Summary
- Acetal (POM) is rated better with
- Aromatic hydrocarbons (+93 points); Esters and ethers (+87 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+82 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+61 points); Halogenated hydrocarbons (+60 points); Alcohols and glycols (+51 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+37 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+31 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+28 points); Alkalis (+12 points)
- Within 10 points of each other
- Mineral acids; Organic acids; Salts and salt solutions; Phenols; Foods and beverages
Points are the difference in the share of rows rated A or B.
The two materials
Acetal (POM)
Polyoxymethylene (acetal)
Acetal (POM) resists many organic solvents and fuels. Strong acids and oxidising agents degrade it.
Rated rows: 956. A 41 %, B 32 %, C 12 %, D 15 %
NBR
Nitrile butadiene rubber
Nitrile rubber resists mineral oils and fuels. Ketones, esters, chlorinated solvents, strong oxidisers and ozone attack it.
Rated rows: 983. A 36 %, B 9 %, C 19 %, D 36 %
Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical class
How often the two ratings agree
Chemical classes were assigned by this site, not by the source. Mixtures and trade products without a clear class are not counted.
By chemical class
| Chemical class | Acetal (POM): rated A or B | NBR: rated A or B |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral acids | 5 % (63 rows) | 13 % (63 rows) |
| Organic acids | 34 % (64 rows) | 37 % (63 rows) |
| Alkalis | 76 % (21 rows) | 64 % (22 rows) |
| Salts and salt solutions | 76 % (197 rows) | 82 % (198 rows) |
| Oxidising agents and halogens | 43 % (63 rows) | 15 % (62 rows) |
| Alcohols and glycols | 96 % (57 rows) | 45 % (58 rows) |
| Phenols | 0 % (14 rows) | 0 % (14 rows) |
| Ketones and aldehydes | 91 % (35 rows) | 9 % (35 rows) |
| Esters and ethers | 88 % (68 rows) | 1 % (76 rows) |
| Amines and nitrogen compounds | 74 % (38 rows) | 13 % (39 rows) |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | 100 % (14 rows) | 7 % (14 rows) |
| Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons | 96 % (73 rows) | 59 % (78 rows) |
| Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils | 100 % (45 rows) | 69 % (48 rows) |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | 80 % (70 rows) | 20 % (71 rows) |
| Foods and beverages | 100 % (46 rows) | 93 % (46 rows) |
Where the ratings differ most
Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 314 in total, the first 40 shown.
| Chemical | Concentration | Acetal (POM) | NBR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acetone | A | D | |
| Acetophenone | A | D | |
| Aluminum Chloride | saturated | D | A |
| Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution) | A | D | |
| Amyl Acetate | A | D | |
| Aniline | A | D | |
| Antimony Trichloride | anhydrous | D | A |
| Arsenic Acid | D | A | |
| Arsenic Acid | aqueous | D | A |
| Benzaldehyde | A | D | |
| Benzene | A | D | |
| Benzyl Alcohol | A | D | |
| Bismuth Chloride | D | A | |
| Bitter Almond Oil | A | D | |
| Bromobenzene | A | D | |
| Bromomethane | technical grade | A | D |
| Calcium Hypochlorite | saturated | A | D |
| Calcium Hypochlorite | aqueous | A | D |
| Chlorobenzene | A | D | |
| Chlorodifluoromethane | A | D | |
| Chloroethane (Ethyl Chloride) | A | D | |
| Chlorofluoromethane | A | D | |
| Chloromethane (Methyl Chloride) | technical grade | A | D |
| Chlorotoluene | A | D | |
| Coal Tar Oil | 100 % | A | D |
| Cocoa Butter | A | D | |
| Copper(II) Nitrate | saturated | A | D |
| Cyclohexanone | technical grade | A | D |
| Decahydronaphthalene | A | D | |
| Diacetone Alcohol | A | D | |
| Dibenzyl Ether | A | D | |
| Dibutyl Ether | technical grade | A | D |
| Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) | A | D | |
| Dichlorofluoromethane | 100 % | A | D |
| Diethyl Ether | technical grade | A | D |
| Diethyl Ketone | A | D | |
| Diisobutyl Ketone | technical grade | A | D |
| Diisopropyl Ketone | A | D | |
| Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) | A | D | |
| Dimethylformamide (DMF) | A | D |
Rating scale
- A very good resistance
- B good resistance
- C limited resistance
- D not resistant
- – no data
- K no general statement possible
A rating marked * is an estimate in the source, not a test result. An estimate is given as one value without a temperature.
More comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Acetal (POM) or NBR more chemical-resistant?
Of 953 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, Acetal (POM) and NBR share the same rating in 362 rows (38 %). Acetal (POM) is rated better in 406 rows and NBR in 185 rows.
How do Acetal (POM) and NBR compare for chemical resistance?
Based on 953 chemicals tested for both: Acetal (POM) is rated better with Aromatic hydrocarbons, Esters and ethers, Ketones and aldehydes, Amines and nitrogen compounds. NBR is rated better with –. They perform similarly with Mineral acids, Organic acids, Salts and salt solutions, Phenols.
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.