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EPDM and Dimethylformamide (DMF): Chemical Resistance

Ethylene propylene diene rubber

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
concentration not statedB–

Material comparison at 20 °C

Dimethylformamide (DMF): Material comparison at 20 °CEPDM: B (highlighted); Aluminium: A; FEP: A; HDPE: A; LDPE: A; Nylon (PA): A.Aluminium: AFEP: AHDPE: ALDPE: ANylon (PA): APETG: APMP: AAcetal (POM): APP: APTFE: ASS 304: ASS 316: AECTFE/ETFE: BEPDM: BEPDMPVC Rigid: CViton (FPM): DNBR: DPolycarbonate: DPolystyrene: DPolysulfone: DPVDF: DSAN: DPVC Flexible: –Silicone: –
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistantno data
Each bar is one material. Taller bars indicate better resistance. The highlighted bar is the current material.

Resistance overview

EPDM shows good but limited resistance (B) to Dimethylformamide (DMF) at 20 °C. The material can be used in contact with this chemical, but minor effects such as slight swelling or a small reduction in mechanical properties may occur over extended exposure periods. Regular inspection of components in service is advisable. The rating remains stable between 20 °C and 50 °C, which means this material can also handle moderately elevated process temperatures without additional risk.

Application context

Dimethylformamide (DMF) is commonly encountered in cleaning and degreasing and pharmaceutical manufacturing. EPDM (Ethylene propylene diene rubber) is an elastomer typically used for seals, O-rings, hoses and flexible connections. The compatibility between these two is therefore an important consideration for engineers and procurement teams selecting containment, transfer, or processing equipment.

Practical recommendation

EPDM is suitable for use with Dimethylformamide (DMF) under normal conditions, but some minor effects on the material are expected over time. Periodic monitoring for swelling, softening, or weight change is recommended, especially for long-service components. For safety-critical or long-life applications, consider HDPE, LDPE, Nylon (PA) instead, which are rated A for this chemical.

Did you know?

The ratings shown here apply to pure Dimethylformamide (DMF) in contact with the base elastomer. In real-world applications, additives, pigments, and fillers in the material can shift resistance in either direction.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP A, LDPE A, Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) A, PETG A, PMP A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE B
Metals
SS 316 A, SS 304 A, Aluminium A

About EPDM

EPDM resists water, steam, alkalis, ketones and alcohols. Mineral oils, fuels and aromatic solvents swell it severely.

Rating scale

A rating marked * is an estimate in the source, not a test result. An estimate is given as one value without a temperature.

About this data

The ratings come from the chemical resistance list published by Bürkle GmbH, which compiled them from raw-material manufacturers’ data. They describe laboratory tests on the raw material at 20 °C and 50 °C.

A finished part also sees pressure, mechanical stress, welds and mixtures that a laboratory test does not. Treat the rating as a first filter and test under your own conditions before relying on it.