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PMP and Petroleum Ether: Chemical Resistance

Polymethylpentene (TPX)

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
technical gradeA–

Material comparison at 20 °C

Petroleum Ether: Material comparison at 20 °CPMP: A (highlighted); Aluminium: A; FEP: A; Viton (FPM): A; HDPE: A; LDPE: A.Aluminium: AFEP: AViton (FPM): AHDPE: ALDPE: ANBR: ANylon (PA): APETG: APMP: APMPAcetal (POM): APP: APolysulfone: APTFE: APVC Rigid: APVDF: ASS 304: ASS 316: APolycarbonate: CPVC Flexible: CSAN: CEPDM: DPolystyrene: DECTFE/ETFE: –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

PMP shows very good resistance (A) to Petroleum Ether at technical grade 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

Petroleum Ether is commonly encountered in chemical synthesis and cleaning and degreasing. PMP (Polymethylpentene (TPX)) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. Since Petroleum Ether is flammable, material selection must also consider the risk of static charge buildup and the need for proper grounding in storage and transfer systems.

Practical recommendation

PMP can be used with confidence for Petroleum Ether 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?

Chemical resistance testing according to DIN and ISO standards typically evaluates weight change, dimensional change, and retention of tensile strength after immersion.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Based on the row for technical grade, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP A, PVC Rigid A, LDPE A, Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) A, Polysulfone A, PETG A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A
Elastomers
Viton (FPM) A, NBR A
Metals
SS 316 A, SS 304 A, Aluminium A

About PMP

Polymethylpentene (TPX) is a transparent polyolefin used for labware. It resists many acids and alkalis, while aromatic and chlorinated solvents and strong oxidisers attack 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.