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NBR vs EPDM: Chemical Resistance Compared

Of 974 source rows rated for both materials at 20 °C, 478 (49 %) have the same rating. NBR is rated better in 169 rows and EPDM in 327. A row is one chemical at one concentration.

Summary

NBR is rated better with
Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+65 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+58 points)
EPDM is rated better with
Oxidising agents and halogens (+50 points); Alkalis (+36 points); Mineral acids (+27 points); Esters and ethers (+24 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+22 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+20 points); Salts and salt solutions (+16 points)
Within 10 points of each other
Organic acids; Alcohols and glycols; Phenols; Aromatic hydrocarbons; Halogenated hydrocarbons; Foods and beverages

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

The two materials

NBR

Nitrile butadiene rubber

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

Rated rows: 983. A 36 %, B 9 %, C 19 %, D 36 %

All chemicals for NBR

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

Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical class

NBR, EPDM: Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical classMineral acids: NBR 13 %, EPDM 40 %. Organic acids: NBR 37 %, EPDM 47 %. Alkalis: NBR 64 %, EPDM 100 %. Salts and salt solutions: NBR 82 %, EPDM 98 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: NBR 15 %, EPDM 65 %. Alcohols and glycols: NBR 45 %, EPDM 53 %. Phenols: NBR 0 %, EPDM 7 %. Ketones and aldehydes: NBR 9 %, EPDM 31 %. Esters and ethers: NBR 1 %, EPDM 25 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: NBR 13 %, EPDM 33 %. Aromatic hydrocarbons: NBR 7 %, EPDM 0 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: NBR 59 %, EPDM 1 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: NBR 69 %, EPDM 4 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: NBR 20 %, EPDM 23 %. Foods and beverages: NBR 93 %, EPDM 93 %.Mineral acidsMineral acids, NBR: 13 % (63)13 %Mineral acids, EPDM: 40 % (63)40 %Organic acidsOrganic acids, NBR: 37 % (63)37 %Organic acids, EPDM: 47 % (64)47 %AlkalisAlkalis, NBR: 64 % (22)64 %Alkalis, EPDM: 100 % (22)100 %Salts and salt solutionsSalts and salt solutions, NBR: 82 % (198)82 %Salts and salt solutions, EPDM: 98 % (198)98 %Oxidising agents and halogensOxidising agents and halogens, NBR: 15 % (62)15 %Oxidising agents and halogens, EPDM: 65 % (62)65 %Alcohols and glycolsAlcohols and glycols, NBR: 45 % (58)45 %Alcohols and glycols, EPDM: 53 % (58)53 %PhenolsPhenols, NBR: 0 % (14)0 %Phenols, EPDM: 7 % (14)7 %Ketones and aldehydesKetones and aldehydes, NBR: 9 % (35)9 %Ketones and aldehydes, EPDM: 31 % (35)31 %Esters and ethersEsters and ethers, NBR: 1 % (76)1 %Esters and ethers, EPDM: 25 % (72)25 %Amines and nitrogen compoundsAmines and nitrogen compounds, NBR: 13 % (39)13 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, EPDM: 33 % (39)33 %Aromatic hydrocarbonsAromatic hydrocarbons, NBR: 7 % (14)7 %Aromatic hydrocarbons, EPDM: 0 % (14)0 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbonsFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, NBR: 59 % (78)59 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, EPDM: 1 % (78)1 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oilsVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, NBR: 69 % (48)69 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, EPDM: 4 % (48)4 %Halogenated hydrocarbonsHalogenated hydrocarbons, NBR: 20 % (71)20 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, EPDM: 23 % (71)23 %Foods and beveragesFoods and beverages, NBR: 93 % (46)93 %Foods and beverages, EPDM: 93 % (46)93 %
NBREPDM
Rating at 20 °C. Only classes with at least 8 rated rows for both materials are shown.

