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Neoprene played a role in World War 2. They used it for belts, hoses, gasket and to seal things. It benefits society because it is an alternative for latex which is a common allergy and is expensive. It is more cost efficient and healthy.

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Polymer - Natural or synthetic substances composed of very large molecules called macro molecules.
Chloroprene - Colorless liquid used in the production of Neoprene.

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The chemical equation for neoprene is C4H5Cl and it is a type of polymer.

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It is created by making a chemical reaction with chloroprene and then it is turned into chips. Neoprene starts as a powder and coloring, adhesion and foaming agents are added. The neoprene then is a doughy mixture and it is shaped into a smooth block. After it is cut into sheets and it is finished.

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It was made by DuPont scientists at Notre Dame in 1930. They were experimenting after they went to a lecture and accidentally made it.

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It is used for suits for deep divers to keep them warm and rubber Halloween masks because it is flexible.

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No their is no natural form of Neoprene that has been found.

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Neoprene is the first synthetic rubber ever made.
Neoprene is very durable It can withstand the hottest and coldest temperatures.

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November 2004

What do automobile tires, wetsuits, and soft coatings on exercise weights have in common? They are all made of neoprene, the first successful synthetic rubber product ever made. Invented in 1930 by DuPont company scientists (and first known as "Duprene"), 300,000 tons of neoprene are produced worldwide every year. Neoprene finds its way into many of the products we rely on every day.

The technical name for this synthetic rubber is polychloroprene. Polychloroprene is an organic compound, which means it is mostly composed of carbon and hydrogen atoms. And it is a polymer, or long-chained molecule, formed by linking together, end-on-end, many smaller molecules known as monomers. In this case, the monomers are chloroprene, C ₄H ₅ Cl:

Dr. Chainsworth Weighs in on Neoprene

Organic chemist Dr. Linky Chainsworth met with us recently to discuss neoprene. She was happy to talk about this polymer, which she calls "an oldie, but goodie."

"Neoprene is actually more resistant than natural rubber to water, oils, solvents and heat, so it is very useful. During World War II, in fact, all of the neoprene made in the U.S. went to the war effort for making necessary products: tires, fan belts, hoses, seals and gaskets for vehicles, and gear of many types. The public had to do without neoprene until after the war."

Chemical Properties Made to Order

Linky also told us that the chemical and physical properties of neoprene can be changed with a few chemical tweaks to the polymer structure. One of these tweaks, she said, is "vulcanization," a process named for the Roman god of fire.

Linky explained that vulcanization was invented by Charles Goodyear back in 1839. "Mr. Goodyear worked very hard to improve the properties of natural rubber-a natural polymer-which is too responsive to changes in temperature--sticky in the summer and hard and brittle in the winter. One lucky day, after accidentally leaving some natural rubber and sulfur on his stove and burning it, Goodyear found that the rubber had hardened and become melt-resistant and more elastic. Finally, he had the key to making natural rubber more useful."

Vulcanization-Cross-Linking Polymer Chains

We asked Linky to explain what happens chemically during vulcanization of chloroprene. "Before vulcanization," she answered, "chloroprene molecules are joined end-on-end, forming long chains that are unconnected to one another. During vulcanization, another type of joining takes place--'atomic bridges' of sulfur are formed between the chains. These are called cross-links. When all the chains are cross-linked, the result is one giant supermolecule!" Linky sketched the following "before and after vulcanization" diagrams:

Diagram of Polychlorprene before Vulcanization

Diagram of Polychlorprene after Vulcanization

"Cross-linking by vulcanization improves neoprene. While the basic composition of neoprene remains the same, modifying its structure creates a family of neoprene materials with a wide range of properties. For example, the number of sulfur cross-links generally determines the strength and hardness of neoprene. Manufacturers can choose the neoprene with the most desired characteristics for each job."

April, 1930: Chemical History is Made

Almost 75 years ago, natural rubber was in great demand in the U.S., causing rubber prices to rise. Chemical companies began looking for a synthetic rubber to satisfy the new demand. About this time, the DuPont Company organized a basic chemistry research group, led by an extraordinary young chemist named Wallace Carothers. One of the pioneers of polymer science, Carothers had been a Harvard professor but did not enjoy lecturing students, so he decided to accept a research position offered to him by DuPont. The idea of corporations having their own basic research programs, similar to those in universities, was very new at that time.

The idea turned out to be a good one: The team's first major success was the invention of neoprene in April of 1930. Remarkably, in the same month, the group invented another substance that would eventually be adapted to become the synthetic fabric known as nylon. To this day, corporate research programs continue to make huge contributions to science.

Follow-Up Questions:

1. Identify five items in your daily life that are made of neoprene.

2. Vulcanized rubbers, such as neoprene, are called "thermoset" materials because vulcanization, like baking a cake, is an irreversible process. Look up the term "thermoplastic." Define and contrast "thermoplastic" materials with "thermoset" materials, using examples.

