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PP vs EPDM: Chemical Resistance Compared

Of 970 source rows rated for both materials at 20 °C, 476 (49 %) have the same rating. PP is rated better in 431 rows and EPDM in 63. A row is one chemical at one concentration.

Summary

PP is rated better with
Phenols (+72 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+71 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+62 points); Organic acids (+50 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+46 points); Alcohols and glycols (+40 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+38 points); Esters and ethers (+38 points); Mineral acids (+30 points); Aromatic hydrocarbons (+14 points)
EPDM is rated better with
Halogenated hydrocarbons (+19 points)
Within 10 points of each other
Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; Oxidising agents and halogens; Foods and beverages

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

The two materials

PP

Polypropylene

Polypropylene resists most acids, alkalis and salt solutions. Concentrated oxidising acids, chlorinated solvents and aromatic hydrocarbons attack it, and it turns brittle below about 0 °C.

Rated rows: 978. A 66 %, B 11 %, C 15 %, D 8 %

All chemicals for PP

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

PP, EPDM: Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical classMineral acids: PP 70 %, EPDM 40 %. Organic acids: PP 97 %, EPDM 47 %. Alkalis: PP 100 %, EPDM 100 %. Salts and salt solutions: PP 99 %, EPDM 98 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: PP 72 %, EPDM 65 %. Alcohols and glycols: PP 93 %, EPDM 53 %. Phenols: PP 79 %, EPDM 7 %. Ketones and aldehydes: PP 69 %, EPDM 31 %. Esters and ethers: PP 63 %, EPDM 25 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: PP 79 %, EPDM 33 %. Aromatic hydrocarbons: PP 14 %, EPDM 0 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: PP 63 %, EPDM 1 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: PP 75 %, EPDM 4 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: PP 4 %, EPDM 23 %. Foods and beverages: PP 100 %, EPDM 93 %.Mineral acidsMineral acids, PP: 70 % (63)70 %Mineral acids, EPDM: 40 % (63)40 %Organic acidsOrganic acids, PP: 97 % (64)97 %Organic acids, EPDM: 47 % (64)47 %AlkalisAlkalis, PP: 100 % (22)100 %Alkalis, EPDM: 100 % (22)100 %Salts and salt solutionsSalts and salt solutions, PP: 99 % (198)99 %Salts and salt solutions, EPDM: 98 % (198)98 %Oxidising agents and halogensOxidising agents and halogens, PP: 72 % (61)72 %Oxidising agents and halogens, EPDM: 65 % (62)65 %Alcohols and glycolsAlcohols and glycols, PP: 93 % (59)93 %Alcohols and glycols, EPDM: 53 % (58)53 %PhenolsPhenols, PP: 79 % (14)79 %Phenols, EPDM: 7 % (14)7 %Ketones and aldehydesKetones and aldehydes, PP: 69 % (35)69 %Ketones and aldehydes, EPDM: 31 % (35)31 %Esters and ethersEsters and ethers, PP: 63 % (71)63 %Esters and ethers, EPDM: 25 % (72)25 %Amines and nitrogen compoundsAmines and nitrogen compounds, PP: 79 % (39)79 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, EPDM: 33 % (39)33 %Aromatic hydrocarbonsAromatic hydrocarbons, PP: 14 % (14)14 %Aromatic hydrocarbons, EPDM: 0 % (14)0 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbonsFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, PP: 63 % (78)63 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, EPDM: 1 % (78)1 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oilsVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, PP: 75 % (48)75 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, EPDM: 4 % (48)4 %Halogenated hydrocarbonsHalogenated hydrocarbons, PP: 4 % (70)4 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, EPDM: 23 % (71)23 %Foods and beveragesFoods and beverages, PP: 100 % (46)100 %Foods and beverages, EPDM: 93 % (46)93 %
PPEPDM
Rating at 20 °C. Only classes with at least 8 rated rows for both materials are shown.

