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EPDM and Sodium Bromate: Chemical Resistance

Ethylene propylene diene rubber

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
any concentrationB*–

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Material comparison at 20 °C

Sodium Bromate: Material comparison at 20 °CEPDM: B (highlighted); Aluminium: A; FEP: A; Viton (FPM): A; HDPE: A; LDPE: A.Aluminium: AFEP: AViton (FPM): AHDPE: ALDPE: ANBR: AAcetal (POM): APP: APolystyrene: APTFE: APVC Rigid: APVDF: ASAN: ASS 304: ASS 316: AEPDM: BEPDMPolycarbonate: BNylon (PA): CECTFE/ETFE: –PETG: –PMP: –Polysulfone: –PVC 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 Sodium Bromate at any concentration 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

Sodium Bromate is commonly encountered in water disinfection and chemical processing. 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 Sodium Bromate 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, Acetal (POM) instead, which are rated A for this chemical.

Did you know?

The ratings shown here apply to pure Sodium Bromate 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

Based on the row for any concentration, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP A, PVC Rigid A, LDPE A, Acetal (POM) A, Polycarbonate B, Polystyrene A, SAN A
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.