Summary
- Polysulfone is rated better with
- Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+74 points); Organic acids (+22 points); Alcohols and glycols (+21 points); Mineral acids (+13 points); Aromatic hydrocarbons (+12 points)
- EPDM is rated better with
- Amines and nitrogen compounds (+33 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+17 points)
- Within 10 points of each other
- Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; Oxidising agents and halogens; Esters and ethers; Halogenated hydrocarbons; Foods and beverages
Points are the difference in the share of rows rated A or B.
The two materials
Polysulfone
Polysulfone
Polysulfone withstands hot water and steam. Ketones, esters and chlorinated and aromatic solvents attack it.
Rated rows: 303. A 51 %, B 10 %, C 10 %, D 30 %
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 | Polysulfone: rated A or B | EPDM: rated A or B |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral acids | 53 % (34 rows) | 40 % (63 rows) |
| Organic acids | 69 % (26 rows) | 47 % (64 rows) |
| Alkalis | 100 % (15 rows) | 100 % (22 rows) |
| Salts and salt solutions | 100 % (49 rows) | 98 % (198 rows) |
| Oxidising agents and halogens | 67 % (15 rows) | 65 % (62 rows) |
| Alcohols and glycols | 74 % (31 rows) | 53 % (58 rows) |
| Phenols | – | 7 % (14 rows) |
| Ketones and aldehydes | 14 % (14 rows) | 31 % (35 rows) |
| Esters and ethers | 26 % (23 rows) | 25 % (72 rows) |
| Amines and nitrogen compounds | 0 % (8 rows) | 33 % (39 rows) |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | 12 % (8 rows) | 0 % (14 rows) |
| Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons | 75 % (24 rows) | 1 % (78 rows) |
| Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils | – | 4 % (48 rows) |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | 14 % (22 rows) | 23 % (71 rows) |
| Foods and beverages | 100 % (9 rows) | 93 % (46 rows) |
Where the ratings differ most
Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 64 in total, the first 40 shown.
| Chemical | Concentration | Polysulfone | EPDM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acetamide | saturated | D | A |
| Acetone | D | A | |
| Alanine | D | A | |
| Benzenesulfonic Acid | saturated | A | D |
| Butane | technical grade | A | D |
| Chlorodifluoromethane | D | A | |
| Chromic Acid | 20 % | A | D |
| Creosote | A | D | |
| Crude Oil | 100 % | A | D |
| Cyclohexanol | technical grade | A | D |
| Ethylene Oxide | A | D | |
| Fats, Cooking Oils | A | D | |
| Heating Oil | A | D | |
| Isooctane | technical grade | A | D |
| Isopropyl Ether | technical grade | A | D |
| Mineral Oil | A | D | |
| n-Heptane | A | D | |
| n-Hexane | A | D | |
| Naphtha | A | D | |
| Naphthalene | 100 % | A | D |
| Paraffins | 100 % | A | D |
| Petroleum | technical grade | A | D |
| Petroleum Ether | technical grade | A | D |
| Propane | liquid | A | D |
| Sulfuric Acid | 60 % | A | D |
| Tar | A | D | |
| Transformer Oil | A | D | |
| Trifluorotrichloroethane | 100 % | A | D |
| Acetic Acid | 50 % | B | D |
| Butyric Acid | B | D | |
| Carbazole | D | B | |
| Chlorine | 10 % wet | D | B |
| Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) | A | C | |
| Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12) | A | C | |
| Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12) | technical grade | A | C |
| Diisooctyl Phthalate (DOP) | technical grade | A | C |
| Dimethylformamide (DMF) | D | B | |
| Dipropylene Glycol | B | D | |
| Ethyl Glycol | 100 % | A | C |
| Ethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether Acetate | D | B |
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 Polysulfone or EPDM more chemical-resistant?
Of 303 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, Polysulfone and EPDM share the same rating in 170 rows (56 %). Polysulfone is rated better in 80 rows and EPDM in 53 rows.
How do Polysulfone and EPDM compare for chemical resistance?
Based on 303 chemicals tested for both: Polysulfone is rated better with Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Organic acids, Alcohols and glycols, Mineral acids. EPDM is rated better with Amines and nitrogen compounds, Ketones and aldehydes. They perform similarly with Alkalis, Salts and salt solutions, Oxidising agents and halogens, Esters and ethers.
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.