Neoprene: fabric description, composition and purpose

Neoprene is a relatively “young” fabric that was created exclusively for the needs of industry. The material was presented in 1930 by the famous chemist Carothers, an employee of the largest at that time DuPont company. Unlike most other types of fabric, neoprene is not made from woven yarn, but is nothing more than foamed rubber.

Neoprene is a lightweight, elastic, but at the same time quite durable web, which is hygroscopic and wear resistant. One of the subspecies of synthetic rubber - polychloroprene rubber is used as a raw material for its production. The structure of the canvas is very different from the usual types of matter, looking more like a honeycomb due to miniature air bubbles located inside small rubber cells. Due to this structure, the material is almost impossible to break, but at the same time it stretches quite well and does not crumple at all. There are several varieties of neoprene material.

Depending on the degree of density, there are several types.

• SOFT - It is a fabric with a minimum density. As a rule, it is used for tailoring sportswear. This canvas is soft, it fits tightly to the body and stretches very well. However, it changes shape over time, begins to deform and quickly becomes unsuitable.
• MEDIUM DENSITY - this is an option with average density parameters, its use period is higher, it keeps its shape much better, however, some structure parameters make this matter not quite pleasant and comfortable to wear. The material is practically not used for the production of sports suits, but is made only overalls, for example, for rescuers.
• HIGH DENSITY - Neoprene with maximum density, it is used only for equipment of divers and divers, since it is not possible to move in such things under standard conditions.

In addition to density, other characteristics are taken into account when classifying neoprene:

• products with LS marking are the smoothest material, its distinctive feature is a sliding coating, so the canvas is often used for the production of ordinary clothing;
• S is quite flexible, but at the same time dense material intended for special sewing.
• HS is a very tough option;

• HHS - material with minimal elastic parameters, mainly used to create shoes;
• NF-neoprene, resistant to high temperatures;
• W-material with specific properties, which has found wide application in medicine.

The composition of neoprene due to the peculiarities of its production. The canvas is made in several stages. Petrochemical products are taken as feedstock, mini-granules are produced using chloroprene, which become the base material.

As a result of the high-tech process, these very granules are combined and form a rather sticky mass. A dye and foaming composition is poured into it, as a result a thick substance is formed, which is sent to the furnace, it is heated intensively and under the influence of heat it is converted into foam. As a result of heat treatment, long, thick black layers are formed, they are cut into thin ones so that each one is no more than 1 cm thick.These sheets are very unattractive, therefore, to improve their appearance, as well as to enhance the strength characteristics of the layers glued with other materials (most often with polyester).

Cells can have a different shape.

• Open - while they visually resemble suckers, which is why the canvas fits the body rather tightly. This type of neoprene is ideal for making wetsuits.
• Closed - in this case, the fabric has a special sputtering and does not impose a tight weight on the body, so it is much easier to put on and take off such clothes.

This new type of material has a truly unique user parameters. Neoprene most beneficially affects the human body, because it fixes tissues and organs in one position. The cloth massages and warms, contributing to the activation of blood circulation in the skin. Clothing made of neoprene tends to speed up metabolism and eliminate toxins. Simply put, the effect of such a costume can be compared with a stay in a bath or sauna. Due to its unique structure, the material does not hinder movement and retains heat. Neoprene has the most exceptional user characteristics:

• the material is completely waterproof, thanks to this property it is, in most cases, used for the manufacture of wetsuits;
• Neoprene retains its physical and technical properties in a wide temperature range - from -60 degrees to +90;
• neoprene is heat resistant, it keeps the human body warm and does not allow a person in such a suit to freeze;
• the fabric maintains its integrity under the influence of salt solutions and certain types of chemicals; the ingress of oil also does not damage the web;

• the material is highly durable, so a person is protected from various cuts and scratches, and in addition, the canvas is able to significantly mitigate any impacts and mechanical damage;
• neoprene does not accumulate static electricity inside its fibers;
• characterized by hypoallergenic;
• neoprene refers to materials of increased fire resistance;
• It is noteworthy that with such strength characteristics the canvas is quite flexible and soft, so you can freely go in for sports clothes - it doesn’t restrict movement at all.

However, nothing perfect has yet been invented, and neoprene is no exception. The fabric has its drawbacks. Firstly, neoprene does not allow air, therefore it is impossible to use things sewn from it for daily wear. Moreover, during the day it is allowed to wear clothes for no more than two hours, otherwise intense sweating begins, which leads to the creation of a "greenhouse effect", as a result, a rash appears and the state of health sharply worsens. Secondly, the material requires special care. Neoprene can not squeeze, iron and use bleach in the wash. To dry products from this cloth should be only in a well-ventilated place so as to prevent the ingress of ultraviolet radiation. Thirdly, under the influence of acid-base solutions, the product is destroyed.

