Summary
- LDPE is rated better with
- Alkalis (+76 points); Mineral acids (+55 points); Salts and salt solutions (+47 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+31 points); Organic acids (+26 points)
- Aluminium is rated better with
- Aromatic hydrocarbons (+80 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+37 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+34 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+34 points); Esters and ethers (+26 points); Phenols (+19 points); Halogenated hydrocarbons (+16 points)
- Within 10 points of each other
- Alcohols and glycols; Amines and nitrogen compounds; Foods and beverages
Points are the difference in the share of rows rated A or B.
The two materials
LDPE
Low-density polyethylene
Low-density polyethylene has a similar profile to HDPE but is softer and more permeable, so solvents swell it sooner. Continuous service is usually limited to about 60 °C.
Rated rows: 678. A 78 %, B 4 %, C 11 %, D 8 %
Aluminium
Aluminium
Aluminium relies on a thin oxide layer. Strong acids, strong alkalis and mercury compounds destroy that layer.
Rated rows: 968. A 60 %, B 9 %, C 16 %, D 16 %
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 | LDPE: rated A or B | Aluminium: rated A or B |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral acids | 71 % (48 rows) | 16 % (63 rows) |
| Organic acids | 93 % (59 rows) | 67 % (64 rows) |
| Alkalis | 100 % (22 rows) | 24 % (21 rows) |
| Salts and salt solutions | 99 % (187 rows) | 52 % (194 rows) |
| Oxidising agents and halogens | 76 % (38 rows) | 45 % (62 rows) |
| Alcohols and glycols | 89 % (46 rows) | 98 % (59 rows) |
| Phenols | 67 % (9 rows) | 86 % (14 rows) |
| Ketones and aldehydes | 63 % (19 rows) | 97 % (35 rows) |
| Esters and ethers | 68 % (41 rows) | 94 % (71 rows) |
| Amines and nitrogen compounds | 95 % (19 rows) | 95 % (39 rows) |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | 20 % (10 rows) | 100 % (14 rows) |
| Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons | 66 % (41 rows) | 100 % (78 rows) |
| Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils | 63 % (19 rows) | 100 % (48 rows) |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | 11 % (36 rows) | 27 % (71 rows) |
| Foods and beverages | 100 % (30 rows) | 96 % (46 rows) |
Where the ratings differ most
Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 257 in total, the first 40 shown.
| Chemical | Concentration | LDPE | Aluminium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,3-Butadiene | D | A | |
| Aluminum Chloride | 10 % | A | D |
| Aluminum Chloride | solid | A | D |
| Aluminum Chloride | saturated | A | D |
| Aluminum Nitrate | aqueous | A | D |
| Ammonium Dihydrogen Phosphate | any concentration | A | D |
| Ammonium Fluoride | saturated | A | D |
| Ammonium Fluoride | aqueous | A | D |
| Ammonium Iron(II) Sulfate | A | D | |
| Ammonium Iron(III) Sulfate | saturated | A | D |
| Antimony Trichloride | 90 % | A | D |
| Benzyl Alcohol | D | A | |
| Bismuth Chloride | A | D | |
| Bromobenzene | D | A | |
| Butyric Acid | D | A | |
| Cadmium Bromide | A | D | |
| Calcium Hypochlorite | saturated | A | D |
| Camphor Oil | D | A | |
| Carbon Disulfide | D | A | |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | D | A | |
| Cedar Oil | D | A | |
| Chloric Acid | 20 % | A | D |
| Chloroacetic Acid | A | D | |
| Chloroacetic Acid | 50 % | A | D |
| Cinnamon Oil | D | A | |
| Copper Acetate | aqueous | A | D |
| Copper Sulfate (Copper Vitriol) | aqueous | A | D |
| Copper(II) Chloride | saturated | A | D |
| Copper(II) Nitrate | saturated | A | D |
| Cresol | D | A | |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 50 % | A | D |
| Dichloromethane | D | A | |
| Diethyl Ether | technical grade | D | A |
| Diethylbenzene | D | A | |
| Diisooctyl Phthalate (DOP) | technical grade | D | A |
| Ethyl Acrylate | 100 % | D | A |
| Ethyl Glycol | 100 % | D | A |
| Fluorosilicic Acid | 32 % | A | D |
| Hydrobromic Acid | 40 % | A | D |
| Hydrobromic Acid | 50 % | 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 LDPE or Aluminium more chemical-resistant?
Of 673 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, LDPE and Aluminium share the same rating in 318 rows (47 %). LDPE is rated better in 236 rows and Aluminium in 119 rows.
How do LDPE and Aluminium compare for chemical resistance?
Based on 673 chemicals tested for both: LDPE is rated better with Alkalis, Mineral acids, Salts and salt solutions, Oxidising agents and halogens. Aluminium is rated better with Aromatic hydrocarbons, Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Ketones and aldehydes, Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons. They perform similarly with Alcohols and glycols, Amines and nitrogen compounds, 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.