Chloroprene is also known as neoprene, polychloroprene, and CR rubber. The material does not stand out in any unique way, except that it performs well in most applications. With good outdoor performance, good temperature resistance, good mechanical properties such as elasticity and flexibility, and good resistance to various oils, the material can be considered an “all-around” sealing material for applications without extreme requirements.
Chloroprene rubber is a very common industrial rubber used in a wide variety of products in traditional industries. The material is used to manufacture gaskets, seals, sealing strips, and grommets.
Rubber sheet with electrical insulationInsulation for Electrical Applications
This material is well-suited for use as electrical insulation due to its insulating properties and flame resistance. It is commonly used in enclosures, such as sealing strips in cabinets and traditional mechanical seals in industrial products.
Historically, chloroprene rubber was the first truly functional synthetic rubber material, invented in 1930 under the trade name Neoprene by the DuPont company. Before Neoprene, only para rubber or natural rubber—extracted from rubber trees—was used. There were concerns about the production rate and the unreliable supply chain due to the limited production capacity of rubber trees. At the time, large quantities of rubber were needed for the ever-growing automotive industry, and there were fears of a potential shortage.