Summary
- HDPE is rated better with
- Ketones and aldehydes (+73 points); Esters and ethers (+68 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+67 points); Aromatic hydrocarbons (+33 points); Phenols (+24 points); Alcohols and glycols (+14 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+12 points)
- Within 10 points of each other
- Mineral acids; Organic acids; Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; Oxidising agents and halogens; Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons; 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 Rigid
Rigid (unplasticised) polyvinyl chloride
Rigid PVC resists acids, alkalis and salt solutions well. Ketones, esters, aromatic and chlorinated solvents dissolve or swell it. Service temperature is limited to about 60 °C.
Rated rows: 569. A 62 %, B 8 %, C 9 %, D 21 %
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 Rigid: rated A or B |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral acids | 79 % (56 rows) | 82 % (56 rows) |
| Organic acids | 95 % (58 rows) | 87 % (45 rows) |
| Alkalis | 100 % (22 rows) | 100 % (16 rows) |
| Salts and salt solutions | 100 % (193 rows) | 100 % (111 rows) |
| Oxidising agents and halogens | 78 % (40 rows) | 85 % (39 rows) |
| Alcohols and glycols | 93 % (43 rows) | 79 % (43 rows) |
| Phenols | 62 % (8 rows) | 38 % (8 rows) |
| Ketones and aldehydes | 84 % (19 rows) | 11 % (18 rows) |
| Esters and ethers | 73 % (37 rows) | 5 % (39 rows) |
| Amines and nitrogen compounds | 90 % (21 rows) | 23 % (22 rows) |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | 33 % (9 rows) | 0 % (9 rows) |
| Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons | 79 % (38 rows) | 84 % (38 rows) |
| Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils | 71 % (21 rows) | 59 % (17 rows) |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | 10 % (31 rows) | 8 % (36 rows) |
| Foods and beverages | 100 % (32 rows) | 100 % (23 rows) |
Where the ratings differ most
Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 91 in total, the first 40 shown.
| Chemical | Concentration | HDPE | PVC Rigid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acetamide | saturated | A | D |
| Acetone | A | D | |
| Acetonitrile | A | D | |
| Acrylonitrile | A | D | |
| Alanine | A | D | |
| Amyl Acetate | A | D | |
| Aniline | A | D | |
| Benzaldehyde | A | D | |
| Benzyl Acetate | A | D | |
| Bitter Almond Oil | A | D | |
| Butene | technical grade | D | A |
| Butyl Acrylate | 100 % | A | D |
| Carbazole | A | D | |
| Chloroethanol | technical grade | A | D |
| Crotonaldehyde | technical grade | A | D |
| Cyclohexanone | technical grade | A | D |
| Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) | A | D | |
| Dibutyl Sebacate | technical grade | A | D |
| Diisobutyl Ketone | technical grade | A | D |
| Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) | A | D | |
| Epichlorohydrin | 100 % | A | D |
| Ethyl Acetate | 100 % | A | D |
| Fluorine | D | A | |
| Formamide | technical grade | A | D |
| Furfuryl Alcohol | technical grade | A | D |
| Iodine Tincture | A | D | |
| Methyl Isobutyl Ketone (MIBK) | A | D | |
| Isopropyl Acetate | A | D | |
| Methoxyethyl Oleate | A | D | |
| Methyl Acetate | technical grade | A | D |
| Methyl Dichloroacetate | A | D | |
| Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) | A | D | |
| Methyl Propyl Ketone (2-Pentanone) | A | D | |
| Morpholine | technical grade | A | D |
| Nitrotoluene | technical grade | A | D |
| Oleum Vapors | low concentration | D | A |
| p-Chloroacetophenone | A | D | |
| Propionic Acid | A | D | |
| Pyridine | A | D | |
| Tributyl Phosphate | technical grade | 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 Rigid more chemical-resistant?
Of 525 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, HDPE and PVC Rigid share the same rating in 351 rows (67 %). HDPE is rated better in 146 rows and PVC Rigid in 28 rows.
How do HDPE and PVC Rigid compare for chemical resistance?
Based on 525 chemicals tested for both: HDPE is rated better with Ketones and aldehydes, Esters and ethers, Amines and nitrogen compounds, Aromatic hydrocarbons. PVC Rigid 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.