How often the two ratings agree

PP, EPDM: How often the two ratings agreePP A, EPDM A: 383; PP A, EPDM B: 53; PP A, EPDM C: 120; PP A, EPDM D: 84; PP B, EPDM A: 13; PP B, EPDM B: 24; PP B, EPDM C: 39; PP B, EPDM D: 34; PP C, EPDM A: 23; PP C, EPDM B: 5; PP C, EPDM C: 17; PP C, EPDM D: 101; PP D, EPDM A: 3; PP D, EPDM B: 1; PP D, EPDM C: 18; PP D, EPDM D: 52.EPDMABCDPPAPP A, EPDM A: 383383PP A, EPDM B: 5353PP A, EPDM C: 120120PP A, EPDM D: 8484BPP B, EPDM A: 1313PP B, EPDM B: 2424PP B, EPDM C: 3939PP B, EPDM D: 3434CPP C, EPDM A: 2323PP C, EPDM B: 55PP C, EPDM C: 1717PP C, EPDM D: 101101DPP D, EPDM A: 33PP D, EPDM B: 11PP D, EPDM C: 1818PP D, EPDM D: 5252
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 classPP: rated A or BEPDM: rated A or B
Mineral acids70 % (63 rows)40 % (63 rows)
Organic acids97 % (64 rows)47 % (64 rows)
Alkalis100 % (22 rows)100 % (22 rows)
Salts and salt solutions99 % (198 rows)98 % (198 rows)
Oxidising agents and halogens72 % (61 rows)65 % (62 rows)
Alcohols and glycols93 % (59 rows)53 % (58 rows)
Phenols79 % (14 rows)7 % (14 rows)
Ketones and aldehydes69 % (35 rows)31 % (35 rows)
Esters and ethers63 % (71 rows)25 % (72 rows)
Amines and nitrogen compounds79 % (39 rows)33 % (39 rows)
Aromatic hydrocarbons14 % (14 rows)0 % (14 rows)
Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons63 % (78 rows)1 % (78 rows)
Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils75 % (48 rows)4 % (48 rows)
Halogenated hydrocarbons4 % (70 rows)23 % (71 rows)
Foods and beverages100 % (46 rows)93 % (46 rows)

Where the ratings differ most

Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 265 in total, the first 40 shown.

ChemicalConcentrationPPEPDM
Acetic Acid100 %AD
Acetic Acid50 %AD
Acetic Acid90 %AD
Aviation Fuels (JP)AD
Beef TallowAD
Beef Tallow EmulsionsulfuriertAD
BitumenAD
Bone OilAD
Butanetechnical gradeAD
Butylphenol100 %AD
Calcium BisulfitesaturatedAD
Calcium BisulfiteaqueousAD
CamphorAD
ChlorodifluoromethaneDA
Chromic Acid10 %AD
Coal Tar Oil100 %AD
Coconut Oiltechnical gradeAD
Corn Germ Oiltechnical gradeAD
Crude OilAD
Crude Oil100 %AD
Cyclohexanoltechnical gradeAD
Dichloroacetic Acid50 %AD
Dichloroacetic Acidtechnical gradeAD
Diesel FuelAD
Diesel Fuel100 %AD
DiisobutyleneAD
Dipropylene GlycolAD
Gas OilAD
GreaseAD
GreaseAD
GreaseAD
HD Motor Oil, Aromatic-FreeAD
Heating OilAD
HexanolAD
Hydraulic OilAD
HydroquinonesaturatedAD
Isooctanetechnical gradeAD
Linseed Oiltechnical gradeAD
Machine Oil100 %AD
Maleic AcidsaturatedAD

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

HDPE vs PPHDPE vs EPDMLDPE vs PPLDPE vs EPDMPVC Rigid vs PPPP vs PVC FlexiblePP vs PMPPP vs PolystyrenePP vs SANPP vs PolycarbonatePP vs PETGPP vs Acetal (POM)PP vs Nylon (PA)PP vs PolysulfonePP vs PTFEPP vs FEPPP vs PVDFPP vs ECTFE/ETFEPP vs Viton (FPM)PP vs NBR

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PP or EPDM more chemical-resistant?

Of 970 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, PP and EPDM share the same rating in 476 rows (49 %). PP is rated better in 431 rows and EPDM in 63 rows.

How do PP and EPDM compare for chemical resistance?

Based on 970 chemicals tested for both: PP is rated better with Phenols, Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Organic acids. EPDM is rated better with Halogenated hydrocarbons. They perform similarly with Alkalis, Salts and salt solutions, Oxidising agents and halogens, 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.