Home / Neoprene & Green foams
What is neoprene
When we speak of NEOPRENE, very frequently we refer to the material used for production of diving suits; of course this is true, but this intended use is only one of many possible! Today neoprene is not only intended for use in the sports field, in fact, requests from the most diverse markets are increasingly frequent, and the interest that has developed around this type of material is justified by the truly wide field of applications.
Neoprene is an artificial, spongy product with a microcellular structure; in some ways it is similar to a rubber, but it is lighter and with a high thermal and insulation capacity, therefore this material acts as a barrier between different environments, such as hot and cold, or air and water.
Considering its spongy structure, neoprene is a protective material against, for example, vibrations and shocks.
How we sell it
SHEICO neoprene is supplied in sheets whose indicative size is 120 x 210 cm with a tolerance of +/- 5%(attention: these measurements are not valid for certain types of sheets, for example those with Kevlar or with rubber J or C). If you need to know the real size of a sheet, please contact us.
The thickness of the sheets, referred to the foam only (therefore excluding linings), varies from a minimum of 0.5 mm to a maximum of 10 mm, with a tolerance of +/- 0.3 mm. Being cellular foams, all sizes and dimensions are subject to tolerances.
Neoprene can be made of different foams, which will consequently change the technical characteristics of the material (density, heat, elasticity, compressibility …), can be perforated to allow perspiration and can be made with compounds with low flammable power.
The term “neoprene” refers only to the “rubbery” part of the material; the finish of the faces can be defined as desired. Various alternatives are available both for the rubber finishes (open cell, smooth, knurled …) and for the type of fabrics that can be laminated on top (nylon, polyester, lycra, plush, more elastic fabrics, more resistant fabrics … in a wide range of colors). The sheets can be unlined, sandwich, single lined or double lined.
At our warehouse a large quantity of neoprene sheets is available for immediate delivery; for sheets not available there is the possibility of producing them according to the specific requests, with delivery times starting from 30 days.
Alternative SBR
There is also the possibility of buying SBR sheets: a material that at a glance does not differ much from neoprene. In reality the different chemical composition certainly makes it cheaper, even if of a lower quality. For certain applications, however, this compound is certainly more than sufficient.
Frequently Asked Questions
Despite being great admirers of Italian made products, our neoprene is made in the Far East(Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan …).
Let’s see why …
First of all, it should be noted that the neoprene sheet is generally composed of foam (CR) and any laminated fabrics on one or two sides, or in special cases, even inside.
The main CR foams that we market are “oil free”, that is, they are made without petroleum derivatives, confirming the desire to pursue objectives of compatibility with the environment and with health.
The product sector in which we operate requires materials with certain characteristics of quality, comfort, resistance and softness, and the producers we have selected are all engaged in the research and development of specific products for these niche markets.
The neoprene made in Europe is mainly dedicated to the industrial market, and although geographically more attractive, it has characteristics that make it uninteresting in the “water sport”, clothing and accessories sectors.
The substantial difference is the quality of the lamination of the fabrics: in the “water sport” sector, the bonding of the fabric to the foam is essential, due to the frequent use of the products in often aggressive environments (for example sea water) .
For this reason, the producers of the neoprene sheets that we market give absolute priority to the search for more and more performing adhesives that are increasingly oriented towards respect for the environment.
The first “toluene free” glues are currently being tested, which represent a decisive step towards increasingly “green” products.
the neoprene is sold in sheets, the approximate size of which is 120 × 220 cm (+/- 5%)
Yes, neoprene is a waterproof material; under normal conditions, its closed microcell structure does not allow the passage of air / water.
– wash at 30 ° with a common detergent
– do not bleach
– do not iron or use other heat sources
Currently the sheets have a minimum thickness of 0.5 mm.
The neoprene sheet is usually offered in three versions:
– double lined: both sides are covered with fabric
– single lined: one side covered with fabric
– not lined: no face covered with fabric
The fabrics that are most frequently laminated is nylon or polyester. They can have different weights depending on the functionality required.
Nylon is the most widely used fabric, apart from fluorescent colors and very light colors, in which a very opaque polyester is used, to keep the colors very bright, without letting the color of the neoprene to which it is laminated shine through.
In the lamination of neoprene, the fabrics are applied with solvent-based or water-based adhesives. It is a very remote event, although not impossible. If neoprene is used in marine environments, salt as well as UV rays can deteriorate the material, but using the best adhesives developed for this type of use drastically reduces this possibility of delamination.
All dark colors are on average very resistant; there is a more rapid deterioration / discoloration in light colors and especially in fluorescent colors, due to a less UV resistant pigmentation.
The faces of the neoprene sheet, when not lined with fabric, can have different finishes:
smooth (smooth skin, Glide): side is uniformly smooth It can be black or in other colors; It can be naturally black or in other colors.
open cell: side appears porous
The elasticity of the sheet depends on the elasticity of the laminated fabrics. The sheet will have the same elasticity as the less elastic laminated fabric.
Yes, especially the non-laminated sheet, which is not lined with fabrics.
Yes, the neoprene panels can be joined by gluing, in order to maintain and ensure the waterproofing of the product and can be sewn. If you do not want to compromise the product waterproofing, the seam must be non-passing.
The seam can only be applied if there are linings on both panels.
To combine neoprene, the use of neoprene-based glue is recommended. This glue will not be optimal in case you try to glue something on the neoprene lining.
When it becomes necessary to machine sew a sheet of non-neoprene lined, there is the problem of how to prevent the rubber from getting stuck in the machine mechanisms.
In fact, the rubber causes friction on the roller, the sheet does not flow, the thread gets knotted… and the seam is difficult, if not impossible.
To overcome this problem, you can:
use a sewing machine with a double transport foot
place a sheet of tissue paper between the rubber and the roller of the machine
use special silicone sprays that make the rubber and the needle slippery.
TYPES OF STITCHING
OVERLOCK
The overlock seam, in our sector, is generally used for two types of applications:
finishing of hems
fast assembly of very low thickness panels
Finishing: in addition to a prettier look, the overlock seam of the edge / hem (of a sleeve, of a trousers, of the hood …) protects the product from small delamination and fraying.
Assembly: Many neoprene accessories come packaged with this seam, which does not require pre-gluing of the parts. The overlock stitching does not guarantee any waterproofing.
FLATLOCK
It is a flat seam, very resistant, also suitable for thin neoprene. It is very decorative but it is not waterproof; it can be made using different colored yarns at the same time.
BLINDSTITCH
This is the typical seam for neoprene products: the needle does not completely pierce the neoprene, so the joint is waterproof and the chain structure ensures elasticity.
WELDED There are no seams but the neoprene is only glued.
