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HDPE vs PP: Chemical Resistance Compared

Of 686 source rows rated for both materials at 20 °C, 600 (87 %) have the same rating. HDPE is rated better in 62 rows and PP in 24. A row is one chemical at one concentration.

Summary

HDPE is rated better with
Aromatic hydrocarbons (+19 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+16 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+15 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+11 points)
PP is rated better with
Phenols (+17 points)
Within 10 points of each other
Mineral acids; Organic acids; Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; Oxidising agents and halogens; Alcohols and glycols; Esters and ethers; 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 %

All chemicals for HDPE

PP

Polypropylene

Polypropylene resists most acids, alkalis and salt solutions. Concentrated oxidising acids, chlorinated solvents and aromatic hydrocarbons attack it, and it turns brittle below about 0 °C.

Rated rows: 978. A 66 %, B 11 %, C 15 %, D 8 %

All chemicals for PP

Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical class

HDPE, PP: Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical classMineral acids: HDPE 79 %, PP 70 %. Organic acids: HDPE 95 %, PP 97 %. Alkalis: HDPE 100 %, PP 100 %. Salts and salt solutions: HDPE 100 %, PP 99 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: HDPE 78 %, PP 72 %. Alcohols and glycols: HDPE 93 %, PP 93 %. Phenols: HDPE 62 %, PP 79 %. Ketones and aldehydes: HDPE 84 %, PP 69 %. Esters and ethers: HDPE 73 %, PP 63 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: HDPE 90 %, PP 79 %. Aromatic hydrocarbons: HDPE 33 %, PP 14 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: HDPE 79 %, PP 63 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: HDPE 71 %, PP 75 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: HDPE 10 %, PP 4 %. Foods and beverages: HDPE 100 %, PP 100 %.Mineral acidsMineral acids, HDPE: 79 % (56)79 %Mineral acids, PP: 70 % (63)70 %Organic acidsOrganic acids, HDPE: 95 % (58)95 %Organic acids, PP: 97 % (64)97 %AlkalisAlkalis, HDPE: 100 % (22)100 %Alkalis, PP: 100 % (22)100 %Salts and salt solutionsSalts and salt solutions, HDPE: 100 % (193)100 %Salts and salt solutions, PP: 99 % (198)99 %Oxidising agents and halogensOxidising agents and halogens, HDPE: 78 % (40)78 %Oxidising agents and halogens, PP: 72 % (61)72 %Alcohols and glycolsAlcohols and glycols, HDPE: 93 % (43)93 %Alcohols and glycols, PP: 93 % (59)93 %PhenolsPhenols, HDPE: 62 % (8)62 %Phenols, PP: 79 % (14)79 %Ketones and aldehydesKetones and aldehydes, HDPE: 84 % (19)84 %Ketones and aldehydes, PP: 69 % (35)69 %Esters and ethersEsters and ethers, HDPE: 73 % (37)73 %Esters and ethers, PP: 63 % (71)63 %Amines and nitrogen compoundsAmines and nitrogen compounds, HDPE: 90 % (21)90 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, PP: 79 % (39)79 %Aromatic hydrocarbonsAromatic hydrocarbons, HDPE: 33 % (9)33 %Aromatic hydrocarbons, PP: 14 % (14)14 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbonsFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, HDPE: 79 % (38)79 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, PP: 63 % (78)63 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oilsVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, HDPE: 71 % (21)71 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, PP: 75 % (48)75 %Halogenated hydrocarbonsHalogenated hydrocarbons, HDPE: 10 % (31)10 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, PP: 4 % (70)4 %Foods and beveragesFoods and beverages, HDPE: 100 % (32)100 %Foods and beverages, PP: 100 % (46)100 %
HDPEPP
Rating at 20 °C. Only classes with at least 8 rated rows for both materials are shown.

