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Xylene Chemical Resistance

Resistance ratings for 24 plastics, elastomers and metals at 20 °C and 50 °C.

At a glance

Ratings at 20 °C.

Rated A, very good resistance
PTFE, PVDF, Viton (FPM), SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium, FEP, ECTFE/ETFE, Nylon (PA), Acetal (POM) (10)
Rated B, good resistance
none (0)
Rated C, limited resistance
HDPE, LDPE, PMP (3)
Rated D, not resistant
PP, PVC Rigid, EPDM, NBR, Polycarbonate, PVC Flexible, Polystyrene, Polysulfone, SAN (9)
No data in the source
Silicone, PETG
Rated lower at 50 °C than at 20 °C
HDPE (C → D), PVDF (A → C), Viton (FPM) (A → C), LDPE (C → D), ECTFE/ETFE (A → B), Acetal (POM) (A → B), PMP (C → D)

Rating profile by material family

Xylene: Rating profile by material familyThermoplastics: 2 A, 3 C, 7 D, 1 no data. Fluoropolymers: 4 A. Elastomers: 1 A, 2 D, 1 no data. Metals: 3 A.Thermoplastics (13)Thermoplastics: 2 × A, very good resistance (Acetal (POM), Nylon (PA))A 2Thermoplastics: 3 × C, limited resistance (HDPE, LDPE, PMP)C 3Thermoplastics: 7 × D, not resistant (PP, PVC Rigid, PVC Flexible, Polystyrene, SAN, Polycarbonate, Polysulfone)D 7Thermoplastics: 1 × no data (PETG)Fluoropolymers (4)Fluoropolymers: 4 × A, very good resistance (PTFE, FEP, PVDF, ECTFE/ETFE)A 4Elastomers (4)Elastomers: 1 × A, very good resistance (Viton (FPM))A 1Elastomers: 2 × D, not resistant (EPDM, NBR)D 2Elastomers: 1 × no data (Silicone)– 1Metals (3)Metals: 3 × A, very good resistance (SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium)A 3
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistantno data
Number of materials in each family with each rating at 20 °C.

Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °C

Xylene: Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °CHDPE C → D; LDPE C → D; PMP C → D; Acetal (POM) A → B; PVDF A → C; ECTFE/ETFE A → B; Viton (FPM) A → C.ABCDHDPE: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CHDPELDPE: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CLDPEPMP: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CPMPAcetal (POM): A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CAcetal (POM)PVDF: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CPVDFECTFE/ETFE: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CECTFE/ETFEViton (FPM): A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CViton (FPM)
20 °C50 °C
Materials whose rating differs between 20 °C and 50 °C. Materials not shown keep their rating or have no 50 °C value.

Substance

CAS number
1330-20-7
Formula
C8H10
Hazard symbols in the source
F (flammable), Xn (harmful) (pre-GHS European symbols; check the current safety data sheet)
Flammable
yes
Name in the source (German)
Xylol

Resistance table

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPECD
LDPECD
PPDD
PVC RigidDD
PVC FlexibleDD
PMPCD
PolystyreneDD
SANDD
PolycarbonateDD
Acetal (POM)AB
Nylon (PA)A–
PolysulfoneDD
Fluoropolymers
PTFEA–
FEPAA
PVDFAC
ECTFE/ETFEAB
Elastomers
EPDMDD
Viton (FPM)AC
NBRDD
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumAA

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: PETG, Silicone

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which materials resist Xylene at high concentrations?

The materials with an A rating (resistant) for Xylene at 20 °C are: PTFE, PVDF, Viton (FPM), SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium, FEP, ECTFE/ETFE. These can generally be used in direct contact.

Which materials should be avoided with Xylene?

Materials rated D (not resistant) for Xylene are: PP, PVC Rigid, EPDM, NBR, Polycarbonate, PVC Flexible, Polystyrene, Polysulfone. These should not be used in contact with Xylene.

Does temperature affect chemical resistance to Xylene?

Yes. 7 of 20 tested materials show a worse rating at 50 °C than at 20 °C for Xylene. Materials affected include: HDPE, PVDF, Viton (FPM), LDPE, ECTFE/ETFE, Acetal (POM).

Is PTFE safe for Xylene?

PTFE is rated A for Xylene at 20 °C. A rating of A means resistant, B means limited resistance, C means partly resistant, and D means not resistant.

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.

Chemicals with a similar resistance profile

Same 20 °C rating on the share of materials shown.