Gasket material
EPDM Gasket Material
EPDM gasket material is the sheet rubber for water, steam, weather and glycol brake fluid, and never for petroleum oil. The Parker® O-Ring Handbook (ORD 5700) rates the EPDM family from -57 C to 150 C, with steam-rated compounds to 204 C. Conquest cuts EPDM sheet gaskets on the waterjet to your drawing in the durometers and thicknesses below, including sheet its makers list as FDA compliant and NSF listed.
- Family
- EPDM (ethylene propylene diene rubber, ASTM D1418)
- Standard range
- -57 C to 150 C (Parker O-Ring Handbook ORD 5700, the compound family)
- Special grades
- steam-rated compounds to 204 C (Parker ORD 5700)
- Durometers cut
- 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 Shore A
- Sheet thicknesses
- 1/16, 1/8, 3/16, 1/4 and 1/2 in
- Standards
- ASTM D1418 EPDM; ASTM D2000 BA, CA and DA; FDA 21 CFR 177.2600, NSF/ANSI 51 and 61, USP Class VI on specific compounds
- Product
- Sheet gaskets waterjet-cut to your drawing in Orange, California
Service temperatures here are the family figures published in Parker O-Ring Handbook ORD 5700A/US §2.2; the compound datasheet and your application govern the final choice.
Every common gasket sheet material is quick for us to source, and we cut it to your print on our waterjet.
EPDM sheet: durometer, thickness and range
| Property | Value | Unit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durometers cut | 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 | Shore A | Conquest Seal sheet list |
| Sheet thicknesses | 1/16, 1/8, 3/16, 1/4, 1/2 | in | Conquest Seal sheet list |
| Sheet forms | 36 x 36 sheet; 36 and 48 wide rolls | in | Conquest Seal sheet list |
| Compound service temperature | -57 to 150 continuous; steam-rated compounds to 204 | C | Parker ORD 5700, the family figure; the datasheet of the sheet you receive governs |
| Material designation | EPDM, ASTM D1418; ASTM D2000 BA, CA and DA line callouts | designation | ASTM |
| Cure | Sulfur or peroxide; peroxide for steam and potable-water listings | n/a | General practice; the sheet datasheet states the cure |
| Listings available | FDA 21 CFR 177.2600, NSF/ANSI 51 and 61, USP Class VI, KTW, WRAS on specific compounds | listing | The listing belongs to the compound; the sheet maker's datasheet names it |
Sheet-level tensile strength, elongation and specific gravity vary by maker and grade and are quoted from the datasheet of the sheet used for your order, never from a family figure.
What we cut
Conquest cuts sheet gaskets on a pure-water waterjet, the one product made in house. Typical figures for waterjet-cut gaskets, as fabricators and a waterjet maker publish them rather than a Conquest machine spec: a pure-water jet cuts sponge 2 in thick and solid rubber over 1 in with a square edge and no die concavity (Stockwell Elastomerics), leaves a kerf of 0.003 to 0.015 in (Flow International), and holds plus or minus 0.010 in on dimensions under 12 in and plus or minus 0.020 in on larger parts (NEDC, sponge and foam gaskets). There is no die to build, so prototypes, revision changes and short runs go through the same setup as a repeat, and expensive stock nests tightly with no die-skeleton waste. Molded and lathe-cut parts, and non-sheet compounds, are supplied from our manufacturers.
Where EPDM gaskets work, and where they fail
| Medium or condition | Verdict | Note (Parker O-Ring Handbook ORD 5700) |
|---|---|---|
| Hot water, steam, clean-in-place chemistry | Excellent | The core application; steam-rated grades to 204 C |
| Potable water | Excellent | NSF/ANSI 61 listed compounds are usually EPDM |
| Glycol brake fluid, phosphate-ester hydraulic fluid | Excellent | Brake fluid is butyl or EPDM only |
| Acids and alkalis, dilute | Good | Dilute hot acid goes to EPDM |
| Ozone, sunlight, outdoor weather | Excellent | Saturated backbone; the outdoor gasket |
| Ketones, alcohols | Good | Polar media leave EPDM alone |
| Petroleum oil, grease, fuel, mineral-oil hydraulic fluid | Destroyed | Swells and fails; use nitrile or Viton® |
Choosing the thickness and durometer
Flanged joints usually take 1/16 or 1/8 in sheet; thicker sheet compensates for rough or warped faces at the cost of more bolt load and more creep. A softer durometer conforms to a rough face and seals at low bolt load; a harder one resists extrusion and crush under high load. Full-face and ring gaskets for water piping are the common EPDM cut; state the bolt pattern and the surface condition on the request and send the drawing as a DXF, DWG or PDF.
Where EPDM is used, and the usual alternatives
It is usually specified for water systems, steam and sterilizer doors, HVAC and outdoor enclosures, brake and coolant hardware, and food or pharmaceutical equipment on a listed compound. It is not the sheet where any petroleum product is present, even as an assembly grease; a nitrile gasket covers oil at moderate temperature and a Viton gasket covers oil, fuel and heat. Where the gasket sees dry heat with no steam, silicone reaches higher. The same material in O-ring form, with the compound types, the NAS1613 callout and the listings, is on the EPDM O-ring page; EPDM vs FKM draws the water-versus-oil line.
Sources: Parker O-Ring Handbook ORD 5700 §2.2 (read 2026-09-14); ASTM D1418; ASTM D2000; 21 CFR 177.2600; NSF/ANSI 51; NSF/ANSI 61; USP Class VI; Conquest Seal sheet list (September 2026); typical waterjet figures, not a Conquest machine spec: Stockwell Elastomerics, Waterjet Cutting; Flow International, Waterjet Dictionary; NEDC, Die-Cut and Waterjet Cut Tolerances for Sponge/Foam Gaskets (each read 2026-09-24).
Parker is a trademark of Parker Hannifin Corporation. Viton is a trademark of The Chemours Company. No affiliation or endorsement is implied.
Reviewed by Grant Midstokke, Conquest Seal Corporation. Last updated September 2026. Material ranges are the published references named beside them; the sheet's own datasheet and your application govern the final choice.
Frequently asked
Is EPDM oil resistant?
No. Petroleum oils, greases and fuels swell and destroy it. Silicone oils are fine.
EPDM or neoprene for an outdoor gasket?
Both resist weather; EPDM takes more heat and steam, neoprene tolerates moderate oil and refrigerants. EPDM is usually specified where no oil is present; neoprene where grease, fuel splash or refrigerant may reach the gasket.
Is there food-grade EPDM sheet?
Yes, on specific compounds; the sheet maker's datasheet names the listing. Compliance belongs to the compound, so name the listing on the request; the FDA and food-grade guide explains the vocabulary.
What thickness should I use?
Flanged joints usually take 1/16 or 1/8 in; thicker sheet compensates for rough or warped faces at the cost of more bolt load and more creep. State the bolt pattern and surface condition on the request.
What is the temperature rating of EPDM gasket material?
The Parker O-Ring Handbook (ORD 5700) rates the EPDM family from -57 C to 150 C continuous, with steam-rated compounds to 204 C. The sheet you receive carries its own datasheet, and that figure governs.
What do I send for a quote?
A DXF, DWG or PDF of the gasket, the sheet thickness, the durometer, the quantity, and any listing the application needs. Please don't send a drawing marked ITAR, EAR, CUI or export-controlled. For those parts, call (714) 632-9830.
Related guides
Send the EPDM gasket drawing and the quantity
A DXF, DWG or PDF of the gasket, the sheet thickness, the durometer and the quantity. Gaskets are cut in our own shop in Orange, California; a Conquest representative replies.
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