BRITISH STANDARD BS 6014:2003

Incorporating
Corrigendum No. 1

Ethylene propylene
rubber compounds —
Specification

ICS 83.060

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BS 6014:2003

Committees responsible for this

British Standard
The preparation of this British Standard was entrusted to PRI/54,
Vulcanized rubber compounds, upon which the following bodies were
represented:

British Rubber Manufacturers Assn

Chemical Industries Association
Ministry of Defence
RAPRA Technology Ltd
Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre

This British Standard was

published under the authority
of the Standards Policy and
Strategy Committee
on 18 June 2003

© BSI 4 September 2003

Amendments issued since publication

Amd. No. Date Comment

14585 4 September 2003 Changes to Table 2 and Table 3

The following BSI references Corrigendum No.1
relate to the work on this
British Standard:
Committee reference PRI/54
Draft for comment 02/122018 DC

ISBN 0 580 41848 0

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 BS 6014:2003

Contents
Page
Committees responsible Inside front cover
Foreword ii
1 Scope 1
2 Normative references 1
3 Classification 1
4 Composition 1
5 Preparation of test sheet 2
6 Physical properties of the vulcanized test sheet 2
7 Marking 2
Annex A (informative) Guidance for the preparation and testing of rubber
products 5
Annex B (informative) Line call-outs 6
Bibliography 7
Table 1 — Compound classification 1
Table 2 — Physical properties of two-thickness sulfur vulcanized test sheets 3
Table 3 — Physical properties of two-thickness peroxide vulcanized test 4
Table B.1 — Line call-outs 6

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BS 6014:2003

Foreword

This British Standard has been prepared under the direction of PRI/54,
Vulcanized rubber compounds. It supersedes BS 6014:1991, which is withdrawn.
One technical change has been made, namely the inclusion of the larger type 1
dumbbell of BS 903-A2 as an alternative to the type 2 dumbbell for the
measurement of tensile strength and elongation at break (Table 2). This edition
otherwise comprises an editorial revision of the 1991 standard, in which the
presentation has been changed to align the text with other British Standards in
the group.
Requirements for general purpose acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber compounds are
given in BS 2751.
Other British Standards in this group for rubber compounds are as follows:
BS 1154, Natural rubber compounds — Specification.
BS 1155, Natural rubber compounds for extrusion — Specification.
BS 2751, General purpose acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber compounds —
Specification.
BS 2752, Chloroprene rubber compounds — Specification.
BS 3227, Butyl rubber compounds (including halobutyl compounds) —
Specification.
BS 6996, Mineral oil resistant acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber compounds —
Specification.
The following British Standards are also relevant to this standard.
BS 3558, Glossary of rubber terms.
BS 3734-1, Rubber — Tolerances for products — Part 1: Dimensional tolerances.
This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a
contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.
Compliance with a British Standard does not of itself confer immunity
from legal obligations.

Summary of pages
This document comprises a front cover, an inside front cover, pages i to ii,
pages 1 to 7 and a back cover.
The BSI copyright notice displayed in this document indicates when the
document was last issued.

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 BS 6014:2003

1 Scope
This British Standard specifies compositional and physical property requirements for five sulfur
vulcanized (S) and five peroxide vulcanized (P) ethylene propylene rubber compounds of hardness range
40 IRHD to 80 IRHD, designated EP40, EP50, EP60, EP70 and EP80.
These compounds are intended for the manufacture of items in the form of extrusions, mouldings, moulded
or calendered sheet and for items cut or punched from sheet.
NOTE The compounds do not necessarily have good electrical insulating properties.

2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the reference cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments).
BS 903-A1:1996, Physical testing of rubber — Part A1: Determination of density.
BS 903-A2:1995, Physical testing of rubber — Part A2: Method for determination of tensile stress–strain
properties.
BS 903-A6:1992, Physical testing of rubber — Part A6: Method for determination of compression set at
ambient, elevated or low temperatures.
BS 903-A19:1998, Physical testing of rubber — Part A19: Rubber, vulcanized or thermoplastic —
Accelerated ageing and heat resistance tests.
BS 903-A26:1995, Physical testing of rubber — Part A26: Method for Determination of hardness (hardness
between 10 IRHD and 100 IRHD).

3 Classification
Compounds shall be classified according to their vulcanized hardness, in international rubber hardness
degrees (IRHD), and designated by grade as shown in Table 1.
Table 1 — Compound classification
Grade designation Hardness after vulcanization (IRHD)
EP40Sa EP40Pa +5
40 – 4
EP50S EP50P +5
50 – 4
EP60S EP60P +5
60 – 4
EP70S EP70P +5
70 – 4
EP80S EP80P +5
80 – 4
a Compounds EP40S and EP40P are not necessarily suitable for extrusion.

