ChemicalResistance
ChemicalResistance.org

SAN vs EPDM: Chemical Resistance Compared

Of 363 source rows rated for both materials at 20 °C, 194 (53 %) have the same rating. SAN is rated better in 119 rows and EPDM in 50. A row is one chemical at one concentration.

Summary

SAN is rated better with
Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+78 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+64 points); Organic acids (+32 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+23 points); Mineral acids (+21 points); Phenols (+18 points); Alcohols and glycols (+17 points)
EPDM is rated better with
Esters and ethers (+25 points); Halogenated hydrocarbons (+18 points); Foods and beverages (+11 points)
Within 10 points of each other
Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; Oxidising agents and halogens; Ketones and aldehydes

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

The two materials

SAN

Styrene-acrylonitrile

Styrene-acrylonitrile resists oils and dilute acids better than polystyrene, but ketones, esters and aromatic and chlorinated solvents still attack it.

Rated rows: 364. A 67 %, B 0 %, C 9 %, D 24 %

All chemicals for SAN

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

SAN, EPDM: Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical classMineral acids: SAN 61 %, EPDM 40 %. Organic acids: SAN 79 %, EPDM 47 %. Alkalis: SAN 100 %, EPDM 100 %. Salts and salt solutions: SAN 100 %, EPDM 98 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: SAN 73 %, EPDM 65 %. Alcohols and glycols: SAN 70 %, EPDM 53 %. Phenols: SAN 25 %, EPDM 7 %. Ketones and aldehydes: SAN 21 %, EPDM 31 %. Esters and ethers: SAN 0 %, EPDM 25 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: SAN 56 %, EPDM 33 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: SAN 79 %, EPDM 1 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: SAN 68 %, EPDM 4 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: SAN 5 %, EPDM 23 %. Foods and beverages: SAN 82 %, EPDM 93 %.Mineral acidsMineral acids, SAN: 61 % (18)61 %Mineral acids, EPDM: 40 % (63)40 %Organic acidsOrganic acids, SAN: 79 % (24)79 %Organic acids, EPDM: 47 % (64)47 %AlkalisAlkalis, SAN: 100 % (8)100 %Alkalis, EPDM: 100 % (22)100 %Salts and salt solutionsSalts and salt solutions, SAN: 100 % (80)100 %Salts and salt solutions, EPDM: 98 % (198)98 %Oxidising agents and halogensOxidising agents and halogens, SAN: 73 % (26)73 %Oxidising agents and halogens, EPDM: 65 % (62)65 %Alcohols and glycolsAlcohols and glycols, SAN: 70 % (33)70 %Alcohols and glycols, EPDM: 53 % (58)53 %PhenolsPhenols, SAN: 25 % (8)25 %Phenols, EPDM: 7 % (14)7 %Ketones and aldehydesKetones and aldehydes, SAN: 21 % (19)21 %Ketones and aldehydes, EPDM: 31 % (35)31 %Esters and ethersEsters and ethers, SAN: 0 % (19)0 %Esters and ethers, EPDM: 25 % (72)25 %Amines and nitrogen compoundsAmines and nitrogen compounds, SAN: 56 % (9)56 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, EPDM: 33 % (39)33 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbonsFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, SAN: 79 % (24)79 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, EPDM: 1 % (78)1 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oilsVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, SAN: 68 % (22)68 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, EPDM: 4 % (48)4 %Halogenated hydrocarbonsHalogenated hydrocarbons, SAN: 5 % (20)5 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, EPDM: 23 % (71)23 %Foods and beveragesFoods and beverages, SAN: 82 % (22)82 %Foods and beverages, EPDM: 93 % (46)93 %
SANEPDM
Rating at 20 °C. Only classes with at least 8 rated rows for both materials are shown.

