Neoprene
Density of neoprene
1,300 kg/m³ (1,230–1,450)
1.30 g/cm³ · 81.2 lb/ft³
The first commercially successful synthetic rubber, and the general-purpose answer when natural rubber's poor oil and ozone resistance rules it out. The wetsuit material is not this solid rubber but a nitrogen-blown closed-cell foam of it, at around 150-250 kg/m³ — the insulation comes from the trapped gas, which is why a wetsuit compresses and gets colder with depth. Its chlorine content makes it self-extinguishing, which is why it lines cable and conveyor belting underground.
Properties
- Density
- 1,300 kg/m³ (1,230–1,450) — 1.30 g/cm³
- Tensile strength
- 15–25 MPa
- Young's modulus
- 0.005 GPa
- Thermal conductivity
- 0.19 W/(m·K)
- Thermal expansion
- 200 µm/(m·K)
- Floats in water
- No
- Magnetic
- No
What it is used for
- Wetsuits (as closed-cell foam)
- Oil-resistant gaskets and hoses
- Bridge and building bearing pads
- Laptop sleeves and orthopaedic braces
How it compares
Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything with a shorter bar than water floats in it.
air 1.2 kg/m³
expanded polystyrene foam 20 kg/m³
rigid polyurethane foam 40 kg/m³
Water — the float line 1,000 kg/m³
neoprene 1,300 kg/m³
tungsten 19,250 kg/m³
gold 19,300 kg/m³
platinum 21,450 kg/m³
| Material | Density | Relative to water |
|---|---|---|
| rigid polyurethane foam | 40 kg/m³ | 0.04× |
| expanded polystyrene foam | 20 kg/m³ | 0.02× |
| air | 1.2 kg/m³ | 0.00× |
| neoprene ← | 1,300 kg/m³ | 1.30× |
| platinum | 21,450 kg/m³ | 21.45× |
| gold | 19,300 kg/m³ | 19.30× |
| tungsten | 19,250 kg/m³ | 19.25× |
Does it rust?
Neoprene contains no iron, so it cannot rust. Whether it degrades depends on the material, not on oxidation.
Is it magnetic?
Neoprene is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.
Common questions
- What is the density of neoprene?
- 1,300 kg/m³ (1,230–1,450), or 1.30 g/cm³.
- Does neoprene float?
- No. At 1,300 kg/m³ it is denser than water.
- Is neoprene magnetic?
- Neoprene is not a metal and has no ferromagnetic response.
Related pages
- Does neoprene float? No
- PLA 1,240 kg/m³
- ABS 1,050 kg/m³
- Acrylic (PMMA) 1,180 kg/m³
- Polycarbonate 1,200 kg/m³
- Polypropylene 905 kg/m³
- PTFE 2,170 kg/m³
- Rigid PVC 1,400 kg/m³
- HDPE 955 kg/m³
Sources
- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place