What is a Condom made of?
What is a Condom made of?
Dipped natural rubber latex, or synthetic polyisoprene or polyurethane for latex allergy — plus silicone lubricant.
The most consequential practical fact is lubricant compatibility: oil-based products — baby oil, petroleum jelly, massage oil, many lotions — degrade latex measurably within minutes and cause failures. Water-based and silicone-based lubricants are safe with latex; silicone lubricant should not be used with silicone toys because it swells them. Lambskin condoms are the exception that gets people into trouble, because the natural membrane's pores are larger than viruses; every public health body notes that they do not protect against sexually transmitted infections. Heat, sunlight and time all degrade latex, which is why an expiry date and storage away from a wallet or a car glovebox matter.
Component by component
| Part | Material | Why that material |
|---|---|---|
| latex condoms | natural rubber latex, dipped onto a former and vulcanised | Latex is elastic, strong at very small thicknesses and cheap, and it has the best real-world track record of any material. |
| polyisoprene | synthetic isoprene rubber | It is chemically the same polymer as natural rubber without the plant proteins that cause latex allergy, and it feels similar. |
| polyurethane | thin polyurethane film | It is thinner, conducts heat better and is unaffected by oils, but it stretches far less, so fit matters more. |
| lubricant | silicone oil, sometimes with a spermicide | Silicone is compatible with latex, does not dry out and is not absorbed; oil-based lubricants would destroy the latex. |
| lambskin | sheep caecum membrane | It is porous at a scale that blocks sperm but not viruses, so it prevents pregnancy and does not prevent HIV or other STIs. |
Other medical and personal care objects
- Surgical mask Three layers of polypropylene, of which only the electrostatically charged middle one does the filtering.
- Diaper (nappy) A superabsorbent polymer that holds many times its own weight in fluid, sandwiched between nonwoven plastic layers.
- Contact lens A water-swollen polymer gel — and the whole design problem is getting oxygen through it to the cornea.
- Dental filling Either a mercury-silver amalgam or a light-cured resin packed with glass — and the resin shrinks as it sets.
- Tampon Compressed cotton, rayon or a blend, with a withdrawal cord and either a cardboard or plastic applicator.
- Eyeglass lens Almost never glass — usually CR-39, polycarbonate or a high-index plastic, under several thin coatings.
- Adhesive bandage (plaster) A plastic or fabric backing with pressure-sensitive adhesive, and a pad faced with a film that will not stick to the wound.
- Artificial hip A titanium or cobalt-chrome stem, a ceramic or metal ball, and a crosslinked polyethylene socket liner that is the wear surface.
- Syringe A polypropylene barrel and plunger with a rubber tip seal, and a stainless steel needle on a standard taper.
Common questions
- What is a Condom made of?
- Dipped natural rubber latex, or synthetic polyisoprene or polyurethane for latex allergy — plus silicone lubricant.
- What is the latex condoms of a Condom made of?
- Natural rubber latex, dipped onto a former and vulcanised. Latex is elastic, strong at very small thicknesses and cheap, and it has the best real-world track record of any material.
- What is the polyisoprene of a Condom made of?
- Synthetic isoprene rubber. It is chemically the same polymer as natural rubber without the plant proteins that cause latex allergy, and it feels similar.
Related pages
- Surgical mask Three layers of polypropylene, of which only the electrostatically charged middle one does the filtering.
- Diaper (nappy) A superabsorbent polymer that holds many times its own weight in fluid, sandwiched between nonwoven plastic layers.
- Contact lens A water-swollen polymer gel — and the whole design problem is getting oxygen through it to the cornea.
- Dental filling Either a mercury-silver amalgam or a light-cured resin packed with glass — and the resin shrinks as it sets.
- Tampon Compressed cotton, rayon or a blend, with a withdrawal cord and either a cardboard or plastic applicator.
- Eyeglass lens Almost never glass — usually CR-39, polycarbonate or a high-index plastic, under several thin coatings.
- Adhesive bandage (plaster) A plastic or fabric backing with pressure-sensitive adhesive, and a pad faced with a film that will not stick to the wound.
- Artificial hip A titanium or cobalt-chrome stem, a ceramic or metal ball, and a crosslinked polyethylene socket liner that is the wear surface.
- Pencil Stationery and paper
- Tennis ball Sport and games
- Banknote Around the house
- Golf ball Sport and games
- Paper Stationery and paper
- Glass Building materials
Sources
- Official vendor product documentation — At One Place