How often the two ratings agree

HDPE, PP: How often the two ratings agreeHDPE A, PP A: 530; HDPE A, PP B: 13; HDPE A, PP C: 13; HDPE A, PP D: 5; HDPE B, PP A: 1; HDPE B, PP B: 10; HDPE B, PP C: 9; HDPE B, PP D: 4; HDPE C, PP A: 10; HDPE C, PP B: 3; HDPE C, PP C: 29; HDPE C, PP D: 18; HDPE D, PP A: 2; HDPE D, PP B: 1; HDPE D, PP C: 7; HDPE D, PP D: 31.PPABCDHDPEAHDPE A, PP A: 530530HDPE A, PP B: 1313HDPE A, PP C: 1313HDPE A, PP D: 55BHDPE B, PP A: 11HDPE B, PP B: 1010HDPE B, PP C: 99HDPE B, PP D: 44CHDPE C, PP A: 1010HDPE C, PP B: 33HDPE C, PP C: 2929HDPE C, PP D: 1818DHDPE D, PP A: 22HDPE D, PP B: 11HDPE D, PP C: 77HDPE D, PP D: 3131
Number of source rows for each pair of ratings at 20 °C. Outlined cells are rows where both materials have the same rating.

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 classHDPE: rated A or BPP: rated A or B
Mineral acids79 % (56 rows)70 % (63 rows)
Organic acids95 % (58 rows)97 % (64 rows)
Alkalis100 % (22 rows)100 % (22 rows)
Salts and salt solutions100 % (193 rows)99 % (198 rows)
Oxidising agents and halogens78 % (40 rows)72 % (61 rows)
Alcohols and glycols93 % (43 rows)93 % (59 rows)
Phenols62 % (8 rows)79 % (14 rows)
Ketones and aldehydes84 % (19 rows)69 % (35 rows)
Esters and ethers73 % (37 rows)63 % (71 rows)
Amines and nitrogen compounds90 % (21 rows)79 % (39 rows)
Aromatic hydrocarbons33 % (9 rows)14 % (14 rows)
Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons79 % (38 rows)63 % (78 rows)
Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils71 % (21 rows)75 % (48 rows)
Halogenated hydrocarbons10 % (31 rows)4 % (70 rows)
Foods and beverages100 % (32 rows)100 % (46 rows)

Where the ratings differ most

Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 35 in total.

ChemicalConcentrationHDPEPP
Acetic Anhydridetechnical gradeDA
Butanetriol100 %DA
Chloric Acid10 %AD
Chloroethanoltechnical gradeAD
FurfuralAD
Hydrogen Peroxide100 %AD
Sulfur Trioxide Exhaust Gaseslow concentrationAD
AcetonitrileAC
AcrylonitrileAC
Amyl AcetateAC
Anisole100 %AC
Butyl Acrylate100 %AC
CamphorCA
Chloramine-TdiluteAC
Chloric Acid20 %CA
Compressed Aircontaining oilAC
CreosoteAC
DecahydronaphthaleneAC
Dimethyl Phthalate (DMP)100 %DB
Dinonyl Phthalate (DNP)technical gradeCA
Heating OilCA
Lubricating OilAC
Nitric Acid66 %BD
Nitric Acid70 %BD
p-tert-Butylphenoltechnical gradeCA
PentaneAC
Perchloric Acid70 %BD
PerfumesCA
Petroleum Jellytechnical gradeCA
PhosphatesaqueousAC
Phosphorus TrichlorideCA
PyridineAC
Spindle OilCA
Trioctyl Phosphatetechnical gradeCA
Turpentine OilBD

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.

More comparisons

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is HDPE or PP more chemical-resistant?

Of 686 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, HDPE and PP share the same rating in 600 rows (87 %). HDPE is rated better in 62 rows and PP in 24 rows.

How do HDPE and PP compare for chemical resistance?

Based on 686 chemicals tested for both: HDPE is rated better with Aromatic hydrocarbons, Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Ketones and aldehydes, Amines and nitrogen compounds. PP is rated better with Phenols. 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.