Isopropyl Alcohol Resistant O-Rings
Compatibility ratings for 7 O-ring materials in Isopropyl Alcohol service
Isopropyl Alcohol (Alcohols) compatibility with the seven most common O-ring elastomers, rated on the standard A/B/C/D scale: A = excellent, B = good, C = fair, D = not recommended. This data also appears in our interactive chemical compatibility chart and is available machine-readable at /api/chemicals.json.
| Material | Rating | Guidance |
|---|---|---|
| NBR | A | excellent — recommended for continuous service |
| FKM | A | excellent — recommended for continuous service |
| EPDM | A | excellent — recommended for continuous service |
| VMQ | A | excellent — recommended for continuous service |
| PTFE | A | excellent — recommended for continuous service |
| FFKM | A | excellent — recommended for continuous service |
| HNBR | A | excellent — recommended for continuous service |
Why These Ratings
- EPDM (A) — documented strengths include “Ketones and alcohols.”
- VMQ (A) — documented strengths include “Alcohols.”
- PTFE (A) — documented strengths include “Virtually all chemicals.”
- FFKM (A) — documented strengths include “Virtually all chemicals except molten alkali metals.”
AlcoholsService: Concentration & Temperature Notes
Smaller alcohols bite harder: methanol and ethanol rate NBR at B, while the larger isopropyl alcohol rates it A. Alcohols are polar solvents, so EPDM performs well across this category. Hot alcohol service increases plasticizer extraction — verify hardness change after exposure, not just volume swell.
Recommended
- NBR O-rings (A)
- FKM O-rings (A)
- EPDM O-rings (A)
- VMQ O-rings (A)
- PTFE O-rings (A)
- FFKM O-rings (A)
- HNBR O-rings (A)
Use With Caution
No conditional materials for this chemical.
Avoid
No material is rated D for this chemical.
Related Chemicals (Alcohols)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Isopropyl Alcohol compatible with FKM (Viton) O-rings?
FKM is rated A for Isopropyl Alcohol: excellent — recommended for continuous service. Ratings are general guidelines; concentration, temperature and exposure time all affect real-world compatibility, so validate critical applications with ASTM D471 immersion testing.
Is Isopropyl Alcohol compatible with NBR (nitrile) O-rings?
NBR is rated A for Isopropyl Alcohol: excellent — recommended for continuous service. NBR is the lowest-cost elastomer, so when it earns an A or B rating it is usually the economical default; when it rates C or D, do not substitute it for a higher-rated material to save cost.
Can I use PTFE O-rings with Isopropyl Alcohol?
PTFE is rated A for Isopropyl Alcohol: excellent — recommended for continuous service. Remember that PTFE has no elastic memory — in demanding service it needs spring energization or an elastomer core (FEP/PFA encapsulation) to maintain sealing force.
What is the best O-ring material for Isopropyl Alcohol?
NBR, FKM, EPDM, VMQ, PTFE, FFKM, HNBR are rated A (excellent) for Isopropyl Alcohol in our compatibility data and are the recommended starting point for material selection. Final selection should also account for operating temperature, pressure and whether the seal is static or dynamic.
Can I use EPDM O-rings with Isopropyl Alcohol?
EPDM is rated A for Isopropyl Alcohol: excellent — recommended for continuous service. Always confirm the specific fluid concentration and temperature before specifying EPDM for this service.
Need O-Rings for Isopropyl Alcohol Service?
Send us your fluid, concentration and temperature — our engineers will confirm the right compound. MOQ 1 piece.