Material Service Temperature Range General Properties Recommended Usage Non Recommended
EPDM

ASTM D1418: EPDM

ASTM D2000: BA, CA

-51°C to 150°C

(-60°F to 300°F)

Excellent ozone, chemical, and aging resistance. Poor resistance to petroleum-based fluids. Ozone, sunlight, strong and oxidizing chemicals, abrasion, water, animal and vegetable oils, fireproof hydraulic fluids, and alkalis. Mineral oils, kerosene, solvents, and aromatic hydrocarbons.
Neoprene

ASTM D1418: CR

ASTM D2000: BC, BE

-40°C to 121°C

(-40°F to 250°F)

Good Weathering Resistance. Flame retarding. Moderate resistance to petroleum-based fluids. Moderate chemicals and acids, ozone, fats, greases, many oils, and solvents. Strong oxidizing acids, esters, ketones, chlorinated, aromatic and nitro hydrocarbons.

Nitrile / Buna N

ASTM D1418: NBR

ASTM D2000: BF, BG, BK, CH

-30°C to 100°C

(-22°F to 212°F)

Excellent resistance to petroleum-based fluids. Good physical properties. Many hydrocarbons, fats, oils, greases, hydraulic fluids, chemicals. Ozone (except PVC blends), ketones, esters, aldehydes, chlorinated and nitro hydrocarbons.
Silicone

ASTM D1418: MQ, VMQ, PVMQ

ASTM D2000: FC, FE, GE

-59°C to 232°C

(-75°F to 450°F)

Excellent high and low temperature properties. Fair physical properties. Moderate or oxidizing chemicals, ozone, concentrated sodium hydroxide. Many solvents, oils, concentrated acids, dilute sodium hydroxide.
SBR / Buna-S

ASTM D1418: SBR

ASTM D2000: AA, BA

-46°C to 100°C

(-50°F to 212°F)

Good physical properties and abrasion resistance. Poor resistance to petroleum-based fluids. Abrasion, Water, Moderate, Chemicals, Organic Acids, Alcohols, Ketones
and Aldehydes
Ozone, Sunlight, Strong Acids, Fats, Oils, Open Flame, Grease and
Most Hydrocarbons
Viton / Fluoroelastomer

ASTM D1418: FKM, FFKM

ASTM D2000: HK

-15°C to 199°C

(-5°F to 390°F)

Excellent oil and air resistance both at low and high temperatures. Very good chemical resistance. All aliphatic, aromatic and halogenated hydrocarbons, acids, animal and vegetable oils. Ketones, low molecular weight esters and nitro containing compounds.

Natural Rubber

ASTM D1418: NR

ASTM D2000: AA

-51°C to 104°C

(-60°F to 220°F)

Excellent physical properties including abrasion and low temperature resistance. Poor resistance to petroleum-based fluids. Most moderate chemicals, wet or dry, organic acids, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes. Ozone, strong acids, fats, oils, greases, most hydrocarbons

Polyurethane

ASTM D1418: AU, EU

ASTM D2000: BG

-51°C to 79°C

(-60°F to 175°F)

High resistance to abrasion, low compression set, high rigidity and high tear strength. It is resistant to petroleum oils, hydrocarbon fuels, ozone and weathering is good.  Excellent strength and abrasion resistance, good resistance to petroleum oils, good weather resistance poor resistance to water, poor high temperature capabilities

VG: Very Good, G: Good, A: Acceptable, P: Poor

Material

Compression Set

Resilience (Rebound) Tear Strength Heat Aging
EPDM G G G G
Neoprene G G G A
Nitrile G G G A
Silicone VG VG P VG
SBR G G A A
Viton VG A G VG
NR VG VG VG A
Polyurethane VG A VG VG

Ozone Resistance

Oil and Grease

Fuel Resistance

Water Swell

Abrasion Resistance

VG P P VG G
G G P VG VG
P VG G G G
VG P P VG P
P P P VG VG
VG VG G G G
P P P VG VG
VG G A P VG

The above values are typical properties and are provided for information only. They should not be used to set specification requirements. It is up to the end user to determine whether the material is suitable for the intended application.