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NBR Chemical Resistance Chart

NBR is the industry standard for oil and fuel resistance. Also known as Buna-N, it's the most widely used elastomer for hydraulic seals, O-rings, and fuel system components.

828 chemicals tested 20°C & 50°C data
353
Excellent (A)
91
Good (B)
185
Limited (C)
354
Not Recommended (D)

Resistance by chemical class

Most rows rated A or B
Foods and beverages 93 %; Salts and salt solutions 82 %; Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils 69 %
Fewest rows rated A or B
Phenols 0 %; Esters and ethers 1 %; Aromatic hydrocarbons 7 %
All rated rows, by rating
A 36 %, B 9 %, C 19 %, D 36 % (983)

Chemical classes were assigned by this site, not by the source. Mixtures and trade products without a clear class are not counted.

NBR: Resistance by chemical classMineral acids: A 10 %, B 3 %, C 22 %, D 65 %. Organic acids: A 29 %, B 8 %, C 25 %, D 38 %. Alkalis: A 36 %, B 27 %, C 32 %, D 5 %. Salts and salt solutions: A 68 %, B 14 %, C 15 %, D 3 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: A 11 %, B 3 %, C 24 %, D 61 %. Alcohols and glycols: A 38 %, B 7 %, C 40 %, D 16 %. Phenols: C 43 %, D 57 %. Ketones and aldehydes: A 6 %, B 3 %, C 6 %, D 86 %. Esters and ethers: A 1 %, C 11 %, D 88 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: A 13 %, C 10 %, D 77 %. Aromatic hydrocarbons: A 7 %, C 7 %, D 86 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: A 54 %, B 5 %, C 27 %, D 14 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: A 58 %, B 10 %, C 19 %, D 12 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: A 20 %, C 15 %, D 65 %. Foods and beverages: A 63 %, B 30 %, C 4 %, D 2 %.Mineral acids (63)Mineral acids: A 10 % (6)AMineral acids: B 3 % (2)Mineral acids: C 22 % (14)C 22 %Mineral acids: D 65 % (41)D 65 %Organic acids (63)Organic acids: A 29 % (18)A 29 %Organic acids: B 8 % (5)BOrganic acids: C 25 % (16)C 25 %Organic acids: D 38 % (24)D 38 %Alkalis (22)Alkalis: A 36 % (8)A 36 %Alkalis: B 27 % (6)B 27 %Alkalis: C 32 % (7)C 32 %Alkalis: D 5 % (1)DSalts and salt solutions (198)Salts and salt solutions: A 68 % (135)A 68 %Salts and salt solutions: B 14 % (28)B 14 %Salts and salt solutions: C 15 % (30)C 15 %Salts and salt solutions: D 3 % (5)Oxidising agents and halogens (62)Oxidising agents and halogens: A 11 % (7)AOxidising agents and halogens: B 3 % (2)Oxidising agents and halogens: C 24 % (15)C 24 %Oxidising agents and halogens: D 61 % (38)D 61 %Alcohols and glycols (58)Alcohols and glycols: A 38 % (22)A 38 %Alcohols and glycols: B 7 % (4)BAlcohols and glycols: C 40 % (23)C 40 %Alcohols and glycols: D 16 % (9)D 16 %Phenols (14)Phenols: C 43 % (6)C 43 %Phenols: D 57 % (8)D 57 %Ketones and aldehydes (35)Ketones and aldehydes: A 6 % (2)AKetones and aldehydes: B 3 % (1)Ketones and aldehydes: C 6 % (2)CKetones and aldehydes: D 86 % (30)D 86 %Esters and ethers (76)Esters and ethers: A 1 % (1)Esters and ethers: C 11 % (8)CEsters and ethers: D 88 % (67)D 88 %Amines and nitrogen compounds (39)Amines and nitrogen compounds: A 13 % (5)A 13 %Amines and nitrogen compounds: C 10 % (4)CAmines and nitrogen compounds: D 77 % (30)D 77 %Aromatic hydrocarbons (14)Aromatic hydrocarbons: A 7 % (1)AAromatic hydrocarbons: C 7 % (1)CAromatic hydrocarbons: D 86 % (12)D 86 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (78)Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: A 54 % (42)A 54 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: B 5 % (4)BFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: C 27 % (21)C 27 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: D 14 % (11)D 14 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (48)Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: A 58 % (28)A 58 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: B 10 % (5)BVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: C 19 % (9)C 19 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: D 12 % (6)DHalogenated hydrocarbons (71)Halogenated hydrocarbons: A 20 % (14)A 20 %Halogenated hydrocarbons: C 15 % (11)C 15 %Halogenated hydrocarbons: D 65 % (46)D 65 %Foods and beverages (46)Foods and beverages: A 63 % (29)A 63 %Foods and beverages: B 30 % (14)B 30 %Foods and beverages: C 4 % (2)Foods and beverages: D 2 % (1)
