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Engineering Plastics Comparison Chart

Engineering plastics are selected for their mechanical properties — wear resistance, stiffness, dimensional stability — but chemical compatibility can make or break a design. This chart shows where each material excels and fails.

A = Excellent B = Good C = Limited D = Not Recommended

All rated rows, by rating

All rated rows, by ratingNylon (PA): A 44 %, B 21 %, C 17 %, D 18 %. Acetal (POM): A 41 %, B 32 %, C 12 %, D 15 %. Polystyrene: A 45 %, B 8 %, C 8 %, D 39 %.Nylon (PA) (945)Nylon (PA): A 44 % (412)A 44 %Nylon (PA): B 21 % (203)B 21 %Nylon (PA): C 17 % (163)C 17 %Nylon (PA): D 18 % (167)D 18 %Acetal (POM) (956)Acetal (POM): A 41 % (389)A 41 %Acetal (POM): B 32 % (302)B 32 %Acetal (POM): C 12 % (119)CAcetal (POM): D 15 % (146)D 15 %Polystyrene (504)Polystyrene: A 45 % (229)A 45 %Polystyrene: B 8 % (38)BPolystyrene: C 8 % (41)CPolystyrene: D 39 % (196)D 39 %
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistant
Share of each rating at 20 °C. The number in brackets is the number of rated source rows.

Share of rows rated A or B, by material and chemical class

Share of rows rated A or B, by material and chemical classMineral acids: Nylon (PA) 5 %, Acetal (POM) 5 %, Polystyrene 51 %. Organic acids: Nylon (PA) 25 %, Acetal (POM) 34 %, Polystyrene 74 %. Alkalis: Nylon (PA) 91 %, Acetal (POM) 76 %, Polystyrene 100 %. Salts and salt solutions: Nylon (PA) 78 %, Acetal (POM) 76 %, Polystyrene 100 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: Nylon (PA) 26 %, Acetal (POM) 43 %, Polystyrene 71 %. Alcohols and glycols: Nylon (PA) 67 %, Acetal (POM) 96 %, Polystyrene 64 %. Phenols: Nylon (PA) 8 %, Acetal (POM) 0 %, Polystyrene 22 %. Ketones and aldehydes: Nylon (PA) 53 %, Acetal (POM) 91 %, Polystyrene 5 %. Esters and ethers: Nylon (PA) 80 %, Acetal (POM) 88 %, Polystyrene 3 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: Nylon (PA) 50 %, Acetal (POM) 74 %, Polystyrene 47 %. Aromatic hydrocarbons: Nylon (PA) 100 %, Acetal (POM) 100 %, Polystyrene 0 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: Nylon (PA) 97 %, Acetal (POM) 96 %, Polystyrene 24 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: Nylon (PA) 98 %, Acetal (POM) 100 %, Polystyrene 48 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: Nylon (PA) 63 %, Acetal (POM) 80 %, Polystyrene 0 %. Foods and beverages: Nylon (PA) 98 %, Acetal (POM) 100 %, Polystyrene 69 %.PAPOMPSMineral acidsMineral acids, Nylon (PA): 5 % (63)5 %Mineral acids, Acetal (POM): 5 % (63)5 %Mineral acids, Polystyrene: 51 % (41)51 %Organic acidsOrganic acids, Nylon (PA): 25 % (63)25 %Organic acids, Acetal (POM): 34 % (64)34 %Organic acids, Polystyrene: 74 % (34)74 %AlkalisAlkalis, Nylon (PA): 91 % (22)91 %Alkalis, Acetal (POM): 76 % (21)76 %Alkalis, Polystyrene: 100 % (17)100 %SaltsSalts and salt solutions, Nylon (PA): 78 % (194)78 %Salts and salt solutions, Acetal (POM): 76 % (197)76 %Salts and salt solutions, Polystyrene: 100 % (88)100 %OxidisersOxidising agents and halogens, Nylon (PA): 26 % (62)26 %Oxidising agents and halogens, Acetal (POM): 43 % (63)43 %Oxidising agents and halogens, Polystyrene: 71 % (34)71 %AlcoholsAlcohols and glycols, Nylon (PA): 67 % (58)67 %Alcohols and glycols, Acetal (POM): 96 % (57)96 %Alcohols and glycols, Polystyrene: 64 % (36)64 %PhenolsPhenols, Nylon (PA): 8 % (13)8 %Phenols, Acetal (POM): 0 % (14)0 %Phenols, Polystyrene: 22 % (9)22 %Ketones, aldehydesKetones and aldehydes, Nylon (PA): 53 % (32)53 %Ketones and aldehydes, Acetal (POM): 91 % (35)91 %Ketones and aldehydes, Polystyrene: 5 % (21)5 %Esters, ethersEsters and ethers, Nylon (PA): 80 % (65)80 %Esters and ethers, Acetal (POM): 88 % (68)88 %Esters and ethers, Polystyrene: 3 % (38)3 %AminesAmines and nitrogen compounds, Nylon (PA): 50 % (34)50 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, Acetal (POM): 74 % (38)74 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, Polystyrene: 47 % (15)47 %AromaticsAromatic hydrocarbons, Nylon (PA): 100 % (14)100 %Aromatic hydrocarbons, Acetal (POM): 100 % (14)100 %Aromatic hydrocarbons, Polystyrene: 0 % (13)0 %Fuels, mineral oilsFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Nylon (PA): 97 % (73)97 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Acetal (POM): 96 % (73)96 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Polystyrene: 24 % (38)24 %Vegetable oils, fatsVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Nylon (PA): 98 % (46)98 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Acetal (POM): 100 % (45)100 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Polystyrene: 48 % (27)48 %HalogenatedHalogenated hydrocarbons, Nylon (PA): 63 % (70)63 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, Acetal (POM): 80 % (70)80 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, Polystyrene: 0 % (36)0 %FoodsFoods and beverages, Nylon (PA): 98 % (46)98 %Foods and beverages, Acetal (POM): 100 % (46)100 %Foods and beverages, Polystyrene: 69 % (32)69 %
0–19 %20–39 %40–59 %60–79 %80–100 %
Rating at 20 °C. A dash means fewer than 8 rated rows in that class.