4 Composition
The compounds shall be based entirely on an ethylene propylene copolymer or terpolymer and shall be
vulcanized either with a sulfur/organic accelerator system or with an organic peroxide system as
appropriate.
NOTE 1 A sufficient quantity of oil(s) or plasticizer(s) of a suitable type may be incorporated to assist processing or to obtain the
specified physical properties.
No reclaimed or ground vulcanized rubber shall be used.
All ingredients of the mix shall be free from grit and extraneous material.
NOTE 2 Chemical analysis may be carried out on either two-thickness sample sheets or sample items, as practicable, to verify that
the composition of the mix conforms to this clause.
The methods described in BS 4181-1, BS 5923-2, BS 7164-2.2, BS 7164-3, BS 7164-5, BS 7164-7.1, BS 7164-13, BS 7164-14,
BS 7164-21 and BS 7164-22.1 should be used where relevant.

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BS 6014:2003

5 Preparation of test sheet

From each batch of rubber mix, a two-thickness test sheet of the following dimensions shall be prepared for
testing.
The sheet shall be approximately 250 mm square with a thicker section along one side 35 mm to 50 mm
wide and (6.30 ± 0.15) mm thick. The remainder of the sheet shall be (2.00 ± 0.15) mm thick. The thicker
sections of the sheet shall not be additionally vulcanized.
If part of the 6.3 mm section is moulded in the form of cylindrical buttons complying with the type B test
piece defined in BS 903-A6 for the purpose of compression set tests, the mould cavities shall be individually
charged with pellets and not by the flow of the excess rubber from the remainder of the mould. The
minimum number of buttons moulded shall be nine and they shall be in a group at one end of the 6.3 mm
section.

6 Physical properties of the vulcanized test sheet

Test pieces cut from the test sheet (see Clause 5) shall comply with the relevant requirements given in
Table 2 and Table 3 when tested by the methods specified in the tables.
NOTE Guidance for the preparation and testing of rubber products is given in Annex A.

7 Marking
The compound, as sheet or items, shall be accompanied by the following information (see also BS ISO 2230):
a) number and date of this British Standard, i.e. BS 6014:20031), and grade designation;
b) quarter and year of cure;
c) manufacturer’s identity or trade mark;
d) manufacturer’s batch number or similar means of production identity.

1)Marking BS 6014:2003 on or in relation to a product represents a manufacturer’s declaration of conformity, i.e. a claim by or
on behalf of the manufacturer that the product meets the requirements of the standard. The accuracy of the claim is therefore
solely the responsibility of the person making the claim. Such a declaration is not to be confused with third party certification of
conformity, which may also be desirable.

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Table 2 — Physical properties of two-thickness sulfur vulcanized test sheets

© BSI 4 September 2003

Physical property Grade designation Test method in BS 903 and type of test piece
EP40S EP50S EP60S EP70S EP80S where appropriate

Hardness after vulcanization (IRHD) +5 +5 +5 +5 +5 Part A26, method N, two plies, 6.30 mm
40 – 4 50 – 4 60 – 4 70 – 4 80 – 4 and 2.00 mm, with the thicker ply on top
Density (Mg/m3) Agreed value ± 0.02a Part A1, method A
Minimum tensile strength (MPa) 10 10 10 10 10
Part A2, type 1 or type 2 dumbbells
Minimum elongation at break (%) 400 400 350 250 150
Part A6, type B test piece
Maximum compression set (%) 35 35 35 35 35 0
Lubricated, 24 – 2 h at (100 ± 1) °C
Resistance to accelerated ageing 0
Part A19, air-oven method A, 72 – 2 h,
(100 ± 1) °C
Change in hardness degrees (IRHD) –0 –0 –0 –0 –0 Part A26, method N, measurement before
+10 +10 +10 +10 +10 and after ageing on the same 2 plies each
2.00 mm thick
Maximum change in tensile strength –20 –20 –20 –20 –20 
(% of original value) 
 Part A2, type 1 or type 2 dumbbells
Maximum change in elongation at break –25 –25 –25 –25 –25 
(% of original value) 
NOTE Line call-outs, in accordance with BS 5176, are given in Annex B.
a No values are specified for density, but it is recommended that a value be established for each composition. This may provide a useful check when a series of batches of the same
composition has to be tested for compliance with this British Standard.

BS 6014:2003
3
 Table 3 — Physical properties of two-thickness peroxide vulcanized test
4

BS 6014:2003
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Physical property Grade designation Test method in BS 903 and type of test piece
EP40P EP50P EP60P EP70P EP80P where appropriate

