. University Of Florida 2008
- ^ "Weight Systems".
- ^ "Wetsuit lining". srface.com. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ "Face Fabrics". PerfectEx.com. 17 April 2020. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
- ^ "Steve's Corner - Hammer Tips". FenderRhodes.com. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
- ^ "4 Great Drum Mutes". Making Music. February 20, 2015. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
- ^ "Coronavirus Face Masks: What You Should Know". Web MD. November 8, 2019. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- ^ "RZ Mask FAQ". RZ Face Mask. March 11, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
- PMID 25720466.
- ^ "Neoprene: When fashion hijacked chemistry". Fashion Chameleon.
- ^ "A Safer Alternative Replacement for Thiourea Based Accelerators in the Production Process of Chloroprene Rubber". cordis.europa.eu. Retrieved 2024-04-25.