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NBR vs Viton (FPM): Chemical Resistance Compared

Of 963 source rows rated for both materials at 20 °C, 490 (51 %) have the same rating. NBR is rated better in 82 rows and Viton (FPM) in 391. A row is one chemical at one concentration.

Summary

Viton (FPM) is rated better with
Mineral acids (+70 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+62 points); Aromatic hydrocarbons (+57 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+31 points); Phenols (+29 points); Organic acids (+25 points); Alcohols and glycols (+24 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+14 points); Esters and ethers (+14 points); Halogenated hydrocarbons (+13 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+11 points)
Within 10 points of each other
Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; Ketones and aldehydes; 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

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

NBR, Viton (FPM): Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical classMineral acids: NBR 13 %, Viton (FPM) 83 %. Organic acids: NBR 37 %, Viton (FPM) 62 %. Alkalis: NBR 64 %, Viton (FPM) 55 %. Salts and salt solutions: NBR 82 %, Viton (FPM) 88 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: NBR 15 %, Viton (FPM) 77 %. Alcohols and glycols: NBR 45 %, Viton (FPM) 69 %. Phenols: NBR 0 %, Viton (FPM) 29 %. Ketones and aldehydes: NBR 9 %, Viton (FPM) 6 %. Esters and ethers: NBR 1 %, Viton (FPM) 15 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: NBR 13 %, Viton (FPM) 24 %. Aromatic hydrocarbons: NBR 7 %, Viton (FPM) 64 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: NBR 59 %, Viton (FPM) 90 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: NBR 69 %, Viton (FPM) 83 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: NBR 20 %, Viton (FPM) 33 %. Foods and beverages: NBR 93 %, Viton (FPM) 96 %.Mineral acidsMineral acids, NBR: 13 % (63)13 %Mineral acids, Viton (FPM): 83 % (63)83 %Organic acidsOrganic acids, NBR: 37 % (63)37 %Organic acids, Viton (FPM): 62 % (64)62 %AlkalisAlkalis, NBR: 64 % (22)64 %Alkalis, Viton (FPM): 55 % (22)55 %Salts and salt solutionsSalts and salt solutions, NBR: 82 % (198)82 %Salts and salt solutions, Viton (FPM): 88 % (198)88 %Oxidising agents and halogensOxidising agents and halogens, NBR: 15 % (62)15 %Oxidising agents and halogens, Viton (FPM): 77 % (62)77 %Alcohols and glycolsAlcohols and glycols, NBR: 45 % (58)45 %Alcohols and glycols, Viton (FPM): 69 % (58)69 %PhenolsPhenols, NBR: 0 % (14)0 %Phenols, Viton (FPM): 29 % (14)29 %Ketones and aldehydesKetones and aldehydes, NBR: 9 % (35)9 %Ketones and aldehydes, Viton (FPM): 6 % (35)6 %Esters and ethersEsters and ethers, NBR: 1 % (76)1 %Esters and ethers, Viton (FPM): 15 % (71)15 %Amines and nitrogen compoundsAmines and nitrogen compounds, NBR: 13 % (39)13 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, Viton (FPM): 24 % (37)24 %Aromatic hydrocarbonsAromatic hydrocarbons, NBR: 7 % (14)7 %Aromatic hydrocarbons, Viton (FPM): 64 % (14)64 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbonsFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, NBR: 59 % (78)59 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Viton (FPM): 90 % (71)90 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oilsVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, NBR: 69 % (48)69 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Viton (FPM): 83 % (48)83 %Halogenated hydrocarbonsHalogenated hydrocarbons, NBR: 20 % (71)20 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, Viton (FPM): 33 % (70)33 %Foods and beveragesFoods and beverages, NBR: 93 % (46)93 %Foods and beverages, Viton (FPM): 96 % (46)96 %
NBRViton (FPM)
Rating at 20 °C. Only classes with at least 8 rated rows for both materials are shown.

