Neoprene Resists the Elements

Widely used as protective cover for cables since the 1940s, Neoprene polychloroprene provides many of the attributes of natural rubber in jacketing but with significantly better heat, ozone-corona, weather, chemical, oil and flame resistance. Applications include jacketing for lead press cured black mining cables, and heavy-duty and extra heavy-duty cables.

Also, the outstanding physical toughness and exceptional resistance to flex cracking and abrasion of Neoprene leads to improved cable performance and service life.

'Flying on the Ground' with Neoprene

The benefits of Neoprene are shown in the Transrapid 'maglev' system where the wheels, rails and engines of a convential railroad are replaced by non-contact electromagnetic support, guidance and propulsion systems.

The project required a specially developed 20kV cable capable of meeting an 80 year lifetime guarantee. In addition, the tough specification stipulated that all materials must be non-flammable, heat proof, burn-through-proof and poor conductors of heat over the extended lifetime. Neoprene, with its time-proven performance history, was the answer. Not only does it meet all the flame-retardant and heat resistant paramaters, but also provides lifetime oil and weather resistance and high mechanical strength.

The world's first commercial Transrapid line is operating now, connecting Shanghai Pudong Airport to the Long Yang Road underground station in the city, a distance of 30 km.