Why Limestone Rubber?
Sustainability > Limestone Rubber
Chloroprene Rubber(CR), widely known as Neoprene. YAMAMOTO has been using 100% limestone-based CR for the following reasons.
Quality of Raw Material
The limestone is made from Mt. Kurohime which stores billion tons of the purest limestone.
Out of such purest limestone, YAMAMOTO only uses the highest-grade limestone, containing 99.7% of calcium carbonate. (The lower-grade limestone is used for cement.)
The limestone is made from Mt. Kurohime which stores billion tons of the purest limestone.
Out of such purest limestone, YAMAMOTO only uses the highest-grade limestone, containing 99.7% of calcium carbonate. (The lower-grade limestone is used for cement.)
Rubber can be made from Natural Rubber (NR) latex or petroleum oil. However, such raw materials are more likely to contain impurities. Therefore, its quality largely depends on production lot.
Rubber can be made from Natural Rubber (NR) latex or petroleum oil. However, such raw materials are more likely to contain impurities. Therefore, its quality largely depends on production lot.
Sustainability
Abundant Reserves
“Sustainability” is NOT to avoid using any resources but to use them smart.
It is said petroleum oil is going to be depleted in next 50 years. Limestone, on the other hand, can be utilized for a wetsuit material semi-permanently.
Abundant Reserves
“Sustainability” is NOT to avoid using any resources but to use them smart.
It is said petroleum oil is going to be depleted in next 50 years. Limestone, on the other hand, can be utilized for a wetsuit material semi-permanently.
Renewable Energy Sources
When making CR from limestone, it requires a lot of energy, indeed. To reduce environmental impact, most of the energy come from renewable energy sources such as hydroelectricity.
Renewable Energy Sources
When making CR from limestone, it requires a lot of energy, indeed. To reduce environmental impact, most of the energy come from renewable energy sources such as hydroelectricity.
Longer Product Lifetime
As CR is excellent at performance such as weather resistance, CR wetsuits last longer.
One of the most eco-friendly way is to use one product for a longer time.
Longer Product Lifetime
As CR is excellent at performance such as weather resistance, CR wetsuits last longer.
One of the most eco-friendly way is to use one product for a longer time.
Performance
Difference between CR and NR
As seen in the chart below, CR is superior in good balance of performance. This is why wetsuits have been made of CR since the beginning.
Difference between CR and NR
As seen in the chart below, CR is superior in good balance of performance. This is why wetsuits have been made of CR since the beginning.
While NR excels at mechanical strength such as tear strength, it shows poor performance in weather resistance and others. This is the reason why NR has never been adopted for wetsuits material despite its long history (Mesoamericans used to utilize NR as early as 1600 B.C.!).
While NR excels at mechanical strength such as tear strength, it shows poor performance in weather resistance and others. This is the reason why NR has never been adopted for wetsuits material despite its long history (Mesoamericans used to utilize NR as early as 1600 B.C.!).
Especially, CR products are 5,000 times more Ozone resistant than NR products. Which CR or NR is better for wetsuits exposed to high levels of Ozone?
Especially, CR products are 5,000 times more Ozone resistant than NR products. Which CR or NR is better for wetsuits exposed to high levels of Ozone?
Safety
Risk of Hazardous Additives
Rubber products still can make up for the shortcomings by incorporating types of additives such as accelerator, anti-aging agent, anti-ozone agent, etc. However, it requires special attention to use such additives because some of them can cause allergies.
Risk of Hazardous Additives
Rubber products still can make up for the shortcomings by incorporating types of additives such as accelerator, anti-aging agent, anti-ozone agent, etc. However, it requires special attention to use such additives because some of them can cause allergies.
NR needs huge amounts of additives to compensate for its serious downsides.
Unfortunately, many allergies have been reported in the market.
NR needs huge amounts of additives to compensate for its serious downsides.
Unfortunately, many allergies have been reported in the market.
In contrast, CR itself has good balance of performance. Therefore, CR doesn’ t need a lot of additives, and it can minimize the risk.
Wetsuits exist to protect bodies and lives but NOT to damage them.
In contrast, CR itself has good balance of performance. Therefore, CR doesn’ t need a lot of additives, and it can minimize the risk.
Wetsuits exist to protect bodies and lives but NOT to damage them.
The only one downside of CR is its high price. Some rubber manufacturers actually mix other cheaper rubber such as NR or SBR to save the cost.
However, Limestone CR is obviously ideal as a wetsuit material in Quality,
Sustainability, Performance, and Safety… YAMAMOTO is proud of using Limestone CR 100%.
This is YAMAMOTO’s commitment.
However, Limestone CR is obviously ideal as a wetsuit material in Quality,
Sustainability, Performance, and Safety… YAMAMOTO is proud of using Limestone CR 100%.
This is YAMAMOTO’s commitment.