How often the two ratings agree

NBR, Viton (FPM): How often the two ratings agreeNBR A, Viton (FPM) A: 292; NBR A, Viton (FPM) B: 26; NBR A, Viton (FPM) C: 24; NBR A, Viton (FPM) D: 6; NBR B, Viton (FPM) A: 52; NBR B, Viton (FPM) B: 27; NBR B, Viton (FPM) C: 12; NBR C, Viton (FPM) A: 95; NBR C, Viton (FPM) B: 21; NBR C, Viton (FPM) C: 48; NBR C, Viton (FPM) D: 14; NBR D, Viton (FPM) A: 110; NBR D, Viton (FPM) B: 23; NBR D, Viton (FPM) C: 90; NBR D, Viton (FPM) D: 123.Viton (FPM)ABCDNBRANBR A, Viton (FPM) A: 292292NBR A, Viton (FPM) B: 2626NBR A, Viton (FPM) C: 2424NBR A, Viton (FPM) D: 66BNBR B, Viton (FPM) A: 5252NBR B, Viton (FPM) B: 2727NBR B, Viton (FPM) C: 1212NBR B, Viton (FPM) D: 00CNBR C, Viton (FPM) A: 9595NBR C, Viton (FPM) B: 2121NBR C, Viton (FPM) C: 4848NBR C, Viton (FPM) D: 1414DNBR D, Viton (FPM) A: 110110NBR D, Viton (FPM) B: 2323NBR D, Viton (FPM) C: 9090NBR D, Viton (FPM) D: 123123
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 BViton (FPM): rated A or B
Mineral acids13 % (63 rows)83 % (63 rows)
Organic acids37 % (63 rows)62 % (64 rows)
Alkalis64 % (22 rows)55 % (22 rows)
Salts and salt solutions82 % (198 rows)88 % (198 rows)
Oxidising agents and halogens15 % (62 rows)77 % (62 rows)
Alcohols and glycols45 % (58 rows)69 % (58 rows)
Phenols0 % (14 rows)29 % (14 rows)
Ketones and aldehydes9 % (35 rows)6 % (35 rows)
Esters and ethers1 % (76 rows)15 % (71 rows)
Amines and nitrogen compounds13 % (39 rows)24 % (37 rows)
Aromatic hydrocarbons7 % (14 rows)64 % (14 rows)
Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons59 % (78 rows)90 % (71 rows)
Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils69 % (48 rows)83 % (48 rows)
Halogenated hydrocarbons20 % (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: 258 in total, the first 40 shown.

ChemicalConcentrationNBRViton (FPM)
1,2-DichlorobenzeneDA
1,4-DichlorobenzeneDA
1-ChloronaphthaleneDA
AcetamidesaturatedAD
Acetyl Chloride100 %DA
Amyl ChlorideDA
Battery Acid38 %DA
Benzenesulfonic AcidsaturatedDA
Benzyl AcetateDA
Benzyl AlcoholDA
Benzyl Chloride100 %DA
Bisulfite Liquor with SO2saturatedDA
Bromomethanetechnical gradeDA
Butyl Stearate100 %DA
Butylene Glycoltechnical gradeAD
Calcium HypochloriteDA
Calcium HypochloriteaqueousDA
Calcium Nitrate50 %DA
Carbon DisulfideDA
Carbon TetrabromideDA
Carbon TetrachlorideDA
Chloramine-TdiluteAD
Chlorine97 %DA
Chlorine DioxideDA
Chlorine GasDA
Chlorine WaterDA
ChlorotolueneDA
Chromic Acid10 %DA
Chromic Acid20 %DA
Chromic Acid50 %DA
Chromic-Sulfuric AcidconcentratedDA
CinnamaldehydeDA
Cocoa ButterDA
Copper(II) NitratesaturatedDA
CresolDA
CumeneDA
CymeneDA
DecahydronaphthaleneDA
DiethylbenzeneDA
DifluorochloroethaneAD

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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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.