Summary
- Nylon (PA) is rated better with
- Aromatic hydrocarbons (+93 points); Esters and ethers (+79 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+44 points); Halogenated hydrocarbons (+43 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+38 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+37 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+29 points); Alkalis (+27 points); Alcohols and glycols (+22 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+11 points)
- NBR is rated better with
- Organic acids (+12 points)
- Within 10 points of each other
- Mineral acids; Salts and salt solutions; Phenols; 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 %
NBR
Nitrile butadiene rubber
Nitrile rubber resists mineral oils and fuels. Ketones, esters, chlorinated solvents, strong oxidisers and ozone attack it.
Rated rows: 983. A 36 %, B 9 %, C 19 %, D 36 %
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 | Nylon (PA): rated A or B | NBR: rated A or B |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral acids | 5 % (63 rows) | 13 % (63 rows) |
| Organic acids | 25 % (63 rows) | 37 % (63 rows) |
| Alkalis | 91 % (22 rows) | 64 % (22 rows) |
| Salts and salt solutions | 78 % (194 rows) | 82 % (198 rows) |
| Oxidising agents and halogens | 26 % (62 rows) | 15 % (62 rows) |
| Alcohols and glycols | 67 % (58 rows) | 45 % (58 rows) |
| Phenols | 8 % (13 rows) | 0 % (14 rows) |
| Ketones and aldehydes | 53 % (32 rows) | 9 % (35 rows) |
| Esters and ethers | 80 % (65 rows) | 1 % (76 rows) |
| Amines and nitrogen compounds | 50 % (34 rows) | 13 % (39 rows) |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | 100 % (14 rows) | 7 % (14 rows) |
| Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons | 97 % (73 rows) | 59 % (78 rows) |
| Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils | 98 % (46 rows) | 69 % (48 rows) |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | 63 % (70 rows) | 20 % (71 rows) |
| Foods and beverages | 98 % (46 rows) | 93 % (46 rows) |
Where the ratings differ most
Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 284 in total, the first 40 shown.
| Chemical | Concentration | Nylon (PA) | NBR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,2-Dichlorobenzene | A | D | |
| 1,3-Butadiene | A | D | |
| 1,4-Dichlorobenzene | A | D | |
| Acetone | A | D | |
| Acetonitrile | A | D | |
| Acetophenone | A | D | |
| Acrylonitrile | A | D | |
| Ammonium Carbonate | 50 % | A | D |
| Ammonium Carbonate | aqueous | A | D |
| Amyl Chloride | A | D | |
| Amyl Phthalate | 100 % | A | D |
| Anisole | 100 % | A | D |
| Antimony Trichloride | anhydrous | D | A |
| Benzyl Chloride | 100 % | A | D |
| Brake Fluid | A | D | |
| Bromobenzene | A | D | |
| Bromomethane | technical grade | A | D |
| Butyl Acetate | 100 % | A | D |
| Butyl Stearate | 100 % | A | D |
| Calcium Hypochlorite | saturated | A | D |
| Cetyl Alcohol | 100 % | D | A |
| Chloramine-T | dilute | D | A |
| Chlorodifluoromethane | A | D | |
| Chloroethane (Ethyl Chloride) | A | D | |
| Chlorofluoromethane | A | D | |
| Clophen A60 (PCB) | A | D | |
| Coal Tar Oil | 100 % | A | D |
| Cocoa Butter | A | D | |
| Copper(II) Nitrate | saturated | A | D |
| Cyclohexanone | technical grade | A | D |
| Decahydronaphthalene | A | D | |
| Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) | A | D | |
| Dibutyl Sebacate | technical grade | A | D |
| Dichlorofluoromethane | 100 % | A | D |
| Dicyclohexyl Phthalate | technical grade | A | D |
| Diethyl Ether | technical grade | A | D |
| Diethylbenzene | A | D | |
| Diisooctyl Phthalate (DOP) | technical grade | A | D |
| Dimethyl Ether | gas | A | D |
| Dimethylamine | 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 Nylon (PA) or NBR more chemical-resistant?
Of 943 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, Nylon (PA) and NBR share the same rating in 415 rows (44 %). Nylon (PA) is rated better in 369 rows and NBR in 159 rows.
How do Nylon (PA) and NBR compare for chemical resistance?
Based on 943 chemicals tested for both: Nylon (PA) is rated better with Aromatic hydrocarbons, Esters and ethers, Ketones and aldehydes, Halogenated hydrocarbons. NBR is rated better with Organic acids. They perform similarly with Mineral acids, Salts and salt solutions, Phenols, 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.