3. What is the monomer found in natural rubber? Diagram the process of rubber production, from its natural source to its many uses.

For a list of previous "Chlorine Compound of the Month" features, click here.

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What do automobile tires, wetsuits, and soft coatings on exercise weights have in common? They are all made of neoprene, the first successful synthetic rubber product ever made. Invented in 1930 by DuPont company scientists (and first known as "Duprene"), 300,000 tons of neoprene are produced worldwide every year.

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And then World War II Happened

DuPont had been working throughout the 1930s to find a way to mass-produce and commercialize its invention. The U.S. economy, suffering in the wake of the 1929 stock market crash, would benefit from a domestically-made substitute for rubber. When the war effort began in earnest, however, the need for a synthetic material to use for making equipment became extremely important.

DuPrene was renamed neoprene in 1936. The generic name reflected the fact that neoprene wasn't an end product, but a component that could be used in any number of items. And during World War II, it was used in hoses, tires, gaskets, and many other non-metal vehicle parts.

In fact, during World War II, U.S. neoprene was only used for making equipment for the war.
Can Coolers and Koozies
Bet you didn't think neoprene was such a big part of your tailgate parties and backyard barbeques?

The Beauty of Polyurethane

Polyurethane, however, is more rigid and less flexible than neoprene. That's why polyurethane is used to make products that need to be durable, like the following:

› Furniture
› Athletic equipment
› Home insulation

It's also why you'll see polyurethane stress balls, but not 100% neoprene stress balls. For a material that can stand up to the stress of your office job, polyurethane's the best!

I am Rubber, You are Glue...

And then there's rubber, the material that neoprene imitates. Both neoprene and natural rubber are flexible and water-resistant. Neoprene, however, has some qualities that make it better than rubber especially in industrial use:

› It resists grease and oil.
› It stands up to weathering (including exposure to ozone) and soil immersion.
› It can handle a wide range of temperatures - from -50 degrees Celsius (-58 degrees Fahrenheit) to 120 degrees Celsius (248 degrees Fahrenheit) according to DuPont.

Natural rubber, however, is still particularly resistant to tearing and compression. Both neoprene and natural rubber are known for being excellent electrical insulators.

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DuPont had been working throughout the 1930s to find a way to mass-produce and commercialize its invention. The U.S. economy, suffering in the wake of the 1929 stock market crash, would benefit from a domestically-made substitute for rubber. When the war effort began in earnest, however, the need for a synthetic material to use for making equipment became extremely important.

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Table of Contents

Why are organic polymers important?

What are the examples of natural polymers?

Read a brief summary of this topic

polymer, any of a class of natural or synthetic substances composed of very large molecules, called macromolecules, that are multiples of simpler chemical units called monomers. Polymers make up many of the materials in living organisms, including, for example, proteins, cellulose, and nucleic acids. Moreover, they constitute the basis of such minerals as diamond, quartz, and feldspar and such man-made materials as concrete, glass, paper, plastics, and rubbers.

The word polymer designates an unspecified number of monomer units. When the number of monomers is very large, the compound is sometimes called a high polymer. Polymers are not restricted to monomers of the same chemical composition or molecular weight and structure. Some natural polymers are composed of one kind of monomer. Most natural and synthetic polymers, however, are made up of two or more different types of monomers; such polymers are known as copolymers.

Natural polymers: organic and inorganic

Organic polymers play a crucial role in living things, providing basic structural materials and participating in vital life processes. For example, the solid parts of all plants are made up of polymers. These include cellulose, lignin, and various resins. Cellulose is a polysaccharide, a polymer that is composed of sugar molecules. Lignin consists of a complicated three-dimensional network of polymers. Wood resins are polymers of a simple hydrocarbon, isoprene. Another familiar isoprene polymer is rubber.

Other important natural polymers include the proteins, which are polymers of amino acids, and the nucleic acids, which are polymers of nucleotides-complex molecules composed of nitrogen-containing bases, sugars, and phosphoric acid. The nucleic acids carry genetic information in the cell. Starches, important sources of food energy derived from plants, are natural polymers composed of glucose.

Science: Fact or Fiction?

Many inorganic polymers also are found in nature, including diamond and graphite. Both are composed of carbon. In diamond, carbon atoms are linked in a three-dimensional network that gives the material its hardness. In graphite, used as a lubricant and in pencil "leads," the carbon atoms link in planes that can slide across one another.

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Polymer | Description, Examples, Types, Material, Uses, & Facts

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polymer, any of a class of natural or synthetic substances composed of very large molecules, called macromolecules, that are multiples of simpler chemical units called monomers. Polymers make up many of the materials in living organisms, including, for example, proteins, cellulose, and nucleic acids.

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