Neoprene

Neoprene is a synthetic elastomer made by polymerizing chloroprene. Its resistance to oils, weathering, and heat distinguishes it from many other rubbers.

Chloroprene: Chloroprene is a reactive organic compound used as the monomer for making polychloroprene. Polymerizing this monomer forms neoprene’s long elastomer chains.
Elastomer: An elastomer is a polymer that can undergo large reversible deformation under ordinary conditions. Neoprene belongs to this broad class of stretchable polymers.
Wetsuit: A wetsuit is an insulating garment that traps a thin layer of water against the body. Foamed neoprene provides buoyancy, flexibility, and thermal insulation in many wetsuits.
EPDM rubber: EPDM rubber is an ethylene-propylene-diene elastomer known for weather, ozone, and heat resistance. EPDM often outperforms neoprene outdoors but generally has poorer oil resistance.
Wallace Carothers: Wallace Carothers was an American chemist whose polymer research produced nylon and helped establish modern polymer science. His team’s research at DuPont led to the discovery of polychloroprene.
Polychloroprene: Polychloroprene is the polymer commonly known by the trade name Neoprene. It is the polymeric material underlying neoprene products.
Synthetic rubber: Synthetic rubber is an elastomer manufactured from chemical feedstocks rather than harvested as natural latex. Neoprene is one member of this manufactured-rubber family.
Gasket: A gasket is a compressible seal placed between surfaces to prevent leakage. Neoprene gaskets suit many applications exposed to weather, water, or oils.
Nitrile rubber: Nitrile rubber is a butadiene-acrylonitrile elastomer valued for resistance to oils and fuels. Nitrile is often preferred when oil resistance outweighs neoprene’s weathering advantages.
DuPont: DuPont is an American chemical company founded in 1802 that developed numerous synthetic materials. DuPont commercialized polychloroprene under the name Neoprene.

Linked from 7 pages

PolyisopreneCompared with: It offers greater resistance to weathering and oils than ordinary polyisoprene rubber.