elastomer

IPA/ɪˈlæstəmə(r)/
KK[ɪlˈæstəmɚ]IPA/ɪˈlæstəmər/

elastomer — noun

1. A type of polymer that can stretch to at least twice its original length under f

1.nounC1
Definition

A type of polymer that can stretch to at least twice its original length under force and quickly return to its original shape when the force is removed. Natural rubber is a well-known elastomer, and many synthetic versions such as neoprene and silicone are used in industry.

Example

Car tires are made from elastomers because they need to bend and bounce back on the road.

collocation: made from elastomers

The soles of running shoes often contain a lightweight elastomer that absorbs shock during exercise.

collocation: lightweight elastomer

Common collocations
  • natural elastomer
  • synthetic elastomer
  • thermoplastic elastomer
  • elastomer compound
  • elastomer seal
  • elastomer gasket
Synonyms
  • rubber

    the everyday term; 'rubber' is a specific natural elastomer, while 'elastomer' is the broader scientific category

  • polymer

    a wider category; all elastomers are polymers, but not all polymers have elastic properties

  • elastic material

    descriptive phrase rather than a precise scientific term; less formal

Antonyms
  • plastic

    plastic deforms permanently under stress, whereas an elastomer returns to its original shape

  • rigid material

    materials such as glass or metal do not stretch significantly under normal conditions

Usage Note

Common in technical writing about polymers and industrial materials. In everyday English, the simpler word 'rubber' usually replaces 'elastomer' for most practical situations.

Common Mistakes

This rubber band is made of elastomer.
This rubber band is made of an elastomer.
'Elastomer' is a countable noun describing a class of materials, so it needs an article or plural form.
Elastomers are only man-made.
Elastomers can be natural (like rubber) or synthetic (like neoprene).
The term covers both natural and artificial materials.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Rubber, polymer, and elastomer are related but not interchangeable. An elastomer is a specific type of polymer designed to stretch and recover. All rubbers are elastomers, but not all elastomers are rubber — neoprene and silicone are synthetic elastomers that are chemically different from natural rubber. The adjective 'elastomeric' describes the behaviour (e.g. 'elastomeric properties'), while 'elastic' is a more general word for anything that stretches and bounces back. For example, a rubber band is an elastomer, but a steel spring is elastic without being an elastomer.

rubber ↗polymer ↗elastomericelastic ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • elastomer seal
  • elastomer gasket
  • elastomer hose
  • elastomer coating
  • elastomer compound

Phrases

  • natural vs synthetic elastomer
  • elastomer properties

Prepositions

  • made from elastomer
  • elastomer in [product]

Etymology

GreekEnglish

Formed in the 1930s from 'elastic' (from Greek 'elastos', meaning 'beaten' or 'ductile') combined with '-mer' (from Greek 'meros', meaning 'part'), following the pattern of 'polymer'. The term was coined to describe synthetic materials with rubber-like stretchiness.