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
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.