EPDM is a synthetic rubber used in rubber flooring products. Its high density makes it incredibly durable and an excellent sound absorber.
It has far superior qualities to SBR rubber – the rubber reclaimed from car tyres. By comparison, SBR rubber has lower resistance to abrasion, light and heat, and is more flammable; it is also smelly and gives off more VOCs, unlike the virtually odourless EPDM.
Only EPDM rubber products can be used outdoors. Their high resistance to UV light, ozone, heat, abrasion and the elements means that EPDM flooring lasts up to three times longer than SBR in exposed situations.
Advance stocks seven different grades of EPDM flooring, each tailored to a specific set of applications, from breezeways and access walkways to gyms. Recycled EPDM is sourced from recycled car trims, so it is always black. Colour variation is created by adding a non-recycled polymer fleck in a range of colours and shapes. We offer both recycled and new EPDM flooring ranges in a wide variety of colours.
| Property/Characteristic | SBR | EPDM |
| Source | Recycled (only) | Virgin and Recycled |
| Colour | Black (only) | Dozen of colours |
| Density | ± 980 kg/m³ | ± 1500 kg/m³ |
| Shore A hardness | ± 55 | ± 65 |
| Abrasion resistance | Low-medium | High |
| Impact resistance | Medium | High |
| Tensile properties | Medium | High |
| UV light resistance | Low | High |
| Ozone resistance | Low | High |
| Slip resistance | Good | Good |
| Flammability | Easily flammable | Limited contribution |
| Bond to pre-polymers | Medium | High |