Rubber Material Special material CR - Chloroprene rubber
CR - Chloroprene rubber
Chloroprene rubber (CR), also known as chlorobutadiene rubber / neoprene rubber, is a synthetic polymer characterized by its excellent resistance to weather, ozone, oils and chemicals. It is manufactured through the polymerization of chloroprene monomers and possesses unique properties that make it a popular choice across various industries.
Chloroprene rubber's chlorine content reduces its reactivity with many oxidizing agents, thereby improving its chemical resistance. Due to its low reactivity, chloroprene rubber exhibits good resistance to ozone cracking, heat aging and chemical attack. For example, it has good resistance to many mineral oils, greases, and ozone but only moderate or poor resistance to acids, solvents and fuels.
Chloroprene rubber has excellent flame resistance. In fact, chloroprene is one of the few rubbers that are self-extinguishing. However, chloroprene rubber tends to harden over time and breaks down in the presence of some rather common chemicals such as hydrochloric acid, acetone, xylene, acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide.
Its mechanical properties are generally inferior to natural rubber, but it has superior chemical resistance and lower gas permeability.
Its properties make it an ideal material for outdoor applications where exposure to extreme temperatures and UV radiation is common. Finally, neoprene rubber also has good electrical insulating properties.
In other words, CR is a versatile material that is good at a lot of things.
Characteristics
CR - Chloroprene rubber
Chloroprene rubber is often chosen when an "all-round" material is needed that doesn't excel in any one area but has generally good properties across the board.
- Max temperature: 85°C
- Minimum temperature: -35°C
- Tensile strength: 3
- Compression set at -30 to +70°C: 3
- Compression set at +70 to +150°C: 2-3
- Abrasion resistance: 3-4
- Oil and gasoline resistance: 2-3
- Weather and ozone resistance: 3
- Heat aging: 3
- Adhesion to metal: 4
- Adhesion to textiles: 4-5
Rating scale for table
5 - Excellent / 4 - Very good / 3 - Good / 2 - Fair / 1 - Poor
Products in CR - Chloroprene Rubber
Chloroprene rubber is used to manufacture a variety of products thanks to the rubber's versatility. Here are some examples of products made from chloroprene rubber:
Wetsuits: Chloroprene rubber is a popular material for the manufacture of wetsuits in sports and diving contexts. Its elastic properties, waterproofness, and resistance to cold make it an ideal choice for this type of product.
Industrial Seals and Gaskets: Chloroprene rubber is used for manufacturing seals and gaskets for industrial applications where the product is in contact with oils, chemicals and the external environment. Its resistance to oils, ozone, and chemicals makes it a reliable material for seals in, for example, engines, piping systems and industrial machinery.
Hoses and pipes: CR can be used for the manufacturing of hoses and lines that are in contact with oils, chemicals and extreme temperatures. These are often used to transport various liquids and gases where high performance and reliability are required.
Rubber coatings: Chloroprene rubber is used to create rubber coatings on surfaces where resistance to chemicals, abrasion and weather is required. It can be used, for example, to protect and seal roofs, floor surfaces, industrial machinery and boat materials.