What is the Difference Between EPDM and Nitrile Rubber?

Although EPDM and nitrile rubber are both durable synthetic rubbers, they retain different chemical and physical properties that differentiates them from one another. EPDM rubber sheets, also known as ethylene propylene rubber, is the best outdoor rubber that is highly valued for its outdoor industrial usage. As a weather-resistant rubber, EPDM rolls are popularly used in outdoor workplaces due to its excellent resistance towards UV rays, ozone, and oxygen whereas nitrile rubber will become damaged. Nitrile rubber, contrastingly, cannot withstand outdoor environments, but is able to resist oil, grease, and gasoline. An EPDM elastomer is a resilient weather-resistant rubber that is an extremely versatile material that is often used in both indoor and outdoor industrial workplaces.

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Is EPDM the Same and Nitrile?

Although EPDM and nitrile are both synthetic rubbers, they are not the same material as EPDM is better resistant to outdoor environments than nitrile, and nitrile is better resistant to oils and greases than EPDM. Each rubber is made up of a unique blend of chemicals that give these synthetic rubbers enhanced physical strength and chemical resistance than that of natural rubbers. EPDM rubber sheets are made with chemicals ethylene, propylene, and diene monomers that give ethylene propylene rubber its unique outdoor resistance and chemical resistance properties. Nitrile, contrastingly, is a synthetic rubber that is “derived from acrylonitrile (ACN) and butadiene” (Wikipedia.org). These chemical compounds allow each elastomer to be use in applications the other cannot. For instance, ethylene propylene rubber retains excellent resistance to environmental damaging factors while nitrile can become severely damaged when exposed to outdoor conditions; however, nitrile holds better chemical resistance properties than EPDM and is able to be used in oil-related applications whereas EPDM rubber sheets will swell and become weakened. The difference in chemical compositions of the two elastomers gives each their own unique characteristics than that of the other elastomer.

How is EPDM Manufactured?

EPDM is manufactured by crosslinking the chemicals ethylene, propylene, and diene monomers through the process of vulcanization. Vulcanization refers to the “chemical process by which the physical properties of natural or synthetic rubber are improved; finished rubber has higher tensile strength and resistance to swelling and abrasion and is elastic over a greater range of temperatures” (Britannica.com). This unique blend of chemical compounds gives EPDM rubber sheets their excellent outdoor resistance properties. More specifically, the main two monomers, ethylene and propylene, affect the chemical and physical properties of the EPDM elastomer. As a case in point, “The quantitative ratio of the monomers confers particular properties on the final elastomer. For example, usage of high ethylene content [in EPDM] will produce polymers with high green strength, whereas low and medium values with produce softer and more elastic polymers” (academia.edu). In general, EPDM rubber sheets can withstand most harsh chemicals allowing it to provide reliable applications in industrial settings where they can be exposed to chemicals. In addition, although EPDM rubber sheets are highly resistant to many harsh chemicals, it excels at being an outdoor weather-resistant rubber material.

How do You Make Nitrile Rubber?

You can make nitrile rubber by combining butadiene and acrylonitrile together into a single compound by heating the chemicals through the vulcanization process. Much like the process of producing EPDM rubber sheets, the chemical compounds used in the production of nitrile rubber dictates the chemical and physical properties of the elastomer. For example, “With increasing acrylonitrile content, [nitrile] shows high strength, greater resistance to swelling by hydrocarbons, and lower permeability to gases” (Britannica.com). Additionally, nitrile is compatible with chemicals, such as ammonia, detergents, mercury, methyl alcohol, and zinc sulfate, which makes nitrile a resilient industrial rubber material. Nitrile is best known for its superior resistance to oil and fuel which makes it the ideal material for use in automotive industries or in industrial applications involving oil or grease.

What is the Difference Between EPDM and Nitrile Rubber?

The main difference between EPDM and nitrile rubber can be seen through their chemical and physical properties. While both elastomers are extremely durable and resistant to numerous chemical solvents, they each have properties that surpass that of the other elastomer. EPDM rubber sheets are weather-resistant materials that will not be damaged by UV rays and ozone whereas nitrile rubber is better suited for oil or petroleum-related applications. Despite the difference in chemical properties, both elastomers exhibit high tensile strength, low compression sets, and excellent flexibility which allow them to resist breakage when used in highly abrasive applications.

EPDM vs Nitrile: Chemical Properties

Both nitrile and EPDM rubber sheets are highly chemical-resistant elastomers that are ideal for industrial applications involving harsh chemical solvents. Each elastomer has their own unique set of chemical-resistance properties that differ from the other elastomer. EPDM rubber sheets are best known for being a weather-resistant rubber material that is ideal for outdoor and industrial usage while nitrile is a highly oil-resistant rubber. For example, EPDM is compatible with most harsh chemical solvents; however, “it is incompatible with most hydrocarbons, such as oils, kerosene, aromatic, gasoline, as well as halogenated solvents” (Wikipedia.org). EPDM will swell and lose its strength in an application when exposed to oil. Nitrile rubber, on the other hand, has excellent resistance to oil. As a case in point, “Unlike all other general-purpose synthetic rubbers, nitrile rubber has excellent oil and solvent resistant properties…” (differencebetween.com). EPDM rubber sheets are not resistant to oils, such as gasoline and kerosene as nitrile rubber is, but it will provide long-lasting applications and perform well in chemical-related industrial applications.

