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Acetal (POM) and Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO): Chemical Resistance

Polyoxymethylene (acetal)

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
concentration not statedA–

Material comparison at 20 °C

Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO): Material comparison at 20 °CAcetal (POM): A (highlighted); Aluminium: A; ECTFE/ETFE: A; FEP: A; HDPE: A; LDPE: A.Aluminium: AECTFE/ETFE: AFEP: AHDPE: ALDPE: APMP: AAcetal (POM): APOMPP: APolystyrene: APTFE: ASS 304: ASS 316: ANylon (PA): BEPDM: CViton (FPM): CPVDF: CNBR: DPolycarbonate: DPolysulfone: DPVC Rigid: DPETG: –PVC 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

Acetal (POM) shows very good resistance (A) to Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) at 20 °C, meaning the material remains essentially unaffected by this chemical under standard laboratory test conditions. 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

Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) is commonly encountered in electronics cleaning and cleaning and degreasing. Acetal (POM) (Polyoxymethylene (acetal)) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. The compatibility between these two is therefore an important consideration for engineers and procurement teams selecting containment, transfer, or processing equipment.

Practical recommendation

Acetal (POM) can be used with confidence for Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) containment and handling. The A rating indicates that the material shows no significant change in weight, dimensions, or mechanical properties after prolonged contact under test conditions. This holds true at both 20 °C and 50 °C, giving a good safety margin for typical process environments.

Did you know?

The ratings shown here apply to pure Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) 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

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP A, LDPE A, Nylon (PA) B, Polystyrene A, PMP A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A
Metals
SS 316 A, SS 304 A, Aluminium A

About Acetal (POM)

Acetal (POM) resists many organic solvents and fuels. Strong acids and oxidising agents degrade it.

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.