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistant
Share of each rating at 20 °C among the source rows of a class. The number in brackets is the number of rated rows; a row is one chemical at one concentration. Classes with fewer than 8 rated rows are left out.
Showing 983 chemicals
Chemical Concentration 20°C 50°C CAS
Alkaline Exhaust Gases
Abgase, alkalisch
—A–—
Hydrogen Fluoride Exhaust Gases
Abgase, fluorwasserstoffhaltig
low concentrationA–—
Carbon Dioxide Exhaust Gases
Abgase, kohlendioxidhaltig
low concentrationA*–—
Nitrous Exhaust Gases
Abgase, nitrosehaltig
low concentrationC*–—
Hydrochloric Acid Exhaust Gases
Abgase, salzsäurehaltig
any concentrationC–—
Sulfur Dioxide Exhaust Gases
Abgase, schwefeldioxidhaltig
low concentrationC–—
Sulfuric Acid Exhaust Gases
Abgase, schwefelsäurehaltig
any concentrationDD—
Sulfur Trioxide Exhaust Gases
Abgase, schwefeltrioxidhaltig
low concentrationDD—
Acetaldehyde
Acetaldehyd
40 %DD75-07-0
Acetaldehyde
Acetaldehyd
technical gradeDD75-07-0
Acetamide
Acetamid
saturatedA–60-35-5
Acetone
Aceton
—DD67-64-1
Acetonitrile
Acetonitril
—DD75-05-8
Acetophenone
Acetophenon
—DD98-86-2
Acetyl Chloride
Acetylchlorid
100 %DD75-36-5
Acetylene
Acetylen
100 %A–74-86-2
Acrylonitrile
Acrylnitril
—DD107-13-1
Adipic Acid
Adipinsäure
saturatedAA124-04-9
Battery Acid
Akkusäure
38 %DD7664-93-9
Alanine
Alanin
—A*–56-41-7
Allyl Acetate
Allylacetat
100 %DD591-87-7
Allyl Alcohol
Allylalkohol
96 %C–107-18-6
Allyl Chloride
Allylchlorid
100 %DD107-05-1
Allyl Mustard Oil
Allylsenföl
—D*–57-06-7
Aluminum Hydroxide Acetate
Aluminium(hydroxid)acetat
aqueousC–139-12-8
Aluminum Ammonium Sulfate
Aluminiumammoniumsulfat
saturatedAA7784-26-1
Aluminum Chloride
Aluminiumchlorid
10 %AA7784-13-6
Aluminum Chloride
Aluminiumchlorid
saturatedAA7784-13-6
Aluminum Chloride
Aluminiumchlorid
solidC*–7784-13-6
Aluminum Fluoride
Aluminiumfluorid
aqueousAA7789-18-1
Aluminum Hydroxide
Aluminiumhydroxid
—AA21645-51-2
Aluminum Nitrate
Aluminiumnitrat
aqueousA–13473-90-0
Aluminum Oxide
Aluminiumoxid
solidAA1344-28-1
Aluminum Sulfate
Aluminiumsulfat
10 %AA10043-01-3
Aluminum Sulfate
Aluminiumsulfat
saturatedAA10043-01-3
Formic Acid
Ameisensäure
3 %DD64-18-6
Formic Acid
Ameisensäure
50 %DD64-18-6
Formic Acid
Ameisensäure
98-100 %DD64-18-6
Glycine
Aminoessigsäure
10 %CC56-40-6
Ammonium Acetate
Ammoniumacetat
saturatedBB631-61-8
Ammonium Carbonate
Ammoniumcarbonat
50 %DD10361-29-2
Ammonium Carbonate
Ammoniumcarbonat
aqueousDD10361-29-2
Ammonium Chloride
Ammoniumchlorid
aqueousAA12125-02-9
Ammonium Chloride
Ammoniumchlorid
solidAA12125-02-9
Ammonium Dihydrogen Phosphate
Ammoniumdihydrogenphosphat
any concentrationAA7722-76-1
Ammonium Iron(II) Sulfate
Ammoniumeisen-(II)-sulfat
—A*–7783-85-9
Ammonium Iron(III) Sulfate
Ammoniumeisen-(III)-sulfat
saturatedA*–7783-83-7
Ammonium Fluoride
Ammoniumfluorid
aqueousAA12125-01-8
Ammonium Fluoride
Ammoniumfluorid
saturatedAA12125-01-8
Ammonium Glycolate
Ammoniumglycolat
—A*–35249-89-9

* = estimated rating in the source, given without a temperature. L = risk of pitting or stress-corrosion cracking. Only chemicals with a rating for this material are listed.

NBR Properties

Full Name Nitrile Butadiene Rubber
Also Known As Buna-N, Nitrile
Max Temperature 120°C (248°F) continuous
Min Temperature -30°C (-22°F)

Common Applications

Fuel Systems

Fuel hoses, tank seals, gasoline pumps, diesel systems

Hydraulics

Hydraulic seals, O-rings, cylinder seals, pumps

Automotive

Engine seals, transmission seals, oil pan gaskets

Not Recommended For

NBR may degrade when exposed to:

  • Ozone and UV exposure (outdoor use)
  • Ketones (acetone, MEK)
  • Esters and ethers
  • Strong acids
  • Chlorinated hydrocarbons
  • Brake fluid (glycol-based)

Tip: For outdoor applications or ozone exposure, use EPDM instead. For extreme chemicals, consider Viton (FKM).

Compare Materials

EPDM
For water/outdoor
PTFE
Universal
HDPE
Rigid plastic
SS 316
Metal option