4002.60.00.00 - Isoprene rubber (IR)

This category, HTS 4002.60.00.00, specifically classifies Isoprene Rubber (IR). Isoprene rubber is a synthetic rubber that closely mimics the properties of natural rubber. It is a polymer of isoprene, and its primary characteristic is its high cis-1,4 content, which grants it excellent elasticity, resilience, and tear resistance, similar to Hevea rubber. It finds applications in tires, footwear, adhesives, and various mechanical rubber goods where its specific performance attributes are required.

While this heading covers various synthetic rubbers, Isoprene Rubber (IR) is distinct from its siblings. For instance, it is differentiated from Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), which is a copolymer of styrene and butadiene and is characterized by good abrasion resistance but less elasticity than IR. It also differs from Butadiene rubber (BR), another homopolymer that offers excellent resilience but typically lower tensile strength compared to IR. Furthermore, it is distinct from Butyl rubber (IIR), which is known for its impermeability to gases, and Chloroprene rubber (CR), which offers good resistance to oils and weathering.

As HTS 4002.60.00.00 is a leaf node, there are no further subcategories within this specific code. Therefore, the classification of goods under this heading hinges on their precise identification as Isoprene Rubber. This includes all forms of IR, whether in primary forms like bales or granules, or as plates, sheets, or strip, provided they are not further manufactured into articles of rubber. Mixtures of Isoprene Rubber with other synthetic rubbers covered by heading 4002 would also fall under the broader scope of this heading, but specifically within the subheadings for those respective mixtures if they exist.