Chemical classes were assigned by this site, not by the source. Mixtures and trade products without a clear class are not counted.

Showing 942 chemicals
Chemical Conc. NylonPOMPS
1,2-Dibromoethane
Dibromethan-1,2
—BBD
1,2-Dichlorobenzene
Dichlorbenzol, 1,2-
—ABD
1,3-Butadiene
Butadien, 1,3-
—ABD
1,4-Dichlorobenzene
Dichlorbenzol, 1,4-
—ABD
1-Ethylhexanol
Ethylhexanol-1
—BAC
1-Heptanol
Heptanol, 1-
—BANR
5-Hydroxymethylfurfural
Oxymethylfurfurol, 5-
—CBNR
Acetaldehyde
Acetaldehyd
40 %BBD
Acetaldehyde
Acetaldehyd
techn. reinBBD
Acetic Acid
Essigsäure
5 %DAA
Acetic Acid
Essigsäure
10 %DAA
Acetic Acid
Essigsäure
50 %DCB
Acetic Anhydride
Essigsäureanhydrid
techn. reinCBD
Acetone
Aceton
—AAD
Acetonitrile
Acetonitril
—ACD
Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin)
Acetylsalicylsäure
100 %ACA
Acrylonitrile
Acrylnitril
—ACD
Alkaline Exhaust Gases
Abgase, alkalisch
—BANR
Allspice
Piment
gemahlenBBD
Allyl Acetate
Allylacetat
100 %DBD
Allyl Alcohol
Allylalkohol
96 %CBB
Almond Oil
Mandelöl
—BBC
Aluminum Acetate Solution
Essigsaure Tonerde
gesättigtBANR
Aluminum Chloride
Aluminiumchlorid
10 %ACA
Aluminum Chloride
Aluminiumchlorid
gesättigtCDNR
Aluminum Chloride
Aluminiumchlorid
festCDNR
Aluminum Hydroxide
Aluminiumhydroxid
—AAB
Aluminum Nitrate
Aluminiumnitrat
wässrigACA
Aluminum Sulfate
Aluminiumsulfat
10 %ACA
Ammonium Bicarbonate
Ammoniumhydrogencarbonat
gesättigtABNR
Ammonium Bifluoride
Ammoniumhydrogendifluorid
50 %BDNR
Ammonium Carbonate
Ammoniumcarbonat
50 %ABA
Ammonium Carbonate
Ammoniumcarbonat
wässrigABNR
Ammonium Chloride
Ammoniumchlorid
wässrigABA
Ammonium Chloride
Ammoniumchlorid
festABNR
Ammonium Dihydrogen Phosphate
Ammoniumdihydrogenphosphat
jedeABA
Ammonium Fluoride
Ammoniumfluorid
wässrigABNR
Ammonium Fluoride
Ammoniumfluorid
gesättigtABNR
Ammonium Glycolate
Ammoniumglycolat
—ABA
Ammonium Hydrosulfide
Ammoniumhydrosulfid
jedeABNR
Ammonium Hydroxide
Ammoniumhydroxid
5 %BAA
Ammonium Hydroxide
Ammoniumhydroxid
30 %CAB
Ammonium Hydroxide
Ammoniumhydroxid
—CAB
Ammonium Iron(II) Sulfate
Ammoniumeisen-(II)-sulfat
—BCA
Ammonium Iron(III) Sulfate
Ammoniumeisen-(III)-sulfat
gesättigtACNR
Ammonium Nitrate
Ammoniumnitrat
10 %ABA
Ammonium Nitrate
Ammoniumnitrat
gesättigtABA
Ammonium Oxalate
Ammoniumoxalat
—ABA
Ammonium Persulfate
Ammoniumperoxodisulfat
wässrigDBNR
Ammonium Persulfate
Ammoniumperoxodisulfat
gesättigtDBNR
Ammonium Sulfate
Ammoniumsulfat
gesättigtABA
Ammonium Sulfide
Ammoniumsulfid
wässrigABNR
Ammonium Sulfide
Ammoniumsulfid
jedeABNR
Ammonium Thiocyanate
Ammoniumthiocyanat
—CAA
Amyl Acetate
Amylacetat, n-
—BAD
Amyl Chloride
Amylchlorid
—ABD
Amyl Phthalate
Phthalsäureamylester
100 %ABD
Aniline
Anilin
—CAD
Anise Oil
Anisöl
—CBNR
Anisole
Anisol
100 %ABD
Antifreeze
Frostschutzmittel (KFZ)
—CAA
Apple Juice
Apfelsaft
—ABA
Arsenic Acid
Arsensäure
wässrigCDA
Arsenic Acid
Arsensäure
—CDA
Arsenic Pentoxide
Arsenpentoxid
—CDNR
Atropine Sulfate
Atropinsulfat
—BANR
Barium Bromide
Bariumbromid
—BBA
Barium Chloride
Bariumchlorid
wässrigABNR
Barium Chloride
Bariumchlorid
gesättigtABA
Barium Hydroxide
Bariumhydroxid
wässrigABNR
Barium Hydroxide
Bariumhydroxid
gesättigtABNR
Barium Sulfide
Bariumsulfid
gesättigtABNR
Battery Acid
Akkusäure
38 %DDA
Bay Laurel
Lorbeer
gemahlenBBA
Benzaldehyde
Benzaldehyd
—CAD
Benzene
Benzol
—BAD
Benzoic Acid
Benzoesäure
wässrigCBNR
Benzoic Acid
Benzoesäure
gesättigtCBB
Benzoyl Chloride
Benzoylchlorid
100 %DCNR
Benzyl Acetate
Benzylacetat
—BBD

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nylon or Acetal better for chemical resistance?
They have similar overall resistance (412 vs 389 A-ratings) but different profiles. Nylon resists hydrocarbons and most solvents well but absorbs water and is attacked by strong acids. Acetal resists solvents and fuels but is attacked by strong acids and oxidizers. Choose based on the specific chemicals in your application.
Can Polystyrene be used with chemicals?
Polystyrene has poor chemical resistance overall (229 A-ratings). It is dissolved by most organic solvents and is best suited for disposable lab items, packaging, and low-demand applications where cost is the priority.

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