Rubber & Elastomers•Weathering & Chemical Resistant Elastomers•

VERIFIED(Source-Verified)

Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber (EPDM)

Primary Designation:ASTM EPDM

Aliases:

EPDMEthylene Propylene RubberNordelKeltan

Mat Grades internal verification confirms source-backed fidelity and data integrity. It does not constitute external certification or guaranteed lot conformity. Read engineering disclaimer →

Compare Equivalents

Download PDF Download Excel

Report an issue

Data Completeness:0 composition elements and 1 condition-specific property values cataloged.

Omitted fields represent unverified properties. "Missing is better than invented."

Key Engineering Properties

Representative source rows, qualified by their reported conditions. Inspect the tables below for all values, limits, and source notes.

Service Temp Range

-45°C to 125°CContinuous Limit

Continuous service typically spans -45°C...

Engineering Summary

Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber (EPDM) is a non-polar synthetic terpolymer consisting of ethylene, propylene, and a non-conjugated diene termonomer (typically ethylidene norbornene [ENB] or dicyclopentadiene [DCPD]). The fully saturated polymethylene polymer backbone confers exceptional resistance to ozone, UV radiation, atmospheric weathering, and oxidative thermal aging. EPDM exhibits superior resistance to hot water and high-pressure steam (up to +150°C), phosphate-ester hydraulic fluids (Skydrol), brake fluids, and polar acids. However, its non-polar chemical nature renders it completely incompatible with petroleum-based oils, fuels, and mineral hydrocarbons.

Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber (EPDM) Documented Applications

›Automotive weatherstripping, window channel glass runs, and door body seals
›Automotive radiator coolant hoses, heater hoses, and ethylene glycol coolant circuits
›Commercial single-ply building roofing membranes (ASTM D4637 / EN 13956 specification context)
›Steam hose linings and high-temperature pressurized washdown gaskets
›Phosphate-ester hydraulic fluid seals in commercial and military aviation (Skydrol systems)
›Waterproofing geomembrane pond liners and agricultural containment pit liners

Recognized Aliases

Source-backed commercial trade name and short designations cataloged in canonical data.

EPDMEthylene Propylene RubberNordelKeltan

Elastomer Technical Profile • Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber (EPDM)

ASTM D1418: EPDMISO 1629: EPDMASTM D2000: Type BA / CA

Polymer backbone: Ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymer. Thermoset and cast elastomer mechanical, thermal, and chemical behavior depends strongly on compounding ingredients, crosslink density, and curing system.

Key Engineering Advantages

•Unrivaled resistance to atmospheric ozone, UV radiation, sunlight, and outdoor weathering aging
•Exceptional resistance to hot water and continuous pressurized steam up to 150°C (302°F)
•Excellent dielectric insulation resistance for high-voltage cable insulation
•Outstanding resistance to phosphate-ester hydraulic fluids (Aviation Skydrol fluids)
•Broad continuous operating temperature capability spanning -50°C to +125°C (+150°C peroxide cured)

Engineering Limitations & Risks

•Catastrophic swelling, softening, and structural disintegration in petroleum oils, gasoline, and diesel
•Incompatible with aromatic, aliphatic, and chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents (mineral spirits, toluene)
•Difficult to adhere and bond to metals without aggressive chemical primers due to chemical inertness
•Does not possess self-extinguishing flame resistance (burns readily unless halogen additives incorporated)

Thermal Operating Limits & Service Profile

Min Continuous-45°C

Max Continuous125°C

Max Intermittent / PeakNot specified

Note: Continuous service typically spans -45°C to +120°C for standard sulfur-cured compounds and up to +150°C for heat-stabilized peroxide-cured formulations per Parker ORD 5700 Section II (Figure 2-3). ASTM D2000 heat-aging test temperatures (70h at 125°C for Type CA, 150°C for Type DA) serve as material classification requirements rather than continuous service ratings.

Chemical & Environmental Media Compatibility (Engineering Selection Guide)

Parker ORD 5700 Selection Ratings

Ratings represent manufacturer engineering fluid selection guidance (Parker ORD 5700 / producer design manuals). They do not substitute for batch-specific ASTM D471 / ISO 1817 laboratory immersion testing under service temperature, pressure, and dynamic stress.