How often the two ratings agree

SAN, EPDM: How often the two ratings agreeSAN A, EPDM A: 139; SAN A, EPDM B: 29; SAN A, EPDM C: 35; SAN A, EPDM D: 39; SAN B, EPDM A: 1; SAN C, EPDM A: 3; SAN C, EPDM B: 5; SAN C, EPDM C: 10; SAN C, EPDM D: 16; SAN D, EPDM A: 5; SAN D, EPDM B: 8; SAN D, EPDM C: 28; SAN D, EPDM D: 45.EPDMABCDSANASAN A, EPDM A: 139139SAN A, EPDM B: 2929SAN A, EPDM C: 3535SAN A, EPDM D: 3939BSAN B, EPDM A: 11SAN B, EPDM B: 00SAN B, EPDM C: 00SAN B, EPDM D: 00CSAN C, EPDM A: 33SAN C, EPDM B: 55SAN C, EPDM C: 1010SAN C, EPDM D: 1616DSAN D, EPDM A: 55SAN D, EPDM B: 88SAN D, EPDM C: 2828SAN D, EPDM D: 4545
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 classSAN: rated A or BEPDM: rated A or B
Mineral acids61 % (18 rows)40 % (63 rows)
Organic acids79 % (24 rows)47 % (64 rows)
Alkalis100 % (8 rows)100 % (22 rows)
Salts and salt solutions100 % (80 rows)98 % (198 rows)
Oxidising agents and halogens73 % (26 rows)65 % (62 rows)
Alcohols and glycols70 % (33 rows)53 % (58 rows)
Phenols25 % (8 rows)7 % (14 rows)
Ketones and aldehydes21 % (19 rows)31 % (35 rows)
Esters and ethers0 % (19 rows)25 % (72 rows)
Amines and nitrogen compounds56 % (9 rows)33 % (39 rows)
Aromatic hydrocarbons–0 % (14 rows)
Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons79 % (24 rows)1 % (78 rows)
Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils68 % (22 rows)4 % (48 rows)
Halogenated hydrocarbons5 % (20 rows)23 % (71 rows)
Foods and beverages82 % (22 rows)93 % (46 rows)

Where the ratings differ most

Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 90 in total, the first 40 shown.

ChemicalConcentrationSANEPDM
1-HeptanolAD
AcetoneDA
Allyl Alcohol96 %DA
Almond OilAD
Beef Tallow EmulsionsulfuriertAD
Bone OilAD
Brake FluidDA
Butanetechnical gradeAD
CamphorAD
CinnamaldehydeDA
Coconut FatAD
Corn Germ Oiltechnical gradeAD
CyclohexaneAD
Cyclohexanoltechnical gradeAD
Diacetone AlcoholDA
Diesel Fuel100 %AD
Heating OilAD
HexachlorobenzeneAD
HexanolAD
HydroquinonesaturatedAD
Isooctanetechnical gradeAD
Lanolintechnical gradeAD
LigroinAD
Linseed Oiltechnical gradeAD
MargarineAD
MethylcyclohexaneAD
n-HeptaneAD
n-HexaneAD
Naphthalene100 %AD
n-OctaneAD
Oleic Acidtechnical gradeAD
Olive OilAD
Palm OilAD
Palmitic Acidtechnical gradeAD
Peanut OilAD
PentaneAD
Petroleum OilAD
PropaneliquidAD
Stauffer GreaseAD
Transformer OilAD

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 SANHDPE vs EPDMLDPE vs SANLDPE vs EPDMPP vs SANPP vs EPDMPVC Rigid vs SANPVC Rigid vs EPDMPVC Flexible vs SANPVC Flexible vs EPDMPMP vs SANPMP vs EPDMPolystyrene vs SANPolystyrene vs EPDMSAN vs PolycarbonateSAN vs PETGSAN vs Acetal (POM)SAN vs Nylon (PA)SAN vs PolysulfoneSAN vs PTFE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SAN or EPDM more chemical-resistant?

Of 363 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, SAN and EPDM share the same rating in 194 rows (53 %). SAN is rated better in 119 rows and EPDM in 50 rows.

How do SAN and EPDM compare for chemical resistance?

Based on 363 chemicals tested for both: SAN is rated better with Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Organic acids, Amines and nitrogen compounds. EPDM is rated better with Esters and ethers, Halogenated hydrocarbons, Foods and beverages. They perform similarly with Alkalis, Salts and salt solutions, Oxidising agents and halogens, Ketones and aldehydes.

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.