How often the two ratings agree

NBR, EPDM: How often the two ratings agreeNBR A, EPDM A: 247; NBR A, EPDM B: 19; NBR A, EPDM C: 18; NBR A, EPDM D: 67; NBR B, EPDM A: 38; NBR B, EPDM B: 30; NBR B, EPDM C: 15; NBR B, EPDM D: 8; NBR C, EPDM A: 81; NBR C, EPDM B: 12; NBR C, EPDM C: 46; NBR C, EPDM D: 42; NBR D, EPDM A: 60; NBR D, EPDM B: 21; NBR D, EPDM C: 115; NBR D, EPDM D: 155.EPDMABCDNBRANBR A, EPDM A: 247247NBR A, EPDM B: 1919NBR A, EPDM C: 1818NBR A, EPDM D: 6767BNBR B, EPDM A: 3838NBR B, EPDM B: 3030NBR B, EPDM C: 1515NBR B, EPDM D: 88CNBR C, EPDM A: 8181NBR C, EPDM B: 1212NBR C, EPDM C: 4646NBR C, EPDM D: 4242DNBR D, EPDM A: 6060NBR D, EPDM B: 2121NBR D, EPDM C: 115115NBR D, EPDM D: 155155
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 classNBR: rated A or BEPDM: rated A or B
Mineral acids13 % (63 rows)40 % (63 rows)
Organic acids37 % (63 rows)47 % (64 rows)
Alkalis64 % (22 rows)100 % (22 rows)
Salts and salt solutions82 % (198 rows)98 % (198 rows)
Oxidising agents and halogens15 % (62 rows)65 % (62 rows)
Alcohols and glycols45 % (58 rows)53 % (58 rows)
Phenols0 % (14 rows)7 % (14 rows)
Ketones and aldehydes9 % (35 rows)31 % (35 rows)
Esters and ethers1 % (76 rows)25 % (72 rows)
Amines and nitrogen compounds13 % (39 rows)33 % (39 rows)
Aromatic hydrocarbons7 % (14 rows)0 % (14 rows)
Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons59 % (78 rows)1 % (78 rows)
Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils69 % (48 rows)4 % (48 rows)
Halogenated hydrocarbons20 % (71 rows)23 % (71 rows)
Foods and beverages93 % (46 rows)93 % (46 rows)

Where the ratings differ most

Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 255 in total, the first 40 shown.

ChemicalConcentrationNBREPDM
1-HeptanolAD
AcetoneDA
AcetophenoneDA
Ammonium Carbonate50 %DA
Ammonium CarbonateaqueousDA
Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution)DA
Ammonium PersulfatesaturatedDA
Ammonium PersulfateaqueousDA
Aviation Fuels (JP)AD
Battery Acid38 %DA
Beef TallowAD
Benzoyl Chloride100 %DA
Bone OilAD
Brake FluidDA
Butanetechnical gradeAD
Calcium HypochloriteDA
Calcium HypochloriteaqueousDA
Calcium HypochloriteaqueousDA
Calcium Nitrate50 %DA
CamphorAD
Camphor OilAD
ChloroacetoneDA
ChlorodifluoromethaneDA
ChlorofluoromethaneDA
CinnamaldehydeDA
Coconut FatAD
Coconut Oiltechnical gradeAD
Copper(II) NitratesaturatedDA
Corn Germ Oiltechnical gradeAD
CreosoteAD
Crotonaldehydetechnical gradeDA
CyclohexaneAD
Diacetone AlcoholDA
Diesel FuelAD
Diesel Fuel100 %AD
Diglycolic Acid30 %DA
Diglycolic AcidaqueousDA
Diisopropyl KetoneDA
Fats, Cooking OilsAD
Fermentation MashDA

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is NBR or EPDM more chemical-resistant?

Of 974 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, NBR and EPDM share the same rating in 478 rows (49 %). NBR is rated better in 169 rows and EPDM in 327 rows.

How do NBR and EPDM compare for chemical resistance?

Based on 974 chemicals tested for both: NBR is rated better with Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons. EPDM is rated better with Oxidising agents and halogens, Alkalis, Mineral acids, Esters and ethers. They perform similarly with Organic acids, Alcohols and glycols, Phenols, Aromatic hydrocarbons.

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.