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; sheet thicker than 1/4 in is reviewed on the quote
- Standards
- ASTM D1418 EPDM; ASTM D2000 line callouts; FDA compliance, NSF/ANSI 51 and 61, USP Class VI on specific compounds, per the compound sheet
- 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. The other sheet materials are on the waterjet-cut gaskets page.
EPDM sheet: durometer, thickness and range
We cut EPDM sheet in 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 Shore A, 1/16, 1/8, 3/16, 1/4 and 1/2 in thick, from 36 x 36 in sheets and 36 and 48 in wide rolls; sheet thicker than 1/4 in is reviewed on the quote.
| Property | Value | Unit | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 line callouts | designation | ASTM D1418; ASTM D2000, public scope |
| Listings available | FDA compliance, NSF/ANSI 51 and 61, USP Class VI, KTW and WRAS on specific compounds | listing | The listing belongs to the compound, and the sheet maker's datasheet names it (see the sources for an example compound) |
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. Tolerance is set to your drawing and confirmed on the quote, and the waterjet's size limits and the tolerance class for solid rubber are on the custom gaskets page. 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 | Basis (Parker O-Ring Handbook ORD 5700) |
|---|---|---|
| Hot water and steam | Excellent | Section 2.2.4 lists hot water and steam; water, and steam below 204 C (400 F), rate 1 |
| Glycol brake fluid, phosphate-ester hydraulic fluid | Excellent | Section 2.2.4 lists glycol brake fluids (DOT 3 and 4) and phosphate-ester fluids (HFD-R); DOT 3 brake fluid and a phosphate-ester aviation hydraulic fluid rate 1 |
| Dilute acids and alkalis | Good | Section 2.2.4 lists many organic and inorganic acids and sodium and potassium alkalis; 3-molar hydrochloric and sulfuric acid at 70 C (158 F) and below and 3-molar sodium hydroxide rate 1, while concentrated hydrochloric and sulfuric acid at 70 C rate 4 |
| Ozone, sunlight, outdoor weather | Excellent | Section 2.2.4: ozone, aging and weather resistant; ozone rates 1 |
| Ketones and alcohols | Good | Section 2.2.4 lists many polar solvents (alcohols, ketones, esters); acetone and methyl ethyl ketone rate 1 |
| Chlorinated and aromatic solvents | Unsatisfactory | Benzene, toluene, trichloroethylene and carbon tetrachloride rate 4 |
| Petroleum oil, grease, fuel, mineral-oil hydraulic fluid | Not recommended | Section 2.2.4: mineral oil products (oils, greases and fuels) not compatible; petroleum hydraulic and lubricating oil, grease, gasoline, diesel and JP-8 rate 4, and a nitrile or Viton® gasket is the usual alternative |
Choosing the thickness and durometer
State the thickness and durometer the drawing calls for; the sheet list above gives what is cut. 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 cut the same way; 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
The Parker handbook names phosphate-ester hydraulic systems and glycol-base brake systems as where EPDM is particularly useful, and lists hot water and steam among what it resists; compounds such as Parker's E3609-70 are offered listed for drinking water and medical service. 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 §2.2.4 (temperatures read 2026-09-14; resistance list read 2026-09-28) and section VII compatibility tables (read 2026-09-28); Parker, Ethylene Propylene 70 Durometer O-Ring, Drinking Water & Medical (E3609-70), product sheet: an example compound listing NSF 51, NSF 61, KTW, WRAS, FDA and USP Class VI; ASTM D1418-22, public abstract (read 2026-09-28); ASTM D2000-18(2024)e1, public scope (read 2026-09-25); NSF/ANSI 51; NSF/ANSI 61; USP Class VI.
Parker is a trademark of Parker Hannifin Corporation. Viton is a trademark of The Chemours Company. No affiliation or endorsement is implied.
Frequently asked
Is EPDM oil resistant?
No. The Parker O-Ring Handbook lists mineral oil products (oils, greases and fuels) as not compatible with EPDM, and silicone oil and grease as compatible.
EPDM or neoprene for an outdoor gasket?
Both resist weather: the Parker handbook rates EPDM 1 and neoprene 2 in ozone. EPDM takes hot water and steam; neoprene tolerates paraffin-based mineral oil, silicone oil and refrigerants. EPDM suits water service with no oil present, neoprene joints where some oil or refrigerant reaches 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?
The one the drawing calls for; the sheet list above gives the thicknesses cut. 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
Setting Conquest Seal up as a supplier?
Orders are handled under Conquest Seal's AS9100D quality management system, whose certificate scope includes distribution.
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. Quotes answered within one business day. A person answers (714) 632-9830, Pacific business hours.
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