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Rubber & Elastomer Comparison Chart

Choosing the wrong elastomer leads to seal failure and chemical leaks. Each rubber has a distinct chemical profile: NBR for oils, EPDM for water, Viton for broad resistance, Silicone for temperature extremes.

A = Excellent B = Good C = Limited D = Not Recommended

All rated rows, by rating

All rated rows, by ratingNBR: A 36 %, B 9 %, C 19 %, D 36 %. EPDM: A 44 %, B 9 %, C 20 %, D 28 %. Viton (FPM): A 57 %, B 10 %, C 18 %, D 15 %. Silicone: A 96 %, D 4 %.NBR (983)NBR: A 36 % (353)A 36 %NBR: B 9 % (91)BNBR: C 19 % (185)C 19 %NBR: D 36 % (354)D 36 %EPDM (976)EPDM: A 44 % (426)A 44 %EPDM: B 9 % (83)BEPDM: C 20 % (195)C 20 %EPDM: D 28 % (272)D 28 %Viton (FPM) (965)Viton (FPM): A 57 % (550)A 57 %Viton (FPM): B 10 % (97)BViton (FPM): C 18 % (175)C 18 %Viton (FPM): D 15 % (143)D 15 %Silicone (23)Silicone: A 96 % (22)A 96 %Silicone: D 4 % (1)
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistant
Share of each rating at 20 °C. The number in brackets is the number of rated source rows.

Share of rows rated A or B, by material and chemical class

Share of rows rated A or B, by material and chemical classMineral acids: NBR 13 %, EPDM 40 %, Viton (FPM) 83 %. Organic acids: NBR 37 %, EPDM 47 %, Viton (FPM) 62 %. Alkalis: NBR 64 %, EPDM 100 %, Viton (FPM) 55 %. Salts and salt solutions: NBR 82 %, EPDM 98 %, Viton (FPM) 88 %, Silicone 100 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: NBR 15 %, EPDM 65 %, Viton (FPM) 77 %. Alcohols and glycols: NBR 45 %, EPDM 53 %, Viton (FPM) 69 %. Phenols: NBR 0 %, EPDM 7 %, Viton (FPM) 29 %. Ketones and aldehydes: NBR 9 %, EPDM 31 %, Viton (FPM) 6 %. Esters and ethers: NBR 1 %, EPDM 25 %, Viton (FPM) 15 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: NBR 13 %, EPDM 33 %, Viton (FPM) 24 %. Aromatic hydrocarbons: NBR 7 %, EPDM 0 %, Viton (FPM) 64 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: NBR 59 %, EPDM 1 %, Viton (FPM) 90 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: NBR 69 %, EPDM 4 %, Viton (FPM) 83 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: NBR 20 %, EPDM 23 %, Viton (FPM) 33 %. Foods and beverages: NBR 93 %, EPDM 93 %, Viton (FPM) 96 %.NBREPDMFPMSiliconeMineral acidsMineral acids, NBR: 13 % (63)13 %Mineral acids, EPDM: 40 % (63)40 %Mineral acids, Viton (FPM): 83 % (63)83 %Mineral acids, Silicone: no data–Organic acidsOrganic acids, NBR: 37 % (63)37 %Organic acids, EPDM: 47 % (64)47 %Organic acids, Viton (FPM): 62 % (64)62 %Organic acids, Silicone: no data–AlkalisAlkalis, NBR: 64 % (22)64 %Alkalis, EPDM: 100 % (22)100 %Alkalis, Viton (FPM): 55 % (22)55 %Alkalis, Silicone: no data–SaltsSalts and salt solutions, NBR: 82 % (198)82 %Salts and salt solutions, EPDM: 98 % (198)98 %Salts and salt solutions, Viton (FPM): 88 % (198)88 %Salts and salt solutions, Silicone: 100 % (9)100 %OxidisersOxidising agents and halogens, NBR: 15 % (62)15 %Oxidising agents and halogens, EPDM: 65 % (62)65 %Oxidising agents and halogens, Viton (FPM): 77 % (62)77 %Oxidising agents and halogens, Silicone: no data–AlcoholsAlcohols and glycols, NBR: 45 % (58)45 %Alcohols and glycols, EPDM: 53 % (58)53 %Alcohols and glycols, Viton (FPM): 69 % (58)69 %Alcohols and glycols, Silicone: no data–PhenolsPhenols, NBR: 0 % (14)0 %Phenols, EPDM: 7 % (14)7 %Phenols, Viton (FPM): 29 % (14)29 %Phenols, Silicone: no data–Ketones, aldehydesKetones and aldehydes, NBR: 9 % (35)9 %Ketones and aldehydes, EPDM: 31 % (35)31 %Ketones and aldehydes, Viton (FPM): 6 % (35)6 %Ketones and aldehydes, Silicone: no data–Esters, ethersEsters and ethers, NBR: 1 % (76)1 %Esters and ethers, EPDM: 25 % (72)25 %Esters and ethers, Viton (FPM): 15 % (71)15 %Esters and ethers, Silicone: no data–AminesAmines and nitrogen compounds, NBR: 13 % (39)13 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, EPDM: 33 % (39)33 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, Viton (FPM): 24 % (37)24 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, Silicone: no data–AromaticsAromatic hydrocarbons, NBR: 7 % (14)7 %Aromatic hydrocarbons, EPDM: 0 % (14)0 %Aromatic hydrocarbons, Viton (FPM): 64 % (14)64 %Aromatic hydrocarbons, Silicone: no data–Fuels, mineral oilsFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, NBR: 59 % (78)59 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, EPDM: 1 % (78)1 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Viton (FPM): 90 % (71)90 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Silicone: no data–Vegetable oils, fatsVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, NBR: 69 % (48)69 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, EPDM: 4 % (48)4 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Viton (FPM): 83 % (48)83 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Silicone: no data–HalogenatedHalogenated hydrocarbons, NBR: 20 % (71)20 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, EPDM: 23 % (71)23 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, Viton (FPM): 33 % (70)33 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, Silicone: no data–FoodsFoods and beverages, NBR: 93 % (46)93 %Foods and beverages, EPDM: 93 % (46)93 %Foods and beverages, Viton (FPM): 96 % (46)96 %Foods and beverages, Silicone: no data–
0–19 %20–39 %40–59 %60–79 %80–100 %
Rating at 20 °C. A dash means fewer than 8 rated rows in that class.

