Summary
- HDPE is rated better with
- Amines and nitrogen compounds (+90 points); Alcohols and glycols (+85 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+84 points); Esters and ethers (+69 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+62 points); Mineral acids (+38 points); Organic acids (+35 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+31 points)
- Within 10 points of each other
- Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; 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 %
PVC Flexible
Flexible (plasticised) polyvinyl chloride
Flexible PVC shares the solvent weaknesses of rigid PVC, and any liquid that extracts the plasticiser also hardens it. It is generally less resistant than rigid PVC.
Rated rows: 344. A 45 %, B 1 %, C 17 %, D 37 %
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 | PVC Flexible: rated A or B |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral acids | 79 % (56 rows) | 41 % (27 rows) |
| Organic acids | 95 % (58 rows) | 60 % (25 rows) |
| Alkalis | 100 % (22 rows) | 100 % (11 rows) |
| Salts and salt solutions | 100 % (193 rows) | 96 % (81 rows) |
| Oxidising agents and halogens | 78 % (40 rows) | 47 % (17 rows) |
| Alcohols and glycols | 93 % (43 rows) | 8 % (26 rows) |
| Phenols | 62 % (8 rows) | – |
| Ketones and aldehydes | 84 % (19 rows) | 0 % (9 rows) |
| Esters and ethers | 73 % (37 rows) | 4 % (25 rows) |
| Amines and nitrogen compounds | 90 % (21 rows) | 0 % (12 rows) |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | 33 % (9 rows) | – |
| Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons | 79 % (38 rows) | 17 % (23 rows) |
| Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils | 71 % (21 rows) | – |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | 10 % (31 rows) | 0 % (31 rows) |
| Foods and beverages | 100 % (32 rows) | 93 % (14 rows) |
Where the ratings differ most
Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 100 in total, the first 40 shown.
| Chemical | Concentration | HDPE | PVC Flexible |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acetic Acid | 90 % | A | D |
| Acetylene | 100 % | A | D |
| Acrylonitrile | A | D | |
| Allyl Alcohol | 96 % | A | D |
| Amyl Acetate | A | D | |
| Aniline | A | D | |
| Benzaldehyde | A | D | |
| Bitter Almond Oil | A | D | |
| Butanol | technical grade | A | D |
| Butyl Acrylate | 100 % | A | D |
| Calcium Chloride | alcoholic solution | A | D |
| Chloroacetic Acid | A | D | |
| Creosote | A | D | |
| Cyclohexanol | technical grade | A | D |
| Cyclohexanone | technical grade | A | D |
| Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) | A | D | |
| Dibutyl Sebacate | technical grade | A | D |
| Dimethylamine | technical grade | A | D |
| Epichlorohydrin | 100 % | A | D |
| Ethyl Acetate | 100 % | A | D |
| Ethylenediamine | technical grade | A | D |
| Formamide | technical grade | A | D |
| Furfuryl Alcohol | technical grade | A | D |
| Iodine Tincture | A | D | |
| Methyl Isobutyl Ketone (MIBK) | A | D | |
| Isooctane | technical grade | A | D |
| Isopropyl Acetate | A | D | |
| Isopropanol | technical grade | A | D |
| Methyl Acetate | technical grade | A | D |
| Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) | A | D | |
| Methyl Glycol | 100 % | A | D |
| Methylamine | 32 % | A | D |
| Morpholine | technical grade | A | D |
| Naphtha | A | D | |
| Nitrotoluene | technical grade | A | D |
| Picric Acid | 1 % aqueous | A | D |
| Potassium Cyanide | saturated | A | D |
| Propene | A | D | |
| Propionic Acid | A | D | |
| Pyridine | 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 HDPE or PVC Flexible more chemical-resistant?
Of 314 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, HDPE and PVC Flexible share the same rating in 182 rows (58 %). HDPE is rated better in 128 rows and PVC Flexible in 4 rows.
How do HDPE and PVC Flexible compare for chemical resistance?
Based on 314 chemicals tested for both: HDPE is rated better with Amines and nitrogen compounds, Alcohols and glycols, Ketones and aldehydes, Esters and ethers. PVC Flexible is rated better with –. They perform similarly with Alkalis, Salts and salt solutions, Halogenated hydrocarbons, Foods and beverages.
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.