9 Ways EPDM Rubber Can Transform Your Application Or Appliance

EPDM rubber is a versatile material used across multiple industries for various applications. But can it help you? Discover the different uses of EPDM and how it can serve your appliances in this handy guide.

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First created in the s as a replacement for tyre products, the unique chemical combination of EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) has since taken a different path. With so much success across the following decades, the EPDM rubber global market is valued at $3.6 billion and predicted to reach $4.8 billion in (CAGR 5.9%). Read on to discover the secret to this material’s popularity and why it serves numerous applications and industries.

EPDM rubber is a type of synthetic rubber used for sealing solutions and other applications. Containing a series of elastomers as a saturated chain of the polymethylene type, EPDM belongs to the “M-class” of synthetic rubber.

As a polymer derived from oil and natural gasses, EPDM is elastic and can return to its natural shape after being stretched. Known for its durability and flexibility, EPDM performs across multiple applications, most notably roofing solutions and vehicle window and door seals.

The acronym EPDM stands for “ethylene propylene diene monomer”. Its unique combination of monomers (chemicals) is why the material possesses a versatile arsenal of properties and characteristics.

Ethylene typically has the highest content across the three monomers at a percentage of around 45-75%. In comparison, the dienes contain a minimal percentage but provide the essential purpose of connecting the monomer components.  The unique combination of chemicals distinguishes this material as an effective sealing solution for numerous appliances.

EPDM was first invented in with the initial intention to replace natural rubber used in tyre products for cars and bicycles. After finding it was not suited for such purposes, new avenues were explored before solutions in the construction and automotive industries began emerging.

Seals for the aerospace sector must be able to reliably withstand harsh environments, as they’re exposed to everything from extreme pressures and temperatures to corrosive chemicals and dynamic applications. Without this resilience, seals simply wouldn’t be safe for the industry’s critical applications, posing a continual safety risk to passengers or equipment and becoming a severe liability. One material that’s well-suited to aerospace sealing applications is ethylene propylene diene monomer, or EPDM, a rubber well-known for its flexibility, durability, and strength. It’s a common option for such sealing solutions as gaskets and O-rings.

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But what is EPDM rubber? Read on to learn more about EPDM, its beneficial properties, and why it’s a good fit for the aerospace market and its challenging conditions.

Key Properties of EPDM Rubber

Some of EPDM’s key characteristics are similar to those of other rubbers. For example, this synthetic rubber resists tear propagation at high temperatures to approximately the same degree as natural rubber (NR), and it also shares low-temperature flexibility with vulcanized NR. Compared to isobutene-isoprene rubber (IIR) vulcanizates, EPDM offers similar resistance to heat deformation.

EPDM’s exact mechanical properties are dependent upon the filler types and volumes with which it’s made. However, the following advantageous qualities are typical of EPDM rubber:

• Durable strength: EPDM is durable and possesses a good strength-to-weight ratio, making it a highly versatile option for aerospace applications and beyond. Hardness, however, varies between 40 and 90 depending on the rubber’s exact composition.
• Performance across a broad temperature range: EPDM seals maintain their integrity in environments ranging from -60° F to 350° F (-51° C to 177° C). They can also withstand cycling temperatures without degrading like other polymer types, as well as hot water and highly pressurized steam.
• Resistance to moisture and chemicals: EPDM rubber material is among the most water-resistant varieties of rubber. Not only does it seal well against moisture, but EPDM is chemically inert. It won’t break down in the presence of chemicals, acids, alkalis, and other corrosive substances as well as non-mineral oil-based brake fluids.
• Resistance to UV radiation, ozone, weathering, and aging: Sunlight can cause seals to break down and fade over time. However, EPDM resists damage from UV light and ozone, making it a safer option for exterior sealing protection. It also offers great longevity; with sufficient care, EPDM seals can last for decades.
• Elasticity and compressibility: EPDM exhibits good elasticity, making it flexible enough for use in dynamic sealing applications. The material also exhibits a low compression set, meaning that post-compression, it will go back to its original shape.
• Electrical properties: Even after exposure to high temperatures or hot air aging, EPDM exhibits good electrical characteristics. It offers superior resistance against high-voltage corona discharges, and it’s an exceptional electrical insulator. This lends it to applications as insulation material for high-voltage cables.
• Manufacturability: Manufacturers can create sealing products with EPDM through multiple techniques, such as compression, transfer, and injection molding.

Benefits of EPDM Rubber Seals for Aerospace Applications

The features of EPDM materials demonstrate the value the rubber provides in aerospace applications, in which failure isn’t an option. It’s uniquely beneficial for aerospace seals because it can handle the extremes of air and space travel, including fluctuating pressures and very high- or low-temperature environments. Even given its durability and strength, EPDM is also a low-weight material solution, which is a particularly important combination for creating safe, dependable seals in the aerospace industry.

Some of the most common applications for EPDM rubber seals are:

• Sealing gaps between controls and instrumentation in the cockpit
• Maintaining proper pressure within air- and spacecraft cabins
• Preventing fluid leaks within hydraulic systems
• Generating reliable, corrosion-resistant seals in fuel and brake systems
• Adding insulation to solid rocket motors, propulsion systems, and thermal protection systems for spacecraft re-entries

This robust rubber material has optimal resiliency for such applications, with good thermal stability and resistance to moisture and chemicals. It also exhibits low thermal conductivity, helping ensure its performance as an insulator as it won’t experience significant heat transfer from other aerospace components. Ultimately, EPDM’s beneficial properties lend the material to ideal applications as aerospace gaskets and O-rings for reliably sealing against leaks and preventing component damage, equipment failure, and even loss of life.

Custom EPDM Rubber Gaskets and Seals for Aerospace Applications at RD Rubber

Since , RD Rubber Technology Corp. has specialized in high-performance sealing solutions and custom precision molding. We serve critical markets such as aerospace, defense, medical, and pharmaceuticals with our high-quality custom-molded EPDM gaskets and O-rings, among our other product offerings. Our organization is ITAR- and DOD-registered, with ISO and AS certifications as part of our commitment to quality management.