POLYCHLOROPRENE (CR)

RUBBER
(NEOPRENE)

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 Polychloroprene (CR)
~ Polychloroprene rubber or neoprene has more than 75 years of proven performance in
varied industrial applications.

~ Neoprene, an extremely useful synthetic rubber, is the DuPont Performance Elastomer's

trade name for a family of polychloroprene rubber (CR).

~ This is one of the most important types of synthetic rubber with an annual consumption of
nearly 300000 tons worldwide.

~ Polychloroprene rubber has a perfect balance of mechanical properties and fatigue resistance
which is second only to natural rubber.

~ Neoprene rubber also has superior oil, chemical and heat resistance.

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Construction Units of CR

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 Manufacture of CR

~ In principle it is possible to polymerize chloroprene by anionic, cationic and Ziegler-

Natta catalysis techniques.

~ However, because of product properties and economic considerations, free radical

emulsion polymerization is used exclusively today.

~ It is carried out in a commercial scale using both batch and continuous processes.

~ With the aid of radical initiators, chloroprene in the form of an aqueous emulsion is
converted into homopolymers or, in the presence of co-monomers into
copolymers.

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 Curing of CR
~ The curing chemistry of chloroprene rubbers is fundamentally different from that of the other
diene rubbers.

~ The carbon-carbon double bonds in the polychloroprene chain are deactivated by the presence
of the electronegative chlorine atoms, and one consequence of this is that curing by heating
with sulfur occurs to a very limited extent only

~ Highly reactive tertiary allylic chlorine is present in CR as a result of 1-2 polymerizations. This
labile chlorine which comprises about 1.6 % of the total chlorine which allows CR to cure with
organic accelerators

~ Chloroprene rubbers are generally vulcanized using metal oxide around 5-6 phr.

~ The primary cross linking agent is zinc oxide which is used along with magnesium oxide.

~ Lead oxides are sometime used when low water absorption is required.
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~ Two routes have been proposed for the curing. One requires the incorporation of
zinc atoms into crosslink , the other leads to ether cross links.

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 Properties of CR
~ Good mechanical strength.

~ High ozone and weather resistance.

~ Good aging resistance.

~ Low flammability.

~ Good chemicals resistance.

~ Moderate oil and fuel resistant.

~ Capability of adhesion to many substrates.

~ Polychloroprene rubber can also be used easily with mineral oils, greases, dilute acids
and alkalis. 7
Applications and Uses of CR

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 LET’S COMPARE BR, SBR, NR, IIR, NBR,
AND CR
• low-temperature behavior,
• elasticity,
• aging and heat resistance,
• electrical insulation,
• Gas permeability
• Ozone resistant
• UV resistant
• Solvent resistant