EPDM is the abbreviation for Ethylene-Propylene-Diene Monomer. It is a sealing material that retains its shape over long periods of time due to its excellent aging properties. The material performs very well in outdoor environments and under all-weather conditions. EPDM rubber is UV-stabilized, which makes it highly ozone-resistant.
EPDM rubber is well-suited for gaskets used in water, as the material retains its original shape for a longer period of time compared to other rubber materials.
Rubber sheet for your businessRubber sheet as needed
The material can be vulcanized using either peroxide or sulfur, each with its own advantages. Sulfur-vulcanized EPDM is soft, elastic, springy, and a more mechanically robust rubber. Peroxide-vulcanized EPDM is purer, has better chemical resistance, and can withstand higher temperatures.
The material is available both as a flat rubber sheet on a roll and as sheets for die-cutting gaskets. It is ideally suited for molding or extrusion into sealing strips, bushings, cable glands, clip strips, and O-rings.
The material is available in a variety of hardness levels to best suit its application. In the rubber industry, hardness is measured using the Shore/durometer scale. The most common hardness for EPDM ranges from 65 to 70 Shore, but it is also available in a range from 25 to 90 Shore for applications requiring softer or harder variants.
The material is available in various classifications depending on the intended use of the gasket. For food-grade applications, EPDM is available with FDA classification for gaskets used in cleanroom products and within the food industry.
In drinking water products, the material is available in classes such as WRAS, WRC, and ELL for seals in HVAC products such as pipe fittings, valves, faucets, and heat pumps.
Cabseals EPDM is available with UL94 certification where fire resistance is required. UL94 is a U.S. fire rating commonly used in telecommunications products and enclosures.
The material is also available with minimized electrical conductivity for use as insulation or gaskets in electrical products.
EPDM fabric is most commonly black, but other colors can be effectively incorporated into a molded gasket or seal.