Hardness after vulcanization (IRHD) +5 +5 +5 +5 +5 Part A26, method N, two plies, 6.30 mm
40 – 4 50 – 4 60 – 4 70 – 4 80 – 4 and 2.00 mm, with the thicker ply on top
Density (Mg/m3) Agreed value ± 0.02a Part A1, method A
Minimum tensile strength (MPa) 10 10 14 14 14
Part A2, type 1 or type 2 dumbbells
Minimum elongation at break (%) 400 400 300 200 150
Part A6, type B test piece
Maximum compression set (%) 35 35 35 35 35 0
Lubricated, 24 – 2 h at (125 ± 2) °C
Resistance to accelerated ageing 0
Part A19, air-oven method A, 72 – 2 h,
(125 ± 2) °C
Change in hardness degrees (IRHD) –0 –0 –0 –0 –0 Part A26, method N, measurement before
+10 +10 +10 +10 +10 and after ageing on the same 2 plies each
2.00 mm thick
Maximum change in tensile strength –20 –20 –20 –20 –20 
(% of original value) 
 Part A2, type 1 or type 2 dumbbells
Maximum change in elongation at break –25 –25 –25 –25 –25 
(% of original value) 
NOTE Line call-outs, in accordance with BS 5176, are given in Annex B.
a No values are specified for density, but it is recommended that a value be established for each composition. This may provide a useful check when a series of batches of the same
composition has to be tested for compliance with this British Standard.
© BSI 4 September 2003
 BS 6014:2003

Annex A (informative)
Guidance for the preparation and testing of rubber products
This British Standard specifies requirements for the rubber compounds when they are tested using a
press-cured sample sheet. Where manufactured articles are to be tested, the shape and size can prevent
the preparation of some or all test pieces. In this case, agreement between manufacturer and purchaser
should be sought on the procedure to verify compliance of the manufactured article. Where standard test
pieces can be prepared from the articles they may be used for quality control tests.
Finished rubber items should be free from surface imperfections, voids, inclusions, flow marks, moulding
faults and defects which would impair satisfactory performance and should show minimal accelerator
bloom.
Finished rubber items should be stored in accordance with BS ISO 2230.

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BS 6014:2003

Annex B (informative)
Line call-outs
Line call-outs in accordance with BS 5176:1975 for compounds specified in this standard are given in
Table B.1.
Table B.1 — Line call-outs
BS 6014 designation BS 5176 line call-out
EP 40S 4MBA 410 A14 B14 Z1 Z2
EP 50S 4MBA 510 A14 B14 Z1 Z2
EP 60S 4MBA 610 A14 B14 Z1 Z2
EP 70S 4MBA 710 A14 B14 Z1 Z2
EP 80S 4MBA 810 A14 B14 Z1 Z2
EP 40P 2MCA 410 A15 B15 Z1 Z2
EP 50P 2MCA 510 A15 B15 Z1 Z2
EP 60P 2MCA 614 A15 B15 Z1 Z2
EP 70P 2MCA 714 A15 B15 Z1 Z2
EP 80P 2MCA 814 A15 B15 Z1 Z2
NOTE 1 Z1 is the tolerance of ± 0.02 Mg/m3 on the agreed value of density.
NOTE 2 Z2 is the compositional requirements according to Clause 4 of this standard.

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 BS 6014:2003

Bibliography

BS 1154:2003, Specification for natural rubber compounds.2)

BS 1155:2003, Specification for natural rubber compounds for extrusion.2)
BS 2751:2001, Specification for general purpose acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber compounds.2)
BS 2752:2003, Specification for chloroprene rubber compounds.2)
BS 3227:2003, Specification for butyl rubber compounds (including halobutyl compounds).2)
BS 3558-1:1997, Glossary of rubber terms — Part 1: International terms.2)
BS 3558-2:2001, Glossary of rubber terms — Part 2: Additional British terms.2)
BS 3734-1:1997, Rubber — Tolerances for products — Part 1: Dimensional tolerances.2)
BS 4181-1:1985, Identification of rubbers by infra-red spectrometry — Part 1: Method for identification
of hydrocarbon, chloroprene, nitrile and chlorosulphonated polyethylene rubbers.
BS 5176:1975, Specification for classification system for vulcanized rubbers.
BS 5923-2:1980, Methods for chemical analysis of rubber — Part 2: EDTA titrimetric method for
determination of zinc content of rubber products.
BS 6996:2003, Specification for mineral oil resistant acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber compounds.2)
BS 7164-2.2:1990, Chemical tests for raw and vulcanized rubber — Part 2.2: Sample preparation —
Vulcanized rubber.
BS 7164-3:1992, Chemical tests for raw and vulcanized rubber — Part 3: Methods for determination of
solvent extract.
BS 7164-5:1991, Chemical tests for raw and vulcanized rubber — Part 5: Methods for determination of
ash content.
BS 7164-7.1:1990, Chemical tests for raw and vulcanized rubber — Part 7.1: Methods for determination
of polymer content — Polyisoprene content.
BS 7164-13:1994, Chemical tests for raw and vulcanized rubber — Part 13: Method for determination of
total hydrocarbon content.
BS 7164-14:1996, Chemical tests for raw and vulcanized rubber — Part 14: Methods for determination of
carbon black content.
BS 7164-21:1996, Chemical tests for raw and vulcanized rubber — Part 21: Determination of nitrogen
content.
BS 7164-22.1:1994, Chemical tests for raw and vulcanized rubber — Part 22.1: Determination of chlorine
content — Parr bomb method.
BS ISO 2230:2002, Rubber products — Guidelines for storage.

2) Referred to in the foreword only.

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BS 6014:2003

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