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Nylon (PA) vs Acetal (POM): Chemical Resistance Compared

Of 930 source rows rated for both materials at 20 °C, 538 (58 %) have the same rating. Nylon (PA) is rated better in 181 rows and Acetal (POM) in 211. A row is one chemical at one concentration.

Summary

Nylon (PA) is rated better with
Alkalis (+15 points)
Acetal (POM) is rated better with
Ketones and aldehydes (+38 points); Alcohols and glycols (+29 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+24 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+17 points); Halogenated hydrocarbons (+17 points)
Within 10 points of each other
Mineral acids; Organic acids; Salts and salt solutions; Phenols; Esters and ethers; Aromatic hydrocarbons; Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons; Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils; Foods and beverages

Points are the difference in the share of rows rated A or B.

The two materials

Nylon (PA)

Polyamide (nylon)

Polyamide (nylon) resists fuels, oils and many solvents. Mineral acids, even dilute, and strong oxidisers attack it, and it absorbs water.

Rated rows: 945. A 44 %, B 21 %, C 17 %, D 18 %

All chemicals for Nylon (PA)

Acetal (POM)

Polyoxymethylene (acetal)

Acetal (POM) resists many organic solvents and fuels. Strong acids and oxidising agents degrade it.

Rated rows: 956. A 41 %, B 32 %, C 12 %, D 15 %

All chemicals for Acetal (POM)

Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical class

Nylon (PA), Acetal (POM): Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical classMineral acids: Nylon (PA) 5 %, Acetal (POM) 5 %. Organic acids: Nylon (PA) 25 %, Acetal (POM) 34 %. Alkalis: Nylon (PA) 91 %, Acetal (POM) 76 %. Salts and salt solutions: Nylon (PA) 78 %, Acetal (POM) 76 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: Nylon (PA) 26 %, Acetal (POM) 43 %. Alcohols and glycols: Nylon (PA) 67 %, Acetal (POM) 96 %. Phenols: Nylon (PA) 8 %, Acetal (POM) 0 %. Ketones and aldehydes: Nylon (PA) 53 %, Acetal (POM) 91 %. Esters and ethers: Nylon (PA) 80 %, Acetal (POM) 88 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: Nylon (PA) 50 %, Acetal (POM) 74 %. Aromatic hydrocarbons: Nylon (PA) 100 %, Acetal (POM) 100 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: Nylon (PA) 97 %, Acetal (POM) 96 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: Nylon (PA) 98 %, Acetal (POM) 100 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: Nylon (PA) 63 %, Acetal (POM) 80 %. Foods and beverages: Nylon (PA) 98 %, Acetal (POM) 100 %.Mineral acidsMineral acids, Nylon (PA): 5 % (63)5 %Mineral acids, Acetal (POM): 5 % (63)5 %Organic acidsOrganic acids, Nylon (PA): 25 % (63)25 %Organic acids, Acetal (POM): 34 % (64)34 %AlkalisAlkalis, Nylon (PA): 91 % (22)91 %Alkalis, Acetal (POM): 76 % (21)76 %Salts and salt solutionsSalts and salt solutions, Nylon (PA): 78 % (194)78 %Salts and salt solutions, Acetal (POM): 76 % (197)76 %Oxidising agents and halogensOxidising agents and halogens, Nylon (PA): 26 % (62)26 %Oxidising agents and halogens, Acetal (POM): 43 % (63)43 %Alcohols and glycolsAlcohols and glycols, Nylon (PA): 67 % (58)67 %Alcohols and glycols, Acetal (POM): 96 % (57)96 %PhenolsPhenols, Nylon (PA): 8 % (13)8 %Phenols, Acetal (POM): 0 % (14)0 %Ketones and aldehydesKetones and aldehydes, Nylon (PA): 53 % (32)53 %Ketones and aldehydes, Acetal (POM): 91 % (35)91 %Esters and ethersEsters and ethers, Nylon (PA): 80 % (65)80 %Esters and ethers, Acetal (POM): 88 % (68)88 %Amines and nitrogen compoundsAmines and nitrogen compounds, Nylon (PA): 50 % (34)50 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, Acetal (POM): 74 % (38)74 %Aromatic hydrocarbonsAromatic hydrocarbons, Nylon (PA): 100 % (14)100 %Aromatic hydrocarbons, Acetal (POM): 100 % (14)100 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbonsFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Nylon (PA): 97 % (73)97 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Acetal (POM): 96 % (73)96 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oilsVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Nylon (PA): 98 % (46)98 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Acetal (POM): 100 % (45)100 %Halogenated hydrocarbonsHalogenated hydrocarbons, Nylon (PA): 63 % (70)63 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, Acetal (POM): 80 % (70)80 %Foods and beveragesFoods and beverages, Nylon (PA): 98 % (46)98 %Foods and beverages, Acetal (POM): 100 % (46)100 %
Nylon (PA)Acetal (POM)
Rating at 20 °C. Only classes with at least 8 rated rows for both materials are shown.

