Neoprene
Neoprene is the common trade name of the chloroprene elastomer developed by Dupont in 1931. According to the Technical Handbook for Elastomeric Roll Covering, “there are no characteristics to which chloroprene is superior to all other special purpose rubbers. Its importance is not due to excellence in a single property but to a combination of technically essential properties…” Neoprene is used in the roll industry due to its average strength in several desirable categories.
It is a historic synthetic rubber that has been used extensively in many industries but often times the physical properties can be surpassed by more modern roller compounds.
Although Neoprene has only average tolerance to chemical, oil, and ozone resistance, it is still used in many industrial applications from gloves to belting.
See Neoprene vs. Nitrile properties in the chart below.
Neoprene Common Names:
- Butachlor
- NE
- Bayprene
Neoprene vs. Nitrile Properties
(5) = EXCELLENT (4) = ABOVE AVERAGE (3) = AVERAGE (3) = FAIR (1) = POOR
Rubber Compound |
Nitrile | Neoprene |
| BN | NE | |
| Physical Properties | ||
| Hardness Range Shore A | 20-95 | 25-95 |
| Hardness Range P&J | 0-200 | 10-300 |
| Abrasion Resistance | 3 | 3 |
| Tear Resistance | 3 | 3 |
| Load Bearing | 4 | 4 |
| Hysteresis | 2 | 3 |
| Resistance to Denting | 3 | 2 |
| Maximum Service Temperature (C/F) | 121/250 | 121/250 |
| Ozone Resistance | 1 | 3 |
| Resiliency | 3 | 2 |
| Solvent Resistance | ||
| Acids | 2 | 3 |
| Caustics | 3 | 3 |
| Paraffinic Hydrocarbons | 5 | 3 |
| Aromatic Hydrocarbons | 3 | 2 |
| Chlorinated Hydrocarbons | 1 | 1 |
| Water | 4 | 3 |
| Ketones | 2 | 3 |
| Alcohols | 5 | 3 |
| Esters | 1 | 3 |
| Recommended Applications | ||
| Coating/Varnishing | ● | ● |
| Embossing | ● | |
| Flexography | ● | ● |
| Laminating | ● | ● |
| Laser Engraving | ||
| Metal Decorating | ● | |
| Offset Printing | ||
| Paper Making Industry | ● | |
| Plastics | ||
| Plate Processors | ● | |
| Steel Mill Rollers | ● | ● |
| Textile Rollers | ||
| Wood Industry | ● | ● |
