Body Glove Neoprene

You will find Body Glove neoprene products on this web page offered by some of the best suppliers of Body Glove neoprene gear and lots of information to help you to decide which neoprene products are best for your needs.

Body Glove Neoprene

Neoprene is the popular term for neoprene polychloroprene, which is is an extremely versatile synthetic rubber with more than 75 years of proven performance in a broad range of industrial applications. It was first developed as an oil-resistant substitute for natural rubber.

Neoprene is noted for a unique combination of properties, which has led to its use in thousands of applications in diverse environments.

Neoprene has a balanced combination of properties. One of the many uses of neoprene is the manufacture of neoprene wetsuits as in the Body Glove wet suit range. One of the reasons neoprene is used for making wet suits is because it resists degradation from sunlight, ozone and all weather conditions and therefore is highly water-resistant.

Neoprene also performs well in contact with oils and many chemicals and remains useful over a wide temperature range.

Furthermore neoprene displays outstanding physical toughness with an unparalleled resistance to damage caused by flexing and twisting, which is so necessary in watersports and scuba diving. Neoprene also resists burning inherently better than exclusively hydrocarbon rubbers.

The basic chemical composition of Neoprene synthetic rubber is polychloroprene. The polymer structure can be modified by co-polymerizing chloroprene with sulfur and/or 2,3 dichloro 1,3-butadiene to yield a family of materials with a broad spectrum of chemical and physical properties.

By proper selection and formulation of these polymers, the compounder can achieve optimum performance for a given end-use, which is why it is so suitable for wet suits and other diving apparel and cases and covers for laptop computers, cell phones and other accessories that need protection from bumps and water.

One of the most popular and commonly-known uses of neoprene is in the manufacture of Body Glove wetsuits. The neoprene wet suits are designed to trap water between the wet suit and the wearer's skin. Body heat then warms the water against the skin, which acts to reduce heat loss from the body.

This in turn allows the wearer to stay in colder water for a longer time and still be comfortable. Neoprene rubber is also fairly buoyant in water. Many sports enthusiasts use neoprene wetsuits, including snorkelists, scuba divers, surfers, and wind surfers.

Neoprene wetsuits come in a variety of thicknesses, from very thin wet suits of about 1/16 inch (about 1.6 mm) used to prevent abrasions and sunburns in tropical water to thick suits that are about 1/4 inch (about 6.4 mm) used in cold water. Not surprisingly, the thicker the neoprene in a wet suit, the more insulating it is.

While the black head-to-toe wet suit commonly seen on television is the image most people have of neoprene wetsuits, they come in a wide range of colours, sizes and styles.

Outside of the water, neoprene rubber has a number of other uses. Neoprene is resistant to many chemicals and oil, making it particularly useful for protective gloves, safety glasses and similar gear. Neoprene is used in some situations where abrasion can be a problem as well.

All of these features were taken into consideration in the selection of neoprene for the manufacture of Body Glove neoprene wetsuits and other swimming accessories.