Neoprene rubber is a black colored rubber that is used in applications where moderate levels of oil, petroleum, ozone, and weathering-resistance are needed. Neoprene elastomer are very popular due to the broad range of applications in which they can be used. Variations in this elastomer exist in the forms of solid sheet, open cell and closed cell neoprene. Each type is suited for specific applications, but they retain mostly identical chemical resistance qualities. This synthetic elastomer was the answer to society’s need for an alternative to natural rubber that could fare better against chemicals and outdoor elements.

The reason why the new neoprene elastomer attracted so much attention in the first place was due to the chemical resistance of neoprene. Around the time of its production, society was industrializing at a rapid pace. There was a need for a material that could resist the degrading effects of moderate temperatures, weathering and industrial chemicals. Natural rubber had been in short supply. When neoprene rubber came to the market, it instantly became a success.