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PVDF vs EPDM: Chemical Resistance Compared

Of 941 source rows rated for both materials at 20 °C, 430 (46 %) have the same rating. PVDF is rated better in 452 rows and EPDM in 59. A row is one chemical at one concentration.

Summary

PVDF is rated better with
Aromatic hydrocarbons (+100 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+96 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+84 points); Phenols (+64 points); Halogenated hydrocarbons (+49 points); Organic acids (+47 points); Mineral acids (+47 points); Alcohols and glycols (+45 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+43 points); Esters and ethers (+39 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+31 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+22 points)
EPDM is rated better with
Alkalis (+36 points)
Within 10 points of each other
Salts and salt solutions; Foods and beverages

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

The two materials

PVDF

Polyvinylidene fluoride

PVDF resists acids, halogens and hydrocarbons. Strong bases, amines, ketones and esters attack it. Service temperature is up to about 150 °C.

Rated rows: 944. A 73 %, B 15 %, C 10 %, D 2 %

All chemicals for PVDF

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

PVDF, EPDM: Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical classMineral acids: PVDF 87 %, EPDM 40 %. Organic acids: PVDF 94 %, EPDM 47 %. Alkalis: PVDF 64 %, EPDM 100 %. Salts and salt solutions: PVDF 99 %, EPDM 98 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: PVDF 87 %, EPDM 65 %. Alcohols and glycols: PVDF 98 %, EPDM 53 %. Phenols: PVDF 71 %, EPDM 7 %. Ketones and aldehydes: PVDF 62 %, EPDM 31 %. Esters and ethers: PVDF 64 %, EPDM 25 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: PVDF 76 %, EPDM 33 %. Aromatic hydrocarbons: PVDF 100 %, EPDM 0 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: PVDF 97 %, EPDM 1 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: PVDF 88 %, EPDM 4 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: PVDF 72 %, EPDM 23 %. Foods and beverages: PVDF 98 %, EPDM 93 %.Mineral acidsMineral acids, PVDF: 87 % (61)87 %Mineral acids, EPDM: 40 % (63)40 %Organic acidsOrganic acids, PVDF: 94 % (64)94 %Organic acids, EPDM: 47 % (64)47 %AlkalisAlkalis, PVDF: 64 % (22)64 %Alkalis, EPDM: 100 % (22)100 %Salts and salt solutionsSalts and salt solutions, PVDF: 99 % (198)99 %Salts and salt solutions, EPDM: 98 % (198)98 %Oxidising agents and halogensOxidising agents and halogens, PVDF: 87 % (62)87 %Oxidising agents and halogens, EPDM: 65 % (62)65 %Alcohols and glycolsAlcohols and glycols, PVDF: 98 % (58)98 %Alcohols and glycols, EPDM: 53 % (58)53 %PhenolsPhenols, PVDF: 71 % (14)71 %Phenols, EPDM: 7 % (14)7 %Ketones and aldehydesKetones and aldehydes, PVDF: 62 % (34)62 %Ketones and aldehydes, EPDM: 31 % (35)31 %Esters and ethersEsters and ethers, PVDF: 64 % (66)64 %Esters and ethers, EPDM: 25 % (72)25 %Amines and nitrogen compoundsAmines and nitrogen compounds, PVDF: 76 % (38)76 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, EPDM: 33 % (39)33 %Aromatic hydrocarbonsAromatic hydrocarbons, PVDF: 100 % (14)100 %Aromatic hydrocarbons, EPDM: 0 % (14)0 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbonsFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, PVDF: 97 % (72)97 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, EPDM: 1 % (78)1 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oilsVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, PVDF: 88 % (48)88 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, EPDM: 4 % (48)4 %Halogenated hydrocarbonsHalogenated hydrocarbons, PVDF: 72 % (54)72 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, EPDM: 23 % (71)23 %Foods and beveragesFoods and beverages, PVDF: 98 % (46)98 %Foods and beverages, EPDM: 93 % (46)93 %
PVDFEPDM
Rating at 20 °C. Only classes with at least 8 rated rows for both materials are shown.

