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EPDM vs Viton (FPM): Chemical Resistance Compared

Of 965 source rows rated for both materials at 20 °C, 443 (46 %) have the same rating. EPDM is rated better in 188 rows and Viton (FPM) in 334. A row is one chemical at one concentration.

Summary

EPDM is rated better with
Alkalis (+45 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+25 points)
Viton (FPM) is rated better with
Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+89 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+79 points); Aromatic hydrocarbons (+64 points); Mineral acids (+43 points); Phenols (+22 points); Alcohols and glycols (+16 points); Organic acids (+15 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+12 points)
Within 10 points of each other
Salts and salt solutions; Esters and ethers; Amines and nitrogen compounds; Halogenated hydrocarbons; 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

Viton (FPM)

Fluoroelastomer (FKM/FPM)

Fluoroelastomer (Viton, FKM/FPM) resists fuels, oils and many acids. Ketones, esters, amines and hot water or steam attack it.

Rated rows: 965. A 57 %, B 10 %, C 18 %, D 15 %

All chemicals for Viton (FPM)

Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical class

EPDM, Viton (FPM): Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical classMineral acids: EPDM 40 %, Viton (FPM) 83 %. Organic acids: EPDM 47 %, Viton (FPM) 62 %. Alkalis: EPDM 100 %, Viton (FPM) 55 %. Salts and salt solutions: EPDM 98 %, Viton (FPM) 88 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: EPDM 65 %, Viton (FPM) 77 %. Alcohols and glycols: EPDM 53 %, Viton (FPM) 69 %. Phenols: EPDM 7 %, Viton (FPM) 29 %. Ketones and aldehydes: EPDM 31 %, Viton (FPM) 6 %. Esters and ethers: EPDM 25 %, Viton (FPM) 15 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: EPDM 33 %, Viton (FPM) 24 %. Aromatic hydrocarbons: EPDM 0 %, Viton (FPM) 64 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: EPDM 1 %, Viton (FPM) 90 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: EPDM 4 %, Viton (FPM) 83 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: EPDM 23 %, Viton (FPM) 33 %. Foods and beverages: EPDM 93 %, Viton (FPM) 96 %.Mineral acidsMineral acids, EPDM: 40 % (63)40 %Mineral acids, Viton (FPM): 83 % (63)83 %Organic acidsOrganic acids, EPDM: 47 % (64)47 %Organic acids, Viton (FPM): 62 % (64)62 %AlkalisAlkalis, EPDM: 100 % (22)100 %Alkalis, Viton (FPM): 55 % (22)55 %Salts and salt solutionsSalts and salt solutions, EPDM: 98 % (198)98 %Salts and salt solutions, Viton (FPM): 88 % (198)88 %Oxidising agents and halogensOxidising agents and halogens, EPDM: 65 % (62)65 %Oxidising agents and halogens, Viton (FPM): 77 % (62)77 %Alcohols and glycolsAlcohols and glycols, EPDM: 53 % (58)53 %Alcohols and glycols, Viton (FPM): 69 % (58)69 %PhenolsPhenols, EPDM: 7 % (14)7 %Phenols, Viton (FPM): 29 % (14)29 %Ketones and aldehydesKetones and aldehydes, EPDM: 31 % (35)31 %Ketones and aldehydes, Viton (FPM): 6 % (35)6 %Esters and ethersEsters and ethers, EPDM: 25 % (72)25 %Esters and ethers, Viton (FPM): 15 % (71)15 %Amines and nitrogen compoundsAmines and nitrogen compounds, EPDM: 33 % (39)33 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, Viton (FPM): 24 % (37)24 %Aromatic hydrocarbonsAromatic hydrocarbons, EPDM: 0 % (14)0 %Aromatic hydrocarbons, Viton (FPM): 64 % (14)64 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbonsFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, EPDM: 1 % (78)1 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Viton (FPM): 90 % (71)90 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oilsVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, EPDM: 4 % (48)4 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Viton (FPM): 83 % (48)83 %Halogenated hydrocarbonsHalogenated hydrocarbons, EPDM: 23 % (71)23 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, Viton (FPM): 33 % (70)33 %Foods and beveragesFoods and beverages, EPDM: 93 % (46)93 %Foods and beverages, Viton (FPM): 96 % (46)96 %
EPDMViton (FPM)
Rating at 20 °C. Only classes with at least 8 rated rows for both materials are shown.

