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NBR and Formaldehyde Solution: Chemical Resistance

Nitrile butadiene rubber

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
10 %B*–
30 %A–
40 %C*–

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Material comparison at 20 °C

Formaldehyde Solution: Material comparison at 20 °CNBR: C (highlighted); Aluminium: A; ECTFE/ETFE: A; EPDM: A; FEP: A; HDPE: A.Aluminium: AECTFE/ETFE: AEPDM: AFEP: AHDPE: ANylon (PA): APolycarbonate: APETG: APMP: AAcetal (POM): APP: APTFE: APVDF: ASS 304: ASS 316: ALDPE: BPolysulfone: BPVC Rigid: BViton (FPM): CNBR: CNBRPVC Flexible: CPolystyrene: DSAN: –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

The resistance of NBR to Formaldehyde Solution is concentration-dependent. Across the 3 tested concentrations (10 %, 30 %, 40 %), the 20 °C rating ranges from A at lower concentrations to C at higher ones. This means engineers must verify which concentration their process actually involves before relying on a single rating. 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

Formaldehyde Solution is commonly encountered in electroplating and chemical storage. NBR (Nitrile butadiene 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

NBR has limited resistance to Formaldehyde Solution and should only be used for short-term or intermittent contact at ambient temperature. The C rating means the material undergoes noticeable changes — swelling, loss of strength, or surface degradation — that make it unsuitable for permanent installations. For prolonged or continuous exposure, HDPE, Nylon (PA), Polycarbonate offer significantly better resistance and are rated A.

Did you know?

Chemical resistance testing according to DIN and ISO standards typically evaluates weight change, dimensional change, and retention of tensile strength after immersion.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Based on the row for 40 %, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP A, PVC Rigid B, LDPE B, Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) A, Polycarbonate A, Polysulfone B, PETG A, PMP A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A
Elastomers
EPDM A
Metals
SS 316 A, SS 304 A, Aluminium A

About NBR

Nitrile rubber resists mineral oils and fuels. Ketones, esters, chlorinated solvents, strong oxidisers and ozone attack it.

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.