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EPDM vs SS 316: Chemical Resistance Compared

Of 865 source rows rated for both materials at 20 °C, 358 (41 %) have the same rating. EPDM is rated better in 59 rows and SS 316 in 448. A row is one chemical at one concentration.

Summary

SS 316 is rated better with
Aromatic hydrocarbons (+100 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+99 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+96 points); Phenols (+93 points); Esters and ethers (+75 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+69 points); Halogenated hydrocarbons (+65 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+62 points); Organic acids (+51 points); Alcohols and glycols (+47 points); Mineral acids (+25 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+14 points)
Within 10 points of each other
Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; Foods and beverages

Points are the difference in the share of rows rated A or B.

The two materials

EPDM

Ethylene propylene diene rubber

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

Rated rows: 976. A 44 %, B 9 %, C 20 %, D 28 %

All chemicals for EPDM

SS 316

Stainless steel 1.4401 (AISI 316)

Stainless steel 316 (1.4401) contains molybdenum, which improves resistance to chlorides over 304. Hydrochloric acid and other halide acids still cause pitting.

Rated rows: 868. A 89 %, B 4 %, C 2 %, D 4 %

All chemicals for SS 316

Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical class

EPDM, SS 316: Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical classMineral acids: EPDM 40 %, SS 316 65 %. Organic acids: EPDM 47 %, SS 316 98 %. Alkalis: EPDM 100 %, SS 316 100 %. Salts and salt solutions: EPDM 98 %, SS 316 93 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: EPDM 65 %, SS 316 79 %. Alcohols and glycols: EPDM 53 %, SS 316 100 %. Phenols: EPDM 7 %, SS 316 100 %. Ketones and aldehydes: EPDM 31 %, SS 316 100 %. Esters and ethers: EPDM 25 %, SS 316 100 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: EPDM 33 %, SS 316 95 %. Aromatic hydrocarbons: EPDM 0 %, SS 316 100 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: EPDM 1 %, SS 316 100 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: EPDM 4 %, SS 316 100 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: EPDM 23 %, SS 316 88 %. Foods and beverages: EPDM 93 %, SS 316 100 %.Mineral acidsMineral acids, EPDM: 40 % (63)40 %Mineral acids, SS 316: 65 % (60)65 %Organic acidsOrganic acids, EPDM: 47 % (64)47 %Organic acids, SS 316: 98 % (55)98 %AlkalisAlkalis, EPDM: 100 % (22)100 %Alkalis, SS 316: 100 % (22)100 %Salts and salt solutionsSalts and salt solutions, EPDM: 98 % (198)98 %Salts and salt solutions, SS 316: 93 % (175)93 %Oxidising agents and halogensOxidising agents and halogens, EPDM: 65 % (62)65 %Oxidising agents and halogens, SS 316: 79 % (57)79 %Alcohols and glycolsAlcohols and glycols, EPDM: 53 % (58)53 %Alcohols and glycols, SS 316: 100 % (58)100 %PhenolsPhenols, EPDM: 7 % (14)7 %Phenols, SS 316: 100 % (11)100 %Ketones and aldehydesKetones and aldehydes, EPDM: 31 % (35)31 %Ketones and aldehydes, SS 316: 100 % (33)100 %Esters and ethersEsters and ethers, EPDM: 25 % (72)25 %Esters and ethers, SS 316: 100 % (69)100 %Amines and nitrogen compoundsAmines and nitrogen compounds, EPDM: 33 % (39)33 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, SS 316: 95 % (38)95 %Aromatic hydrocarbonsAromatic hydrocarbons, EPDM: 0 % (14)0 %Aromatic hydrocarbons, SS 316: 100 % (14)100 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbonsFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, EPDM: 1 % (78)1 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, SS 316: 100 % (76)100 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oilsVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, EPDM: 4 % (48)4 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, SS 316: 100 % (48)100 %Halogenated hydrocarbonsHalogenated hydrocarbons, EPDM: 23 % (71)23 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, SS 316: 88 % (24)88 %Foods and beveragesFoods and beverages, EPDM: 93 % (46)93 %Foods and beverages, SS 316: 100 % (46)100 %
EPDMSS 316
Rating at 20 °C. Only classes with at least 8 rated rows for both materials are shown.

