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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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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.