How often the two ratings agree

Nylon (PA), Acetal (POM): How often the two ratings agreeNylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) A: 268; Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) B: 99; Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) C: 28; Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) D: 8; Nylon (PA) B, Acetal (POM) A: 62; Nylon (PA) B, Acetal (POM) B: 120; Nylon (PA) B, Acetal (POM) C: 13; Nylon (PA) B, Acetal (POM) D: 3; Nylon (PA) C, Acetal (POM) A: 36; Nylon (PA) C, Acetal (POM) B: 52; Nylon (PA) C, Acetal (POM) C: 45; Nylon (PA) C, Acetal (POM) D: 30; Nylon (PA) D, Acetal (POM) A: 19; Nylon (PA) D, Acetal (POM) B: 15; Nylon (PA) D, Acetal (POM) C: 27; Nylon (PA) D, Acetal (POM) D: 105.Acetal (POM)ABCDNylon (PA)ANylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) A: 268268Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) B: 9999Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) C: 2828Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) D: 88BNylon (PA) B, Acetal (POM) A: 6262Nylon (PA) B, Acetal (POM) B: 120120Nylon (PA) B, Acetal (POM) C: 1313Nylon (PA) B, Acetal (POM) D: 33CNylon (PA) C, Acetal (POM) A: 3636Nylon (PA) C, Acetal (POM) B: 5252Nylon (PA) C, Acetal (POM) C: 4545Nylon (PA) C, Acetal (POM) D: 3030DNylon (PA) D, Acetal (POM) A: 1919Nylon (PA) D, Acetal (POM) B: 1515Nylon (PA) D, Acetal (POM) C: 2727Nylon (PA) D, Acetal (POM) D: 105105
Number of source rows for each pair of ratings at 20 °C. Outlined cells are rows where both materials have the same rating.

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 classNylon (PA): rated A or BAcetal (POM): rated A or B
Mineral acids5 % (63 rows)5 % (63 rows)
Organic acids25 % (63 rows)34 % (64 rows)
Alkalis91 % (22 rows)76 % (21 rows)
Salts and salt solutions78 % (194 rows)76 % (197 rows)
Oxidising agents and halogens26 % (62 rows)43 % (63 rows)
Alcohols and glycols67 % (58 rows)96 % (57 rows)
Phenols8 % (13 rows)0 % (14 rows)
Ketones and aldehydes53 % (32 rows)91 % (35 rows)
Esters and ethers80 % (65 rows)88 % (68 rows)
Amines and nitrogen compounds50 % (34 rows)74 % (38 rows)
Aromatic hydrocarbons100 % (14 rows)100 % (14 rows)
Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons97 % (73 rows)96 % (73 rows)
Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils98 % (46 rows)100 % (45 rows)
Halogenated hydrocarbons63 % (70 rows)80 % (70 rows)
Foods and beverages98 % (46 rows)100 % (46 rows)

Where the ratings differ most

Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 109 in total, the first 40 shown.

ChemicalConcentrationNylon (PA)Acetal (POM)
Acetic Acid10 %DA
Acetic Acid5 %DA
Benzyl AlcoholDA
Calcium HypochloriteaqueousDA
Cetyl Alcohol100 %DA
ChlorobenzeneDA
Chloromethane (Methyl Chloride)technical gradeDA
Developer FluidsDA
Epichlorohydrin100 %DA
Gear Oil, EP (Hypoid), 110°CAD
Iodine TinctureDA
Isopropyl Ethertechnical gradeDA
Methylamine32 %DA
Perchloroethylene (PCE)DA
Photo DeveloperDA
Potassium PermanganateDA
Potassium PermanganateaqueousDA
Propylene GlycolDA
Salicylic AcidsaturatedAD
Soap Solutionany concentrationDA
Sodium BisulfiteaqueousAD
Sodium Metabisulfiteany concentrationAD
TanninAD
Tannin10 %AD
Tanning ExtractsAD
Vegetable Tanning Extractsusual technical gradeAD
VinegarDA
AcetonitrileAC
Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin)100 %AC
AcrylonitrileAC
Allyl Acetate100 %DB
Aluminum Chloride10 %AC
Aluminum NitrateaqueousAC
Aluminum Sulfate10 %AC
Ammonium Bifluoride50 %BD
Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution)CA
Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution)30 %CA
Ammonium Iron(III) SulfatesaturatedAC
Ammonium PersulfatesaturatedDB
Ammonium PersulfateaqueousDB

Rating scale

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

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.