Neoprene was developed as an oil resistant elastomer to replace natural rubber. Due to its singular combination of properties, Neoprene has been specified for a wide variety of industrial uses.
Available products are solid grades used in synthetic rubber goods and base resins for use in solvent-based adhesives. Liquid dispersion grades provide an ideal material for adhesives, dipped goods and foam.
Denka™ Neoprene compounds are suitable for use up to 80 to 95 oC in continuous service. Temperatures up to 120 oC are possible for several weeks’ exposure. Parts based on Neoprene maintain their properties at -20 to -25 oC. Below this temperature the modulus of Neoprene compounds increases, but special compounding allows service temperatures at -40 to -55 oC.
Apart from its good high and low temperature properties, Neoprene provides a number of other benefits: excellent resistance to wax, oil and grease, and good resistance to bases, dilute acids and salt solutions.
Neoprene compounds can be formulated to be resistant to ozone, weathering, immersion in water, or exposure to soil and microorganisms for decades. Vulcanizates based on Neoprene provide excellent dynamic properties and abrasion resistance. Products benefit from the low compression set of Neoprene parts.
The outstanding tensile properties that make Neoprene successful in elastomeric applications also make it the material of choice of adhesives having excellent bond strength. Dipped goods based on Neoprene provide excellent resistance to mechanical stress.
Typical products made from Neoprene include cable sheetings, airsprings, conveyor belts, agricultural power transmission belts, dust caps, hoses, and coated fabrics. Traditional uses in construction applications are window and road seals, bridge bearing pads, and cellular goods. Neoprene based adhesives – both solvent and water based – are used in numerous applications for shoes, flooring, packaging, and automotive.
Denka™ Dry Neoprene Applications
The major monomer component in every type of Neoprene polychloroprene that is manufactured by Denka Performance Elastomer is chloroprene (2-chloro-1,3-butadiene). The monomer backbone structure of polychloroprene can be modified by copolymerizing chloroprene with sulfur, 2,3-dichloro-1,3-butadiene, or other monomers to yield a family of materials with a broad range of chemical and physical properties. By proper selection and formulation of these polymers, the compounder can achieve optimum performance for a given end-use.
Denka™ Dry Neoprene for Adhesive Applications
The ability to crystallize differentiates Neoprene from other elastomer-based adhesives. The value of crystallization is the cohesive strength of the adhesive film formed from Neoprene, which is considerable greater than it would be if formed from an amorphous polymer. The “quick grab” for which Neoprene-based adhesives are noted is the result of this crystallization. Rapid development of bond strength is of immeasurable benefit to the end user who can use accelerated assembly techniques without the need for jigging, clamping, etc.
Not all types of Neoprene crystallize at the same rate; Denka™ Neoprene AD crystallizes very rapidly, while other grades, such as Denka™ Neoprene WHV, crystallize more slowly. Neoprene WRT is highly resistant to crystallization, which enables the adhesive compounder to obtain the desired crystallization rate by blending different types of Neoprene.
Denka™ Liquid Dispersion Neoprene
Denka™ Neoprene liquid dispersions are aqueous, colloidal dispersions of polychloroprene or copolymers of chloroprene and other monomers such as sulfur, 2,3-dichloro-1,3-butadiene. These LD products are available only as anionic surfactant systems.