What is Chloroprene Rubber (CR) and why is it an important component
CR stands for (poly)Chloroprene Rubber. This elastomer, or synthetic rubber, is used in a broad range of products including cable sleeves, diving suits, hoses and car parts. CR is also used as a binder for water-based adhesives, because it combines good bonding properties for various substrates with high flexibility for the specific composition of adhesive products. CR is therefore an important component of adhesives for foam bonding. Due to two special properties: it disperses and coagulates efficiently. In other words, this substance spreads easily in water and at the same time has good thickening properties, allowing it to transition from a liquid to a more solid form. In this way, water-based adhesives form a relatively stable unit with optimal binding characteristics created by making the adhesives unstable in a controlled system.
Why switch from CR?
Demand for CR is therefore growing fast, while production is not keeping pace. This imbalance in the market is leading to supply problems and rising prices world-wide. As a result, the industry is facing unstable supplies of this raw material which could impact the ability of some producers to supply its customers. World-wide, there is a limited number of CR producers. Additionally, CR production capacity has diminished in recent times due to a combination of factors. Read more about switching to CR-free adhesives in our E-book.