Summary
- LDPE is rated better with
- Amines and nitrogen compounds (+72 points); Esters and ethers (+63 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+52 points); Phenols (+29 points); Aromatic hydrocarbons (+20 points)
- PVC Rigid is rated better with
- Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+18 points); Mineral acids (+11 points)
- Within 10 points of each other
- Organic acids; Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; Oxidising agents and halogens; Alcohols and glycols; 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
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 %
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 | LDPE: rated A or B | PVC Rigid: rated A or B |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral acids | 71 % (48 rows) | 82 % (56 rows) |
| Organic acids | 93 % (59 rows) | 87 % (45 rows) |
| Alkalis | 100 % (22 rows) | 100 % (16 rows) |
| Salts and salt solutions | 99 % (187 rows) | 100 % (111 rows) |
| Oxidising agents and halogens | 76 % (38 rows) | 85 % (39 rows) |
| Alcohols and glycols | 89 % (46 rows) | 79 % (43 rows) |
| Phenols | 67 % (9 rows) | 38 % (8 rows) |
| Ketones and aldehydes | 63 % (19 rows) | 11 % (18 rows) |
| Esters and ethers | 68 % (41 rows) | 5 % (39 rows) |
| Amines and nitrogen compounds | 95 % (19 rows) | 23 % (22 rows) |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | 20 % (10 rows) | 0 % (9 rows) |
| Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons | 66 % (41 rows) | 84 % (38 rows) |
| Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils | 63 % (19 rows) | 59 % (17 rows) |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | 11 % (36 rows) | 8 % (36 rows) |
| Foods and beverages | 100 % (30 rows) | 100 % (23 rows) |
Where the ratings differ most
Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 90 in total, the first 40 shown.
| Chemical | Concentration | LDPE | PVC Rigid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acetamide | saturated | A | D |
| Acetonitrile | A | D | |
| Acetophenone | A | D | |
| Acrylonitrile | A | D | |
| Alanine | A | D | |
| Aniline | A | D | |
| Benzyl Acetate | A | D | |
| Butyl Glycol | 100 % | A | D |
| Carbazole | A | D | |
| Dibutyl Ether | technical grade | A | D |
| Dibutyl Sebacate | technical grade | A | D |
| Diisobutyl Ketone | technical grade | A | D |
| Dimethyl Phthalate (DMP) | 100 % | A | D |
| Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) | A | D | |
| Epichlorohydrin | 100 % | A | D |
| Fluorine | D | A | |
| Formamide | technical grade | A | D |
| Furfuryl Alcohol | technical grade | A | D |
| Iodine Tincture | A | D | |
| Methoxyethyl Oleate | A | D | |
| Methyl Acetate | technical grade | A | D |
| Morpholine | technical grade | A | D |
| Naphthalene | 100 % | A | D |
| Nitrotoluene | technical grade | A | D |
| p-Chloroacetophenone | A | D | |
| Phosphorus Oxychloride | A | D | |
| Phosphorus Oxychloride | 100 % | A | D |
| Phosphorus Pentachloride | A | D | |
| Propane | gaseous | D | A |
| Propionic Acid | A | D | |
| Tributyl Phosphate | technical grade | A | D |
| Trichloroacetaldehyde | 100 % | A | D |
| Tricresyl Phosphate (TCP) | technical grade | A | D |
| Trioctyl Phosphate | technical grade | A | D |
| Vinyl Acetate | technical grade | A | D |
| Acetaldehyde | 40 % | B | D |
| Acetaldehyde | technical grade | B | D |
| Amyl Acetate | B | D | |
| Benzyl Alcohol | D | B | |
| Bromine | D | B |
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 PVC Rigid more chemical-resistant?
Of 504 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, LDPE and PVC Rigid share the same rating in 327 rows (65 %). LDPE is rated better in 134 rows and PVC Rigid in 43 rows.
How do LDPE and PVC Rigid compare for chemical resistance?
Based on 504 chemicals tested for both: LDPE is rated better with Amines and nitrogen compounds, Esters and ethers, Ketones and aldehydes, Phenols. PVC Rigid is rated better with Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Mineral acids. They perform similarly with Organic acids, Alkalis, Salts and salt solutions, Oxidising agents and halogens.
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.