Summary
- HDPE is rated better with
- Esters and ethers (+73 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+63 points); Phenols (+37 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+34 points); Alcohols and glycols (+23 points); Mineral acids (+18 points); Foods and beverages (+18 points); Organic acids (+16 points)
- Within 10 points of each other
- Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; Oxidising agents and halogens; Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons; Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils; Halogenated hydrocarbons
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 %
SAN
Styrene-acrylonitrile
Styrene-acrylonitrile resists oils and dilute acids better than polystyrene, but ketones, esters and aromatic and chlorinated solvents still attack it.
Rated rows: 364. A 67 %, B 0 %, C 9 %, D 24 %
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 | SAN: rated A or B |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral acids | 79 % (56 rows) | 61 % (18 rows) |
| Organic acids | 95 % (58 rows) | 79 % (24 rows) |
| Alkalis | 100 % (22 rows) | 100 % (8 rows) |
| Salts and salt solutions | 100 % (193 rows) | 100 % (80 rows) |
| Oxidising agents and halogens | 78 % (40 rows) | 73 % (26 rows) |
| Alcohols and glycols | 93 % (43 rows) | 70 % (33 rows) |
| Phenols | 62 % (8 rows) | 25 % (8 rows) |
| Ketones and aldehydes | 84 % (19 rows) | 21 % (19 rows) |
| Esters and ethers | 73 % (37 rows) | 0 % (19 rows) |
| Amines and nitrogen compounds | 90 % (21 rows) | 56 % (9 rows) |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | 33 % (9 rows) | – |
| Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons | 79 % (38 rows) | 79 % (24 rows) |
| Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils | 71 % (21 rows) | 68 % (22 rows) |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | 10 % (31 rows) | 5 % (20 rows) |
| Foods and beverages | 100 % (32 rows) | 82 % (22 rows) |
Where the ratings differ most
Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 51 in total, the first 40 shown.
| Chemical | Concentration | HDPE | SAN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acetic Acid | 90 % | A | D |
| Acetone | A | D | |
| Allyl Alcohol | 96 % | A | D |
| Amyl Acetate | A | D | |
| Benzyl Acetate | A | D | |
| Brake Fluid | A | D | |
| Butyl Acrylate | 100 % | A | D |
| Carbazole | A | D | |
| Cyclohexanone | technical grade | A | D |
| Dibutyl Sebacate | technical grade | A | D |
| Dimethylformamide (DMF) | A | D | |
| Ethyl Acetate | 100 % | A | D |
| Furfural | A | D | |
| Methyl Isobutyl Ketone (MIBK) | A | D | |
| Methyl Acetate | technical grade | A | D |
| Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) | A | D | |
| Methyl Propyl Ketone (2-Pentanone) | A | D | |
| Propylene Oxide | A | D | |
| Pyridine | A | D | |
| Tricresyl Phosphate (TCP) | technical grade | A | D |
| Acetylene | 100 % | A | C |
| Butyl Acetate | 100 % | B | D |
| Camphor | C | A | |
| Chloroacetic Acid | A | C | |
| Chloroacetic Acid | 50 % | A | C |
| Cyclohexane | C | A | |
| Decahydronaphthalene | A | C | |
| Diethyl Ketone | B | D | |
| Dioxane | B | D | |
| Ethyl Benzoate | B | D | |
| Ethylbenzene | B | D | |
| Formic Acid | 98-100 % | A | C |
| Furfuryl Alcohol | technical grade | A | C |
| Heating Oil | C | A | |
| Hydrofluoric Acid | 50 % | A | C |
| Iodine Tincture | A | C | |
| Isobutanol | A | C | |
| Lanolin | technical grade | C | A |
| Methanol | A | C | |
| Methylcyclohexane | 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
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HDPE or SAN more chemical-resistant?
Of 290 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, HDPE and SAN share the same rating in 206 rows (71 %). HDPE is rated better in 65 rows and SAN in 19 rows.
How do HDPE and SAN compare for chemical resistance?
Based on 290 chemicals tested for both: HDPE is rated better with Esters and ethers, Ketones and aldehydes, Phenols, Amines and nitrogen compounds. SAN is rated better with –. They perform similarly with Alkalis, Salts and salt solutions, Oxidising agents and halogens, Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons.
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.