Neoprene is a black rubber foam. When compared to natural rubber, neoprene is more resistant to heat, oil, water and solvents. It works well in conjunction with a lot of other materials and can be manipulated to bond mechanically with cotton and metal; including stainless steel, aluminum, brass and copper. It has a low oxidation rate, which makes it resistant to both indoor and outdoor environments. Because neoprene is a soft and rubbery by nature, it is a good padding source for certain fragile applications.