How often the two ratings agree

PVDF, EPDM: How often the two ratings agreePVDF A, EPDM A: 363; PVDF A, EPDM B: 56; PVDF A, EPDM C: 107; PVDF A, EPDM D: 158; PVDF B, EPDM A: 28; PVDF B, EPDM B: 21; PVDF B, EPDM C: 37; PVDF B, EPDM D: 59; PVDF C, EPDM A: 12; PVDF C, EPDM B: 5; PVDF C, EPDM C: 40; PVDF C, EPDM D: 35; PVDF D, EPDM A: 7; PVDF D, EPDM B: 1; PVDF D, EPDM C: 6; PVDF D, EPDM D: 6.EPDMABCDPVDFAPVDF A, EPDM A: 363363PVDF A, EPDM B: 5656PVDF A, EPDM C: 107107PVDF A, EPDM D: 158158BPVDF B, EPDM A: 2828PVDF B, EPDM B: 2121PVDF B, EPDM C: 3737PVDF B, EPDM D: 5959CPVDF C, EPDM A: 1212PVDF C, EPDM B: 55PVDF C, EPDM C: 4040PVDF C, EPDM D: 3535DPVDF D, EPDM A: 77PVDF D, EPDM B: 11PVDF D, EPDM C: 66PVDF D, EPDM D: 66
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 classPVDF: rated A or BEPDM: rated A or B
Mineral acids87 % (61 rows)40 % (63 rows)
Organic acids94 % (64 rows)47 % (64 rows)
Alkalis64 % (22 rows)100 % (22 rows)
Salts and salt solutions99 % (198 rows)98 % (198 rows)
Oxidising agents and halogens87 % (62 rows)65 % (62 rows)
Alcohols and glycols98 % (58 rows)53 % (58 rows)
Phenols71 % (14 rows)7 % (14 rows)
Ketones and aldehydes62 % (34 rows)31 % (35 rows)
Esters and ethers64 % (66 rows)25 % (72 rows)
Amines and nitrogen compounds76 % (38 rows)33 % (39 rows)
Aromatic hydrocarbons100 % (14 rows)0 % (14 rows)
Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons97 % (72 rows)1 % (78 rows)
Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils88 % (48 rows)4 % (48 rows)
Halogenated hydrocarbons72 % (54 rows)23 % (71 rows)
Foods and beverages98 % (46 rows)93 % (46 rows)

Where the ratings differ most

Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 344 in total, the first 40 shown.

ChemicalConcentrationPVDFEPDM
1,2-DibromoethaneAD
1,2-DichlorobenzeneAD
1,3-ButadieneAD
1,4-DichlorobenzeneAD
1-ChloronaphthaleneAD
1-HeptanolAD
Acetic Acid100 %AD
Acetic Acid50 %AD
Acetic Acid90 %AD
Acetyl Chloride100 %AD
Allyl Chloride100 %AD
Almond OilAD
Amyl ChlorideAD
AnilineAD
Beef TallowAD
Beef Tallow EmulsionsulfuriertAD
BenzeneAD
Benzenesulfonic AcidsaturatedAD
Bone OilAD
BromineAD
Bromine VaporsAD
Bromine WatersaturatedAD
BromobenzeneAD
Bromomethanetechnical gradeAD
Butanetechnical gradeAD
Butyl Acrylate100 %AD
Butyl Stearate100 %AD
Butylphenol100 %AD
Butyric AcidAD
Calcium BisulfitesaturatedAD
Calcium BisulfiteaqueousAD
Carbon DisulfideAD
Carbon TetrachlorideAD
Chlorine97 %AD
Chlorine GasAD
ChlorobenzeneAD
Chloroethane (Ethyl Chloride)AD
Chloroform100 %AD
Chloromethane (Methyl Chloride)technical gradeAD
ChlorotolueneAD

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 PVDFHDPE vs EPDMLDPE vs PVDFLDPE vs EPDMPP vs PVDFPP vs EPDMPVC Rigid vs PVDFPVC Rigid vs EPDMPVC Flexible vs PVDFPVC Flexible vs EPDMPMP vs PVDFPMP vs EPDMPolystyrene vs PVDFPolystyrene vs EPDMSAN vs PVDFSAN vs EPDMPolycarbonate vs PVDFPolycarbonate vs EPDMPETG vs PVDFPETG vs EPDM

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PVDF or EPDM more chemical-resistant?

Of 941 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, PVDF and EPDM share the same rating in 430 rows (46 %). PVDF is rated better in 452 rows and EPDM in 59 rows.

How do PVDF and EPDM compare for chemical resistance?

Based on 941 chemicals tested for both: PVDF is rated better with Aromatic hydrocarbons, Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Phenols. EPDM is rated better with Alkalis. They perform similarly with Salts and salt solutions, 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.