EPDM vs Nitrile: Physical Properties

As synthetic elastomers, both EPDM and nitrile retain excellent physical properties; however, some physical properties, such as environmental resistance, differ from that of the other. EPDM rubber sheets are valued for their excellent outdoor properties that allow them to remain reliable outdoor rubber materials that can be used in outdoor industrial settings. EPDM is capable of resisting degradation caused by direct sunlight and cracking caused by ozone. Ozone, in particular, has an extremely negative effect of rubber, including synthetic nitrile rubber. These “ozone attacks” on nitrile rubber occur as “tiny traces of ozone in the air will attack double bonds in rubber chains…Nitrile is a copolymer of butadiene and acrylonitrile units, but the proportion of acrylonitrile is usually lower than butadiene, so attack occurs” (Wikipedia.org). Similarly, both rubbers have wide operating temperature ranges that allow them to hold up well in the face of abrasive temperatures. Ethylene propylene rubber has an operating temperature range of -40 to +212 degrees Fahrenheit whereas nitrile has a slightly wider operating temperature range of -22 to +248 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite its smaller operating temperature range, EPDM is the better weather-resistant rubber of the two and will not be harmed when left outdoors for long periods of time. EPDM is the superior weather-resistant rubber which makes it a more versatile material that can be used both indoors and outdoors without deteriorating.

EPDM and nitrile are both resilient synthetic elastomers that are valued for their ability to withstand harsh industrial environments. Despite their similarities, nitrile and EPDM rubber sheets are generally used in different settings. As an outdoor rubber, EPDM rolls are often used outdoors whereas nitrile rolls are generally used indoors. An EPDM elastomer is better able to withstand harsh environmental factors than nitrile making it the ideal outdoor rubber; however, nitrile rubber holds the upper hand when it comes to resisting oil, grease, and gasoline. EPDM rubber sheets are still the ideal weather-resistant rubber material for industrial settings that are exposed to UV rays, ozone, or oxygen.

Many Rubber product manufacturersrely on various types of synthetic rubber due to various reasons. The demand for synthetic rubbers over natural rubber has increased very rapidly over the recent past. There are many types of synthetic rubber and they are broadly classified into two categories, namely; general-purpose synthetic rubbers and special purpose rubber. General-purpose rubbers are more common and widely used in many manufacturing processes. Neoprene and nitrile rubber are two such widely used general-purpose rubbers. The key difference between neoprene and nitrile rubber is that neoprene is produced by emulsion polymerization of chloroprene (2-chloro-1, 3-butadiene), whereas nitrile rubber is produced by emulsion polymerization of copolymers of butadiene and acrylonitrile.

Nitrile and neoprene exhibit similar properties, but with differing characteristics that make them useful for different applications. Both materials are elastic, and will return to their original shape when stretched. Nitrile is particularly resistant to chemicals, abrasion, and temperatures, while neoprene is valued for its weather resistance and durability.

What’s the difference between nitrile vs. neoprene for seals, gaskets, and insulation? Both elastomers provide good resistance to compression set and tearing. They withstand the same range of service temperatures, too. Some grades of neoprene offer excellent resistance to abrasion, but nitrile is known for its abrasion resistance at elevated temperatures.

Nitrile and neoprene rubber have many similarities, but there are some important differences between these elastomers. Below we provide a more in-depth look at the properties and advantages of nitrile and neoprene and their industrial uses.

PROPERTIES                  

NITRILE

NEOPRENE

400% to 600%

100% to 800%

35 to 90

15 to 95

Good

Good

Good to Excellent

Very Good to Excellent

Good

Good to Very Good

Good

Good

Poor

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Very Good to Excellent

-34° C to -56° C

-34° C to -56° C

+104° C to +137°C

+104° C to +137° C

Poor

Good

Poor

Good to Very Good

Poor

Good

Good

Good

Good to Excellent

Excellent

Fair

Poor to Good

Fair to Good

Fair to Good

Generally resistant to Gases, Aliphatic Hydrocarbon, Oils and Fuels 

Generally resistant to Moderate chemicals and acids, ozone, oils, fats, greases, and solvents

Generally attacked by Ketones, Ozone, Sunlight, Aromatic Oil, Flame, Weather                                                                                        

Generally attacked by Esters, ketones, and chlorinated, aromatic, and nitro hydrocarbons

Also read: A Guide To Know The Difference Between Silicone Rubber & EPDM !! 

Nitrile Vs Neoprene Applications

Nitrile rubber is recommended for applications that require oil and fuel resistance, abrasion resistance, and temperature resistance up to 280° F. In mobile equipment and military vehicles, nitrile seals or gasketsare used in carburetor diaphragms, fuel systems, and hydraulic hoses as well as a popular option for highly durable and disposable medical gloves. Nitrile also supports rubber-to-metal bonding, which makes it a good choice for applications in the processing industry. Yet nitrile isn’t recommended for sealing and insulation that requires resistance to fire, sunlight, ozone, or weather.

Neoprene rubber resists fire and withstands sunlight, ozone, and weather. Specific grades of neoprene can also meet flame, smoke and toxicity (FST) requirements for the mass transit industry. Applications include door seals, window seals, hose covers, vibration mounts, and shock absorbers. Neoprene is also used with HVAC units, electrical or electronic enclosures, and weather stripping for fire doors. Neoprene noise isolators are used to reduce sound vibrations from power transformers. Additional applications include expansion joints and bearing pads in built structures.

Compound selection is critical because choosing the wrong rubber can cause more than just a component-level failure. Depending on your application’s specific needs and requirements, both nitrile and neoprene offer a variety of benefits. 

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