Chemical classes were assigned by this site, not by the source. Mixtures and trade products without a clear class are not counted.

Showing 976 chemicals
Chemical Conc. NBREPDMVitonSilicone
1,2-Dibromoethane
Dibromethan-1,2
—DDCNR
1,2-Dichlorobenzene
Dichlorbenzol, 1,2-
—DDANR
1,3-Butadiene
Butadien, 1,3-
—DDCNR
1,4-Dichlorobenzene
Dichlorbenzol, 1,4-
—DDANR
1-Chloronaphthalene
Chlornaphthalin, 1-
—DDANR
1-Heptanol
Heptanol, 1-
—ADANR
1-Pentanethiol
Pentanthiol, 1-
—DDCNR
5-Hydroxymethylfurfural
Oxymethylfurfurol, 5-
—DCCNR
Acetaldehyde
Acetaldehyd
40 %DCDNR
Acetaldehyde
Acetaldehyd
techn. reinDCDNR
Acetamide
Acetamid
gesättigtAADNR
Acetic Acid
Essigsäure
5 %CACNR
Acetic Acid
Essigsäure
10 %CBCNR
Acetic Anhydride
Essigsäureanhydrid
techn. reinDCDNR
Acetone
Aceton
—DADNR
Acetonitrile
Acetonitril
—DCCNR
Acetophenone
Acetophenon
—DADNR
Acetyl Chloride
Acetylchlorid
100 %DDANR
Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin)
Acetylsalicylsäure
100 %NRBCNR
Allyl Acetate
Allylacetat
100 %DCDNR
Allyl Alcohol
Allylalkohol
96 %CADNR
Allyl Chloride
Allylchlorid
100 %DDCNR
Allyl Mustard Oil
Allylsenföl
—DCCNR
Almond Oil
Mandelöl
—BDANR
Aluminum Acetate Solution
Essigsaure Tonerde
gesättigtCADNR
Aluminum Ammonium Sulfate
Aluminiumammoniumsulfat
gesättigtAABNR
Aluminum Chloride
Aluminiumchlorid
gesättigtABANR
Aluminum Hydroxide Acetate
Aluminium(hydroxid)acetat
wässrigCACNR
Ammonium Acetate
Ammoniumacetat
gesättigtBACNR
Ammonium Bicarbonate
Ammoniumhydrogencarbonat
gesättigtCACNR
Ammonium Bifluoride
Ammoniumhydrogendifluorid
50 %BACNR
Ammonium Carbonate
Ammoniumcarbonat
50 %DACNR
Ammonium Carbonate
Ammoniumcarbonat
wässrigDACNR
Ammonium Dihydrogen Phosphate
Ammoniumdihydrogenphosphat
jedeAACNR
Ammonium Fluoride
Ammoniumfluorid
wässrigAABNR
Ammonium Fluoride
Ammoniumfluorid
gesättigtAABNR
Ammonium Glycolate
Ammoniumglycolat
—AACNR
Ammonium Heptamolybdate
Ammoniumheptamolybdat
—AACNR
Ammonium Hydrosulfide
Ammoniumhydrosulfid
jedeBACNR
Ammonium Hydroxide
Ammoniumhydroxid
5 %BABNR
Ammonium Hydroxide
Ammoniumhydroxid
30 %BACNR
Ammonium Hydroxide
Ammoniumhydroxid
—DACNR
Ammonium Iron(III) Sulfate
Ammoniumeisen-(III)-sulfat
