Summary
- HDPE is rated better with
- Ketones and aldehydes (+21 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+13 points); Aromatic hydrocarbons (+13 points)
- Within 10 points of each other
- Mineral acids; Organic acids; Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; Oxidising agents and halogens; Alcohols and glycols; Phenols; Esters and ethers; Amines and nitrogen compounds; Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils; Halogenated hydrocarbons; Foods and beverages
Points are the difference in the share of rows rated A or B.
The two materials
HDPE
High-density polyethylene
High-density polyethylene resists most aqueous acids, alkalis and salt solutions. Strong oxidising acids, chlorinated solvents and aromatic hydrocarbons attack or swell it. Continuous service is usually limited to about 80 °C.
Rated rows: 686. A 82 %, B 3 %, C 9 %, D 6 %
LDPE
Low-density polyethylene
Low-density polyethylene has a similar profile to HDPE but is softer and more permeable, so solvents swell it sooner. Continuous service is usually limited to about 60 °C.
Rated rows: 678. A 78 %, B 4 %, C 11 %, D 8 %
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 | HDPE: rated A or B | LDPE: rated A or B |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral acids | 79 % (56 rows) | 71 % (48 rows) |
| Organic acids | 95 % (58 rows) | 93 % (59 rows) |
| Alkalis | 100 % (22 rows) | 100 % (22 rows) |
| Salts and salt solutions | 100 % (193 rows) | 99 % (187 rows) |
| Oxidising agents and halogens | 78 % (40 rows) | 76 % (38 rows) |
| Alcohols and glycols | 93 % (43 rows) | 89 % (46 rows) |
| Phenols | 62 % (8 rows) | 67 % (9 rows) |
| Ketones and aldehydes | 84 % (19 rows) | 63 % (19 rows) |
| Esters and ethers | 73 % (37 rows) | 68 % (41 rows) |
| Amines and nitrogen compounds | 90 % (21 rows) | 95 % (19 rows) |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | 33 % (9 rows) | 20 % (10 rows) |
| Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons | 79 % (38 rows) | 66 % (41 rows) |
| Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils | 71 % (21 rows) | 63 % (19 rows) |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | 10 % (31 rows) | 11 % (36 rows) |
| Foods and beverages | 100 % (32 rows) | 100 % (30 rows) |
Where the ratings differ most
Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 23 in total.
| Chemical | Concentration | HDPE | LDPE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butanetriol | 100 % | D | A |
| Dimethyl Phthalate (DMP) | 100 % | D | A |
| Acetone | A | C | |
| Allyl Alcohol | 96 % | A | C |
| Anisole | 100 % | A | C |
| Benzaldehyde | A | C | |
| Bitter Almond Oil | A | C | |
| Chloric Acid | 20 % | C | A |
| Cyclohexanone | technical grade | A | C |
| Decahydronaphthalene | A | C | |
| Dibutyl Ether | technical grade | C | A |
| Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) | A | C | |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | technical grade | A | C |
| Ethyl Acetate | 100 % | A | C |
| Furfural | A | C | |
| Menthol | solid | A | C |
| Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) | A | C | |
| n-Hexane | B | D | |
| Naphtha | A | C | |
| Petroleum | technical grade | A | C |
| Transformer Oil | A | C | |
| Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA) | A | C | |
| Trioctyl Phosphate | technical grade | C | A |
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 HDPE or LDPE more chemical-resistant?
Of 632 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, HDPE and LDPE share the same rating in 551 rows (87 %). HDPE is rated better in 62 rows and LDPE in 19 rows.
How do HDPE and LDPE compare for chemical resistance?
Based on 632 chemicals tested for both: HDPE is rated better with Ketones and aldehydes, Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Aromatic hydrocarbons. LDPE is rated better with –. They perform similarly with Mineral acids, Organic acids, Alkalis, Salts and salt solutions.
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.