The exceptional features of neoprene made it a material suitable for the production of clothing for physical education and sports. Despite its low weight, the fabric slightly massages the body, and due to its ability to retain heat, it quickly splits fats. Nowadays, you can see stylish pants, summer shorts, elegant neoprene tops, as well as designer dresses and coats. The unique features of Neoprene have long been noted by fashion designers, who immediately included this material in the development of the fashion industry.Clothes made from such a canvas are distinguished by the purity of color and the clear geometry of the lines, due to which it always looks stylish and attractive.

Lightweight versions of neoprene are used for sewing skirts, dresses and sweatshirts. Such matter tends to recreate lush styles or bandage details. These products, as a rule, perfectly keep their shape and retain heat, so they are ideal for wearing during the cold season. Usually it is used either as the main fabric, or to create decorative ornaments and prints. For example, neoprene things in a futuristic style with a wide variety of space patterns look very stylish. Of neoprene quite often make autumn shoes or shales, while most often the material is used only for the sole.

The most popular is the neoprene tarmac, tents and protective sleeping bags. It perfectly keeps the heat and does not let moisture, so the products are optimal when traveling, hiking and traveling in frosty and rainy weather. These properties make neoprene optimal when sewing shoes for fishermen, hunters and people involved in winter sports. Things from neoprene have spread in many other industries:

• medicine - here neoprene is used to create corsets, orthopedic belts, bandages and many other structures;
• construction - exceptional heat and noise insulating properties, as well as high environmental friendliness of neoprene is often used for interior finishing works;
• Covers for laptops, tablets and mobile phones are often made from this material - they not only protect gadgets from damage and moisture, but also emphasize the individual style of their owner;
• diving - from the 50s In the past century, neoprene became the diver’s most important friend (a web has not yet been created that could surpass neoprene in the field of diving equipment) —it is used to equip wet-type and dry plan;

• for fishing and hunting under water, you can use the most common neoprene, but so that its pores are always cut off - thanks to this feature, the fabric is adjacent to the body, which reduces the circulation of moisture of such a suit and makes the person much warmer;
• due to its chemical inertness, the fabric is universally used in industry in the manufacture of hoses, as well as gaskets and various types of glands, in addition, it is often used as a sound-absorbing material;
• the combustibility of the composition is much lower than that of rubber, so it is often used for the manufacture of fire protection coating for interior doors, and is also used in the production of equipment for rescuers and firefighters, for example, they make protective helmets, glasses and gloves;

• in the technological field, neoprene is made a sheath for electrical wires and cables;
• in the automobile industry, various sealing rings are produced from it, as well as devices designed to dampen sounds and vibrations;
• Neoprene has found its application in construction, where it is often fixed as a gasket between concrete goods and columns;
• the canvas is universally used in equestrian sports, industry and the manufacture of certain types of haberdashery.

The creation of neoprene involved in a variety of countries: Japan, France, USA. But as the facts show, the newest material was presented by a chemist from an American company. DuPonttherefore, the material itself was at first called "dupren" (only later it was renamed to neoprene).

The most popular neoprene products under the brand Yamamoto. Products of this brand are distinguished by high air permeability; the canvas is produced from limestone mined in the mountain ranges of the Land of the Rising Sun.Products made of Japanese neoprene are very warm and light, however, the cost of them is much higher than the prices of products of all other brands of neoprene. Popular cloths from manufacturers such as Daiwabo and Heiwa NJN (National).

In Russia, neoprene was not produced until 2013, only a few years ago, domestic Rufom company introduced the very first prototype with a thickness of 5 mm with nylon coating - this experience was successful and the manufacturer significantly expanded the range, creating a material with a coating of polyester, viscose, cotton and even leather.

According to its description, neoprene is similar to rubberized fabric, which has long been used to reliably protect things from the effects of water. Usually for production take the most different types of matter - cotton, linen or synthetic. Fabrics are impregnated with glue and dried, and when all dangerous volatile components evaporate, the rubber is glued to the fibers of the material. This coating does not pass moisture and is well tolerated by the effects of any household chemicals., the material is elastic and durable, however, it has a significant minus, which distinguishes it from neoprene - rubberized material is quite easy to puncture and cut with sharp objects.

About what kind of clothes sew from neoprene, see the following video.