Polyisoprene

Polyisoprene is a long chain of isoprene units, one of the simplest building blocks a polymer can have. Each link in the chain represents the bond between one monomer and the next. As one of the most common rubber materials, polyisoprene is prized for its resilience, tough enough to stand up to constant friction in car tires and shoe soles, yet gentle on the skin and unlikely to cause allergic reactions.

In this piece, each bead becomes a single isoprene unit, and the cord that threads them together stands in for the chemical bonds that link monomer to monomer, a wearable length of one of the world's most familiar polymers.