---
title: "Neoprene — density, melting point and properties"
description: "Neoprene has a density of 1,300 kg/m³ (1,230–1,450). Melting point, strength, conductivity, what it is used for, and whether it floats, rusts or is magnetic."
url: https://atoneplace.net/material/neoprene/
site: "At One Place"
---

# 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

*Water is 1,000 kg/m³. Anything below that floats.*

| 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?](https://atoneplace.net/does-it-float/neoprene/)
- [PLA](https://atoneplace.net/material/pla/)
- [ABS](https://atoneplace.net/material/abs/)
- [Acrylic (PMMA)](https://atoneplace.net/material/acrylic/)
- [Polycarbonate](https://atoneplace.net/material/polycarbonate/)
- [Polypropylene](https://atoneplace.net/material/polypropylene/)
- [PTFE](https://atoneplace.net/material/ptfe/)
- [Rigid PVC](https://atoneplace.net/material/pvc-rigid/)
- [HDPE](https://atoneplace.net/material/hdpe/)

## Sources

- Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place (/about/)