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EPDM and Lubricating Oil: Chemical Resistance

Ethylene propylene diene rubber

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
concentration not statedDD

Material comparison at 20 °C

Lubricating Oil: Material comparison at 20 °CEPDM: D (highlighted); Aluminium: A; FEP: A; Viton (FPM): A; HDPE: A; NBR: A.Aluminium: AFEP: AViton (FPM): AHDPE: ANBR: APolycarbonate: APTFE: APVC Rigid: APVC Flexible: APVDF: ASS 304: ASS 316: ALDPE: BPETG: BAcetal (POM): BNylon (PA): CPP: CEPDM: DEPDMECTFE/ETFE: –PMP: –Polystyrene: –Polysulfone: –SAN: –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 is not resistant (D) to Lubricating Oil and should not be used in direct contact. The chemical is expected to cause rapid degradation, which can include dissolution, cracking, severe swelling, or complete structural failure of the material.

Application context

Lubricating Oil is commonly encountered in heating systems and power generation. 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 not recommended for use with Lubricating Oil. The D rating indicates that the material will suffer rapid and severe degradation, which may include cracking, dissolution, severe swelling, or complete structural failure. Using this combination risks equipment damage, leaks, and potential safety incidents. Consider using HDPE, Polycarbonate, PVC Rigid instead, which are rated A for this chemical and offer reliable long-term performance.

Did you know?

Temperature is often the deciding factor when selecting materials for Lubricating Oil: even materials rated A at 20 °C may lose performance at elevated temperatures.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PVC Rigid A, LDPE B, Acetal (POM) B, Polycarbonate A, PVC Flexible A, PETG B
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A
Elastomers
Viton (FPM) A, NBR A
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.