Wetsuits, electrical insulation, car fan belts and a variety of other things are made using a synthetic rubber compound. Neoprene, originally called duprene, has a chemical inertness that makes it well-suited for industrial applications. Some of its other applications include gaskets, hoses and corrosion-resistant coatings. Neoprene sometimes also used as a base for adhesives.

This substance was invented by DuPont scientists. Neoprene is the DuPont Performance Elastomers trade name for the family of synthetic rubbers based on polychloroprene. Manufacturers of moisture and weather-resistant items incorporate this material in making their products.