How often the two ratings agree

EPDM, Viton (FPM): How often the two ratings agreeEPDM A, Viton (FPM) A: 314; EPDM A, Viton (FPM) B: 27; EPDM A, Viton (FPM) C: 54; EPDM A, Viton (FPM) D: 31; EPDM B, Viton (FPM) A: 27; EPDM B, Viton (FPM) B: 31; EPDM B, Viton (FPM) C: 13; EPDM B, Viton (FPM) D: 11; EPDM C, Viton (FPM) A: 72; EPDM C, Viton (FPM) B: 19; EPDM C, Viton (FPM) C: 49; EPDM C, Viton (FPM) D: 52; EPDM D, Viton (FPM) A: 137; EPDM D, Viton (FPM) B: 20; EPDM D, Viton (FPM) C: 59; EPDM D, Viton (FPM) D: 49.Viton (FPM)ABCDEPDMAEPDM A, Viton (FPM) A: 314314EPDM A, Viton (FPM) B: 2727EPDM A, Viton (FPM) C: 5454EPDM A, Viton (FPM) D: 3131BEPDM B, Viton (FPM) A: 2727EPDM B, Viton (FPM) B: 3131EPDM B, Viton (FPM) C: 1313EPDM B, Viton (FPM) D: 1111CEPDM C, Viton (FPM) A: 7272EPDM C, Viton (FPM) B: 1919EPDM C, Viton (FPM) C: 4949EPDM C, Viton (FPM) D: 5252DEPDM D, Viton (FPM) A: 137137EPDM D, Viton (FPM) B: 2020EPDM D, Viton (FPM) C: 5959EPDM D, Viton (FPM) D: 4949
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 BViton (FPM): rated A or B
Mineral acids40 % (63 rows)83 % (63 rows)
Organic acids47 % (64 rows)62 % (64 rows)
Alkalis100 % (22 rows)55 % (22 rows)
Salts and salt solutions98 % (198 rows)88 % (198 rows)
Oxidising agents and halogens65 % (62 rows)77 % (62 rows)
Alcohols and glycols53 % (58 rows)69 % (58 rows)
Phenols7 % (14 rows)29 % (14 rows)
Ketones and aldehydes31 % (35 rows)6 % (35 rows)
Esters and ethers25 % (72 rows)15 % (71 rows)
Amines and nitrogen compounds33 % (39 rows)24 % (37 rows)
Aromatic hydrocarbons0 % (14 rows)64 % (14 rows)
Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons1 % (78 rows)90 % (71 rows)
Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils4 % (48 rows)83 % (48 rows)
Halogenated hydrocarbons23 % (71 rows)33 % (70 rows)
Foods and beverages93 % (46 rows)96 % (46 rows)

Where the ratings differ most

Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 325 in total, the first 40 shown.

ChemicalConcentrationEPDMViton (FPM)
1,2-DichlorobenzeneDA
1,4-DichlorobenzeneDA
1-ChloronaphthaleneDA
1-HeptanolDA
AcetamidesaturatedAD
AcetoneAD
AcetophenoneAD
Acetyl Chloride100 %DA
Allyl Alcohol96 %AD
Almond OilDA
Aluminum Acetate SolutionsaturatedAD
Amyl ChlorideDA
Aviation Fuels (JP)DA
Beef TallowDA
Benzenesulfonic AcidsaturatedDA
Benzyl Chloride100 %DA
BitumenDA
Bone OilDA
Brake FluidAD
Bromomethanetechnical gradeDA
Butanetechnical gradeDA
Butyl Stearate100 %DA
Butylene Glycoltechnical gradeAD
Calcium AcetateaqueousAD
Calcium BisulfitesaturatedDA
Calcium BisulfiteaqueousDA
Carbon DisulfideDA
Carbon TetrabromideDA
Carbon TetrachlorideDA
Chloramine-TdiluteAD
Chlorine97 %DA
Chlorine DioxideDA
Chlorine GasDA
ChloroacetoneAD
ChlorodifluoromethaneAD
ChlorofluoromethaneAD
ChlorotolueneDA
Chromic Acid10 %DA
Chromic Acid20 %DA
Chromic Acid50 %DA

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

NBR vs EPDMNBR vs Viton (FPM)PTFE vs FEPHDPE vs PVDFPolysulfone vs PVDFSS 304 vs SS 316Aluminium vs SS 316HDPE vs PPHDPE vs LDPEPVC Rigid vs PPPTFE vs PVDFPolycarbonate vs PETGNylon (PA) vs Acetal (POM)

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.