Summary
- Nylon (PA) is rated better with
- Aromatic hydrocarbons (+100 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+96 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+94 points); Esters and ethers (+55 points); Halogenated hydrocarbons (+40 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+22 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+17 points); Alcohols and glycols (+14 points)
- EPDM is rated better with
- Oxidising agents and halogens (+39 points); Mineral acids (+35 points); Organic acids (+22 points); Salts and salt solutions (+20 points)
- Within 10 points of each other
- Alkalis; Phenols; Foods and beverages
Points are the difference in the share of rows rated A or B.
The two materials
Nylon (PA)
Polyamide (nylon)
Polyamide (nylon) resists fuels, oils and many solvents. Mineral acids, even dilute, and strong oxidisers attack it, and it absorbs water.
Rated rows: 945. A 44 %, B 21 %, C 17 %, D 18 %
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 %
Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical class
How often the two ratings agree
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 class | Nylon (PA): rated A or B | EPDM: rated A or B |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral acids | 5 % (63 rows) | 40 % (63 rows) |
| Organic acids | 25 % (63 rows) | 47 % (64 rows) |
| Alkalis | 91 % (22 rows) | 100 % (22 rows) |
| Salts and salt solutions | 78 % (194 rows) | 98 % (198 rows) |
| Oxidising agents and halogens | 26 % (62 rows) | 65 % (62 rows) |
| Alcohols and glycols | 67 % (58 rows) | 53 % (58 rows) |
| Phenols | 8 % (13 rows) | 7 % (14 rows) |
| Ketones and aldehydes | 53 % (32 rows) | 31 % (35 rows) |
| Esters and ethers | 80 % (65 rows) | 25 % (72 rows) |
| Amines and nitrogen compounds | 50 % (34 rows) | 33 % (39 rows) |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | 100 % (14 rows) | 0 % (14 rows) |
| Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons | 97 % (73 rows) | 1 % (78 rows) |
| Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils | 98 % (46 rows) | 4 % (48 rows) |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | 63 % (70 rows) | 23 % (71 rows) |
| Foods and beverages | 98 % (46 rows) | 93 % (46 rows) |
Where the ratings differ most
Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 360 in total, the first 40 shown.
| Chemical | Concentration | Nylon (PA) | EPDM |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,2-Dichlorobenzene | A | D | |
| 1,3-Butadiene | A | D | |
| 1,4-Dichlorobenzene | A | D | |
| Acetic Acid | 5 % | D | A |
| Acrylonitrile | A | D | |
| Ammonium Persulfate | saturated | D | A |
| Ammonium Persulfate | aqueous | D | A |
| Amyl Chloride | A | D | |
| Anisole | 100 % | A | D |
| Antimony Trichloride | 90 % | D | A |
| Antimony Trichloride | anhydrous | D | A |
| Antimony Trichloride | aqueous | D | A |
| Aviation Fuels (JP) | A | D | |
| Battery Acid | 38 % | D | A |
| Beef Tallow | A | D | |
| Benzoyl Chloride | 100 % | D | A |
| Benzyl Chloride | 100 % | A | D |
| Bitumen | A | D | |
| Bone Oil | A | D | |
| Bromobenzene | A | D | |
| Bromomethane | technical grade | A | D |
| Butane | technical grade | A | D |
| Butyl Stearate | 100 % | A | D |
| Calcium Hypochlorite | D | A | |
| Calcium Hypochlorite | aqueous | D | A |
| Calcium Hypochlorite | aqueous | D | A |
| Cetyl Alcohol | 100 % | D | A |
| Chloramine-T | dilute | D | A |
| Chloroethane (Ethyl Chloride) | A | D | |
| Clophen A60 (PCB) | A | D | |
| Coal Tar Oil | 100 % | A | D |
| Cocoa Butter | A | D | |
| Coconut Fat | A | D | |
| Coconut Oil | technical grade | A | D |
| Crude Oil | A | D | |
| Crude Oil | 100 % | A | D |
| Cyclohexane | A | D | |
| Cyclohexanol | technical grade | A | D |
| Cyclohexanone | technical grade | A | D |
| Decahydronaphthalene | A | D |
Rating scale
- A very good resistance
- B good resistance
- C limited resistance
- D not resistant
- – no data
- K no general statement possible
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
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nylon (PA) or EPDM more chemical-resistant?
Of 944 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, Nylon (PA) and EPDM share the same rating in 368 rows (39 %). Nylon (PA) is rated better in 317 rows and EPDM in 259 rows.
How do Nylon (PA) and EPDM compare for chemical resistance?
Based on 944 chemicals tested for both: Nylon (PA) is rated better with Aromatic hydrocarbons, Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Esters and ethers. EPDM is rated better with Oxidising agents and halogens, Mineral acids, Organic acids, Salts and salt solutions. They perform similarly with Alkalis, Phenols, 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.