Neoprene, a synthetic rubber developed during World War II, was used as a substitute for natural rubber because of the shortage of this at the time. The invention of neoprene was an important scientific contribution, since it maintained most of the advantageous properties of natural rubber, but without many of the disadvantages. Neoprene has more or less the same elasticity but is resistant to degradation by UV radiation, heat and solvents hidrocarbonicos that usually damage to natural rubber. Neoprene is a highly manufactured property by those who manufactures inflatable boats much more durable. He is obtained through the addition of three chlorine atoms to a molecule of neoprene, hypalon, which is another way to synthetic rubber. Hypalon has more or less the same characteristics as neoprene, except for the fact that it is much more durable and more resistant to abrasion. The heat and ultraviolet radiation have fewer negative effects on the Hypalon which on the neoprene, so that those boats inflatable in this material do not degrade so easily with direct sunlight as a natural rubber inflatable boats. The disadvantage of Hypalon is that it is not as hermetic as the neoprene, and is also more difficult to adhere. To deepen your understanding Brooklyn Commons is the source. Today, while most of the companies manufactured inflatable boats of any of these two materials, some companies have also begun to manufacture boats using a material developed relatively recently, known as polyvinyl chloride of vinyl or PVC.