Neoprene has been around since the 1930s, but it wasn't until the 1950s that it was used to make wetsuits. Developments in the way neoprene is made and the materials it's made from mean that wetsuits today are very different. Different brands use different types of neoprene, which greatly affects the warmth and performance of a wetsuit.
What is Neoprene?
In short, Neoprene is made through a chemical reaction using Neoprene. It is the Chloroprene that binds all the molecules of this reaction together, leaving us with Polychloroprene chips. These chips are melted and mixed with a foaming agent and carbon pigment, then baked in an oven to expand them. The end result is then sliced like bread, leaving smooth sheets of Neoprene. Nylon fabric can then be laminated to the Neoprene to give it strength.