How often the two ratings agree

EPDM, SS 316: How often the two ratings agreeEPDM A, SS 316 A: 339; EPDM A, SS 316 B: 23; EPDM A, SS 316 C: 8; EPDM A, SS 316 D: 11; EPDM B, SS 316 A: 66; EPDM B, SS 316 B: 4; EPDM B, SS 316 C: 1; EPDM B, SS 316 D: 2; EPDM C, SS 316 A: 147; EPDM C, SS 316 B: 9; EPDM C, SS 316 C: 5; EPDM C, SS 316 D: 14; EPDM D, SS 316 A: 218; EPDM D, SS 316 B: 3; EPDM D, SS 316 C: 5; EPDM D, SS 316 D: 10.SS 316ABCDEPDMAEPDM A, SS 316 A: 339339EPDM A, SS 316 B: 2323EPDM A, SS 316 C: 88EPDM A, SS 316 D: 1111BEPDM B, SS 316 A: 6666EPDM B, SS 316 B: 44EPDM B, SS 316 C: 11EPDM B, SS 316 D: 22CEPDM C, SS 316 A: 147147EPDM C, SS 316 B: 99EPDM C, SS 316 C: 55EPDM C, SS 316 D: 1414DEPDM D, SS 316 A: 218218EPDM D, SS 316 B: 33EPDM D, SS 316 C: 55EPDM D, SS 316 D: 1010
Number of source rows for each pair of ratings at 20 °C. Outlined cells are rows where both materials have the same rating.

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

By chemical class

Chemical classEPDM: rated A or BSS 316: rated A or B
Mineral acids40 % (63 rows)65 % (60 rows)
Organic acids47 % (64 rows)98 % (55 rows)
Alkalis100 % (22 rows)100 % (22 rows)
Salts and salt solutions98 % (198 rows)93 % (175 rows)
Oxidising agents and halogens65 % (62 rows)79 % (57 rows)
Alcohols and glycols53 % (58 rows)100 % (58 rows)
Phenols7 % (14 rows)100 % (11 rows)
Ketones and aldehydes31 % (35 rows)100 % (33 rows)
Esters and ethers25 % (72 rows)100 % (69 rows)
Amines and nitrogen compounds33 % (39 rows)95 % (38 rows)
Aromatic hydrocarbons0 % (14 rows)100 % (14 rows)
Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons1 % (78 rows)100 % (76 rows)
Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils4 % (48 rows)100 % (48 rows)
Halogenated hydrocarbons23 % (71 rows)88 % (24 rows)
Foods and beverages93 % (46 rows)100 % (46 rows)

Where the ratings differ most

Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 389 in total, the first 40 shown.

ChemicalConcentrationEPDMSS 316
1,2-DibromoethaneDA
1,3-ButadieneDA
1-ChloronaphthaleneDA
1-HeptanolDA
1-PentanethiolDA
Acetic Acid100 %DA
Acetic Acid50 %DA
Acetic Acid90 %DA
Acetyl Chloride100 %DA
AcrylonitrileDA
Allyl Chloride100 %DA
Almond OilDA
Amyl CinnamaldehydeDA
AnilineDA
Anise OilDA
Anisole100 %DA
Antimony Trichloride90 %AD
Antimony TrichlorideanhydrousAD
Antimony TrichlorideaqueousAD
Aviation Fuels (JP)DA
Beef TallowDA
Beef Tallow EmulsionsulfuriertDA
BenzeneDA
Benzenesulfonic AcidsaturatedDA
Benzyl BenzoateDA
Benzyl Chloride100 %DA
Bitter Orange OilDA
BitumenDA
Bone OilDA
BromobenzeneDA
Bromomethanetechnical gradeDA
Butanetechnical gradeDA
Butyl Acrylate100 %DA
Butyl Stearate100 %DA
ButylamineDA
Butylphenol100 %DA
Butyric AcidDA
Calcium BisulfitesaturatedDA
Calcium BisulfiteaqueousDA
CamphorDA

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.

More comparisons

HDPE vs EPDMHDPE vs SS 316LDPE vs EPDMLDPE vs SS 316PP vs EPDMPP vs SS 316PVC Rigid vs EPDMPVC Rigid vs SS 316PVC Flexible vs EPDMPVC Flexible vs SS 316PMP vs EPDMPMP vs SS 316Polystyrene vs EPDMPolystyrene vs SS 316SAN vs EPDMSAN vs SS 316Polycarbonate vs EPDMPolycarbonate vs SS 316PETG vs EPDMPETG vs SS 316

Frequently Asked Questions

Is EPDM or SS 316 more chemical-resistant?

Of 865 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, EPDM and SS 316 share the same rating in 358 rows (41 %). EPDM is rated better in 59 rows and SS 316 in 448 rows.

How do EPDM and SS 316 compare for chemical resistance?

Based on 865 chemicals tested for both: EPDM is rated better with –. SS 316 is rated better with Aromatic hydrocarbons, Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Phenols. They perform similarly with Alkalis, Salts and salt solutions, Foods and beverages.

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.