Advances in chloroprene rubber: performance, sustainability, and emerging material strategies

Chloroprene rubber remains a technologically important elastomer owing to its distinctive balance of mechanical strength, resistance to oils and weathering, and inherent flame retardancy. Despite its maturity, increasing sustainability pressures, regulatory scrutiny, and evolving performance demands necessitate a renewed critical evaluation of chloroprene rubber within modern elastomer science. This review synthesizes the fundamental chemistry, polymerization behavior, mechanical and thermomechanical performance, environmental resistance, and degradation mechanisms of chloroprene rubber, linking molecular structure to application-specific reliability, aging behaviour, and failure modes. Key industrial, construction, and protective applications are examined alongside stabilization strategies that govern service lifetime. Environmental and health considerations associated with chloroprene production and use are critically assessed within the context of evolving regulatory frameworks. Recycling and end-of-life management routes, including mechanical, thermal, chemical, and hybrid approaches, are evaluated in terms of efficiency, limitations, and barriers to circularity. Recent advances in modified chloroprene rubber grades, blends, nanocomposites, and hybrid material systems reveal a shift toward multifunctional, durability-driven, and sustainability-aware design. Overall, this review positions chloroprene rubber as a mature yet evolving elastomer whose continued relevance depends on integrating established performance advantages with sustainable material strategies and circular-economy frameworks.