Atmospheric Ozone & UV WeatheringOutstanding resistance to atmospheric ozone; standard ASTM D1149 test at 100 pphm ozone produces zero surface cracking under 20% elongation

EXCELLENT

Hot Water & Pressurized SteamPeroxide-cured compounds withstand continuous saturated steam up to 150°C

EXCELLENT

Glycol Brake Fluids (DOT 3 / 4)Standard elastomer for automotive hydraulic brake cylinder cups and seals

EXCELLENT

Phosphate Ester Fluids (Skydrol)Specified throughout commercial aviation hydraulic flight-control systems

EXCELLENT

Petroleum Hydrocarbon OilsRapid massive volumetric swelling and total mechanical failure

NOT RECOMMENDED

Gasoline & Diesel FuelsSevere solvent dissolution; completely incompatible

NOT RECOMMENDED

Compounding & Physical Property Context

Compounding Dependency: Properties depend critically on ethylene/propylene ratio (50% to 75% ethylene; high ethylene increases green strength and extruded modulus) and diene content (typically 2% to 10% ENB). Peroxide curing yields superior compression set and steam resistance; sulfur curing yields faster extrusion line cures and higher elongation.

Gas & Fluid Permeability: Moderate gas permeability; significantly higher air permeability than butyl rubber (IIR).

Abrasion Endurance: Moderate abrasion resistance; suitable for door weatherstrips and window glass channels, inferior to polyurethane or SBR.

Tear Resistance: Moderate ASTM D624 Die C tear strength; adequate for static sealing and weatherstripping. (Die C angle geometry measures combined initiation/propagation; not equivalent to trouser tear Die T).

Compression Set (ASTM D395): Outstanding compression set resistance at elevated temperatures when peroxide cured.

Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber (EPDM) Specifications & Designations

Standard Designations & Applicable Specifications — Semantically classified designations distinguishing primary standard identifiers, commercial trade names, and applicable specification references.

Direct Standard DesignationsDIRECT DESIGNATION

3 Primary Identifiers

Scroll horizontally for full designation data

System	Identifier	Standard System Name	Classification Notes & Provenance
ASTMPRIMARY	EPDM	ASTM D1418 Nomenclature	—Ref: Standard Practice for Rubber and Rubber Latices—Nomenclature (ASTM D1418-22) / Rubber and latices—Nomenclature (ISO 1629:2013)
ISO	EPDM	ISO 1629 Nomenclature	—Ref: Standard Practice for Rubber and Rubber Latices—Nomenclature (ASTM D1418-22) / Rubber and latices—Nomenclature (ISO 1629:2013)
ASTM-D2000	Type BA / CA	ASTM D2000 Classification System	Classified under ASTM D2000 as Type BA (100°C 70h test) or Type CA (125°C 70h test); accelerated test temperatures serve classification and do not constitute continuous service ratings.Ref: Standard Classification System for Rubber Products in Automotive Applications (ASTM D2000-21 / SAE J200:2021)

Recognized Commercial Aliases & Trade NamesCOMMON ALIAS

4 Listed

Scroll horizontally for full alias classifications

Recognized Name / Alias	Classification	Technical Usage & Context
EPDM	Commercial Alias	Colloquial or commercial industry synonym
Ethylene Propylene Rubber	Colloquial Alias	Colloquial or commercial industry synonym
Nordel	Commercial Alias	Colloquial or commercial industry synonym
Keltan	Commercial Alias	Colloquial or commercial industry synonym

Applicable Specifications & Product Form ReferencesSPECIFICATION REFERENCE

4 Applicable Standards

Scroll horizontally for full standard specifications

Standards Body	Specification Code	Specification Title / Scope	Relationship Type
ASTM International	ASTM D1418	Standard Practice for Rubber and Rubber Latices—NomenclatureSTANDARD · Edition: ASTM D1418-22	Specification Reference
ISO	ISO 1629	Rubber and latices — NomenclatureSTANDARD · Edition: ISO 1629:2013	Specification Reference
ASTM International	ASTM D2000	Standard Classification System for Rubber Products in Automotive ApplicationsSTANDARD · Edition: ASTM D2000-21	Specification Reference
ASTM International	ASTM D4637 / EN 13956	Standard Specification for EPDM Sheet Used In Single-Ply Roof MembraneSpecific building product standard for single-ply roofing membranes. Distinct from general engineering EPDM compound ranges. · PRODUCT_SPECIFICATION · Edition: ASTM D4637/D4637M-15(2021) / EN 13956:2012	Specification Reference

Engineering Notice: Applicable specifications establish manufacturing requirements, dimensional tolerances, and test criteria for specific product forms (e.g. bus bar, wire, plate, pipe). They represent applicable technical standards, not alternative or equivalent alloy grades.

Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber (EPDM) Mechanical Properties

Contextual Mechanical Properties & Tempers: Engineering strength, ductility, and hardness values grouped by product form, temper, and section thickness. Mechanical properties are contextual and not isotropic averages.

Showing 1 of 1 conditions

Scroll horizontally for all conditions & tempers

Product Form	Temper / Condition	Section Size	Tensile (UTS)	Yield Strength	Elongation	Shear Strength	Fatigue Strength	Hardness (Scales Preserved)	Status
Standard Product Form	Peroxide-Cured High-Temperature Compound · 100 °C Source values and qualifiers Compression Set (22h at 100°C): 15–30 % (RANGE)Peroxide cure imparts exceptional long-term compression set resistance up to 125°C.ASTM D395 Method B / ISO 815-1Parker Hannifin Corporation, Engineered Materials Group — Parker Hannifin Corp. Catalog ORD 5700 (2018/2023), Section II (Basic O-Ring Elastomers: Table 2-2 & Figure 2-3), Section VII (Compatibility Tables) / ASTM D395-18 Method B	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	VERIFIED

Hardness Integrity Notice: Rockwell B (HRB), Rockwell F (HRF), and Superficial 30T (HR30T) scales are reported on their measured scales without cross-scale mathematical conversion.

Source: See fact-level citations

Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber (EPDM) Processing & Fabrication

Machining, joining, forming, and thermal processing ratings cataloged from the cited authoritative technical reference.

Source: Maurice Morton (Ed.), Springer Science+Business Media

Machinability

Cryogenically machined; waterjet cut without abrasive garnets for pure elastomer gaskets.

Heat Treatment & Working Ranges

Vulcanized via sulfur-accelerator systems for rapid extrusion cure or organic peroxide systems (dicumyl peroxide, DTBP) for superior compression set, heat resistance up to 150°C, and steam resistance.

Forming & Cold Working

Readily compounded in internal mixers with high paraffinic oil and carbon black loading. Extruded into dense and sponge weatherstrip profiles with continuous microwave/hot-air vulcanization (HAV) lines; precision injection molded.

Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber (EPDM) Equivalent & Comparable Grades

Comparable Grades & Cross-References: Carefully classified cross-reference relationships for Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber (EPDM). Comparable does not mean equivalent.

Scroll horizontally for relationship classifications & comparisons

Related Material	Family	Relationship Classification	Metallurgical Notes & Differences	Status	Action
Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR)	rubber-and-elastomers	Commonly Compared	Fundamental polarity contrast: EPDM resists environmental weathering, steam, and polar fluids but is destroyed by petroleum oils; NBR resists petroleum fuels and oils but is attacked by ozone and polar solvents.Materials serve different design priorities (e.g. higher strength vs superior corrosion resistance or cost).	VERIFIED	Side-by-Side Compare →
Chloroprene Rubber (CR / Neoprene)	rubber-and-elastomers	Commonly Compared	EPDM provides superior outdoor weathering and higher continuous operating temperature; CR provides moderate petroleum oil resistance and flame retardancy.Materials serve different design priorities (e.g. higher strength vs superior corrosion resistance or cost).	VERIFIED	Side-by-Side Compare →

Related Engineering & Metallurgy Guides

Contextual technical guides explaining degradation mechanisms, testing methodologies, and selection criteria relevant to Ethylene Propylene Diene Rubber (EPDM).

Material Selection18 min read

Types of Rubber: Elastomer Classification, Chemical Resistance & Selection Guide

Selecting the correct rubber is not a matter of choosing a generic flexible polymer—it requires matching molecular backbone chemistry to service temperature, chemical media polarity, dynamic fatigue, and compression set. This engineering guide classifies the 11 primary elastomer families, detailing their ASTM D1418 / ISO 1629 designations, mechanical performance envelopes, and rigorous selection algorithms.

Author: MatGrades Materials Engineering GroupRead Guide →

Material Selection17 min read

What is EPDM Rubber? Properties, Chemistry, Roofing vs Engineering Specifications

EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer) is the global benchmark elastomer for outdoor weathering, hot water, and automotive cooling systems. Its exceptional resistance to atmospheric ozone and steam degradation stems from an entirely saturated polyalkylene backbone with crosslinkable double bonds located exclusively on pendant side groups. This guide breaks down the chemical physics, curing kinetics, and standards governing EPDM specification.

