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Nylon (PA) and Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution): Chemical Resistance

Polyamide (nylon)

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
5 %B*–
30 %C*–
concentration not statedC*–

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Material comparison at 20 °C

Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution): Material comparison at 20 °CNylon (PA): C (highlighted); Aluminium: A; ECTFE/ETFE: A; EPDM: A; FEP: A; HDPE: A.Aluminium: AECTFE/ETFE: AEPDM: AFEP: AHDPE: ALDPE: APMP: AAcetal (POM): APP: APTFE: APVC Rigid: ASS 304: ASS 316: ANBR: BPETG: BPolystyrene: BPolysulfone: BPVDF: BViton (FPM): CNylon (PA): CPAPolycarbonate: DPVC Flexible: –SAN: –Silicone: –
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistantno data
Each bar is one material. Taller bars indicate better resistance. The highlighted bar is the current material.

Resistance overview

The resistance of Nylon (PA) to Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution) is concentration-dependent. Across the 3 tested concentrations (5 %, 30 %), the 20 °C rating ranges from B at lower concentrations to C at higher ones. This means engineers must verify which concentration their process actually involves before relying on a single rating. The rating remains stable between 20 °C and 50 °C, which means this material can also handle moderately elevated process temperatures without additional risk.

Application context

Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution) is commonly encountered in textile processing and chemical processing. Nylon (PA) (Polyamide (nylon)) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. Because Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution) is classified as corrosive, the choice of containment material is especially critical to prevent leaks, equipment damage, and safety hazards.

Practical recommendation

Nylon (PA) has limited resistance to Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution) and should only be used for short-term or intermittent contact at ambient temperature. The C rating means the material undergoes noticeable changes — swelling, loss of strength, or surface degradation — that make it unsuitable for permanent installations. For prolonged or continuous exposure, HDPE, LDPE, PMP offer significantly better resistance and are rated A.

Did you know?

The ratings shown here apply to pure Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution) in contact with the base thermoplastic. In real-world applications, additives, pigments, and fillers in the material can shift resistance in either direction.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Based on the row for 30 %, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP A, PVC Rigid A, LDPE A, Acetal (POM) A, Polystyrene B, Polysulfone B, PETG B, PMP A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, PVDF B, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A
Elastomers
EPDM A, NBR B
Metals
SS 316 A, SS 304 A, Aluminium A

About Nylon (PA)

Polyamide (nylon) resists fuels, oils and many solvents. Mineral acids, even dilute, and strong oxidisers attack it, and it absorbs water.

Rating scale

A rating marked * is an estimate in the source, not a test result. An estimate is given as one value without a temperature.

About this data

The ratings come from the chemical resistance list published by Bürkle GmbH, which compiled them from raw-material manufacturers’ data. They describe laboratory tests on the raw material at 20 °C and 50 °C.

A finished part also sees pressure, mechanical stress, welds and mixtures that a laboratory test does not. Treat the rating as a first filter and test under your own conditions before relying on it.