gesättigtAABNR
Ammonium Metaphosphate
Ammoniummetaphosphat
—AACNR
Ammonium Nitrate
Ammoniumnitrat
10 %AABNR
Ammonium Nitrate
Ammoniumnitrat
gesättigtAABNR
Ammonium Nitrite
Ammoniumnitrit
wässrigAACNR
Ammonium Oxalate
Ammoniumoxalat
—AACNR
Ammonium Persulfate
Ammoniumperoxodisulfat
wässrigDACNR
Ammonium Persulfate
Ammoniumperoxodisulfat
gesättigtDACNR
Ammonium Sulfate
Ammoniumsulfat
10 %AABNR
Ammonium Sulfate
Ammoniumsulfat
gesättigtAABNR
Ammonium Sulfide
Ammoniumsulfid
wässrigCACNR
Ammonium Sulfide
Ammoniumsulfid
jedeAACNR
Ammonium Thiocyanate
Ammoniumthiocyanat
—AACNR
Amyl Acetate
Amylacetat, n-
—DCDNR
Amyl Alcohol
Amylalkohol, n-
—CCBNR
Amyl Chloride
Amylchlorid
—DDANR
Amyl Cinnamaldehyde
Amylzimtaldehyd
—DDCNR
Amyl Phthalate
Phthalsäureamylester
100 %DCCNR
Aniline
Anilin
—DDBNR
Aniline Hydrochloride
Anilinchlorhydrat
gesättigtCCBNR
Anise Oil
Anisöl
—DDCNR
Antimony Pentachloride
Antimonpentachlorid
—DBBNR
Antimony Trichloride
Antimontrichlorid
90 %CAANR
Antimony Trichloride
Antimontrichlorid
wässrigCAANR
Arsenic Acid
Arsensäure
wässrigAABNR
Arsenic Acid
Arsensäure
—AABNR
Arsenic Pentoxide
Arsenpentoxid
—CBCNR
Atropine Sulfate
Atropinsulfat
—ABBNR
Aviation Fuels (JP)
Flugmotorenkraftstoffe (JP)
—ADANR
Battery Acid
Akkusäure
38 %DAANR
Bay Laurel
Lorbeer
gemahlenBBANR
Beef Tallow
Rindertalg
—ADANR
Beef Tallow Emulsion
Rindertalg-Emulsion
sulfuriertBDBNR
Beeswax
Bienenwachs
—BCANR
Benzaldehyde
Benzaldehyd
—DCDNR
Benzene
Benzol
—DDCNR
Benzenesulfonic Acid
Benzolsulfonsäure
gesättigtDDANR
Benzoic Acid
Benzoesäure
wässrigCCANR

Frequently Asked Questions

Which rubber has the best chemical resistance?
Viton (FKM/FPM) has the broadest chemical resistance of any elastomer with 550 A-ratings, covering most acids, fuels, and solvents. However, it is attacked by ketones and amines.
What is the difference between NBR and EPDM?
NBR (Nitrile) excels with oils, fuels, and hydraulic fluids but fails with ozone and UV. EPDM excels with water, steam, and outdoor exposure but fails with petroleum products. They are essentially complementary materials.

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