Author: MatGrades Materials Engineering GroupRead Guide →

Material Selection16 min read

NBR vs EPDM: Oil Resistance, Weathering, Temperature & O-Ring Selection Guide

NBR and EPDM represent the two most widely specified synthetic elastomers in modern mechanical engineering, yet their chemical compatibility profiles are almost perfectly inverse. Specifying NBR in outdoor steam service leads to rapid embrittlement, while installing EPDM in a petroleum oil loop causes catastrophic volume swell and joint blowout. This guide provides the thermodynamic principles and engineering decision trees required to make the right choice.

Author: MatGrades Materials Engineering GroupRead Guide →

Material Selection18 min read

Natural Rubber vs Synthetic Rubber: Resilience, Fatigue, Chemistry & Industrial Trade-offs

Despite over a century of synthetic polymer synthesis, natural rubber remains indispensable in modern heavy engineering. Its unique ability to undergo instantaneous strain-induced crystallization grants it dynamic tear strength and fatigue endurance that synthetic random copolymers cannot replicate. However, when service conditions introduce petroleum fuels, atmospheric ozone, or temperatures exceeding 80°C, synthetic elastomers become mandatory. This guide examines the macromolecular physics and industrial trade-offs governing selection.

Author: MatGrades Materials Engineering GroupRead Guide →

Sources

Sources & Provenance Trail: Authoritative reference publications, standards specifications, and data registers cited across this material record.

ASTM International, ISO & Elastomer Engineering Technical CommitteesParker O-Ring Handbook (Catalog ORD 5700) & Elastomer Engineering Selection Guide

Development BenchmarkSTANDARDS ORG

Global engineering seal benchmark establishing continuous operating temperature envelopes (Figure 2-3), elastomer property comparisons (Table 2-2), ASTM D395 Method B compression set benchmarks, and manufacturer engineering fluid compatibility selection ratings (distinguished from raw laboratory immersion coupons).

Issuing Body: Parker Hannifin Corporation, Engineered Materials GroupRevision: ORD 5700 (2018/2023)View Source Record ↗

ASTM International, ISO & Elastomer Engineering Technical CommitteesStandard Practice for Rubber and Rubber Latices—Nomenclature (ASTM D1418-22) / Rubber and latices—Nomenclature (ISO 1629:2013)

STANDARDS ORG

Authoritative international nomenclature defining rubber acronyms and classification families.

Issuing Body: ASTM International & ISO Technical Committee ISO/TC 45 (Rubber and Rubber Products)Revision: ASTM D1418-22 / ISO 1629:2013View Source Record ↗

ASTM International, ISO & Elastomer Engineering Technical CommitteesStandard Classification System for Rubber Products in Automotive Applications (ASTM D2000-21 / SAE J200:2021)

STANDARDS ORG

Standardized classification system establishing Type and Class designations and line callouts for vulcanized rubber compounds.

Issuing Body: ASTM International & SAE International Technical CommitteesRevision: ASTM D2000-21View Source Record ↗

ASTM International, ISO & Elastomer Engineering Technical CommitteesStandard Specifications for EPDM Roofing Membranes (ASTM D4637 / EN 13956)

STANDARDS ORG

Specification for single-ply non-reinforced and reinforced black EPDM sheet membrane utilized in building roof waterproofing. Not applicable to general bulk engineering EPDM compounds.

Issuing Body: ASTM International & European Committee for Standardization (CEN)Revision: ASTM D4637/D4637M-15(2021) / EN 13956:2012View Source Record ↗

ASTM International, ISO & Elastomer Engineering Technical CommitteesRubber Technology (3rd Edition, Maurice Morton, Ed.) & Processing Specifications

STANDARDS ORG

Authoritative scientific treatise detailing cis-1,4 strain crystallization kinetics, network polysulfidic crosslink reversion at >70°C–80°C in conventional sulfur cures vs semi-EV stabilization, and SBR reinforcement.

Issuing Body: Maurice Morton (Ed.), Springer Science+Business MediaRevision: 3rd EditionView Source Record ↗

Intellectual Property & Provenance Notice: Mat Grades cites technical literature from recognized industry associations and standards organizations. Underlying technical standards and publication data remain the intellectual property of their respective issuing organizations.