ChemicalResistance
ChemicalResistance.org

PMP vs PVDF: Chemical Resistance Compared

Of 412 source rows rated for both materials at 20 °C, 205 (50 %) have the same rating. PMP is rated better in 45 rows and PVDF in 162. A row is one chemical at one concentration.

Summary

PMP is rated better with
Alkalis (+36 points)
PVDF is rated better with
Aromatic hydrocarbons (+90 points); Halogenated hydrocarbons (+69 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+67 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+59 points); Esters and ethers (+28 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+26 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+25 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+20 points); Mineral acids (+16 points)
Within 10 points of each other
Organic acids; Salts and salt solutions; Alcohols and glycols; Foods and beverages

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

The two materials

PMP

Polymethylpentene (TPX)

Polymethylpentene (TPX) is a transparent polyolefin used for labware. It resists many acids and alkalis, while aromatic and chlorinated solvents and strong oxidisers attack it.

Rated rows: 416. A 55 %, B 6 %, C 7 %, D 32 %

All chemicals for PMP

PVDF

Polyvinylidene fluoride

PVDF resists acids, halogens and hydrocarbons. Strong bases, amines, ketones and esters attack it. Service temperature is up to about 150 °C.

Rated rows: 944. A 73 %, B 15 %, C 10 %, D 2 %

All chemicals for PVDF

Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical class

PMP, PVDF: Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical classMineral acids: PMP 71 %, PVDF 87 %. Organic acids: PMP 85 %, PVDF 94 %. Alkalis: PMP 100 %, PVDF 64 %. Salts and salt solutions: PMP 100 %, PVDF 99 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: PMP 67 %, PVDF 87 %. Alcohols and glycols: PMP 96 %, PVDF 98 %. Ketones and aldehydes: PMP 37 %, PVDF 62 %. Esters and ethers: PMP 36 %, PVDF 64 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: PMP 50 %, PVDF 76 %. Aromatic hydrocarbons: PMP 10 %, PVDF 100 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: PMP 30 %, PVDF 97 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: PMP 29 %, PVDF 88 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: PMP 3 %, PVDF 72 %. Foods and beverages: PMP 100 %, PVDF 98 %.Mineral acidsMineral acids, PMP: 71 % (35)71 %Mineral acids, PVDF: 87 % (61)87 %Organic acidsOrganic acids, PMP: 85 % (26)85 %Organic acids, PVDF: 94 % (64)94 %AlkalisAlkalis, PMP: 100 % (17)100 %Alkalis, PVDF: 64 % (22)64 %Salts and salt solutionsSalts and salt solutions, PMP: 100 % (67)100 %Salts and salt solutions, PVDF: 99 % (198)99 %Oxidising agents and halogensOxidising agents and halogens, PMP: 67 % (30)67 %Oxidising agents and halogens, PVDF: 87 % (62)87 %Alcohols and glycolsAlcohols and glycols, PMP: 96 % (28)96 %Alcohols and glycols, PVDF: 98 % (58)98 %Ketones and aldehydesKetones and aldehydes, PMP: 37 % (27)37 %Ketones and aldehydes, PVDF: 62 % (34)62 %Esters and ethersEsters and ethers, PMP: 36 % (42)36 %Esters and ethers, PVDF: 64 % (66)64 %Amines and nitrogen compoundsAmines and nitrogen compounds, PMP: 50 % (10)50 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, PVDF: 76 % (38)76 %Aromatic hydrocarbonsAromatic hydrocarbons, PMP: 10 % (10)10 %Aromatic hydrocarbons, PVDF: 100 % (14)100 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbonsFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, PMP: 30 % (37)30 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, PVDF: 97 % (72)97 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oilsVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, PMP: 29 % (14)29 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, PVDF: 88 % (48)88 %Halogenated hydrocarbonsHalogenated hydrocarbons, PMP: 3 % (33)3 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, PVDF: 72 % (54)72 %Foods and beveragesFoods and beverages, PMP: 100 % (13)100 %Foods and beverages, PVDF: 98 % (46)98 %
PMPPVDF
Rating at 20 °C. Only classes with at least 8 rated rows for both materials are shown.

How often the two ratings agree

PMP, PVDF: How often the two ratings agreePMP A, PVDF A: 192; PMP A, PVDF B: 14; PMP A, PVDF C: 15; PMP A, PVDF D: 7; PMP B, PVDF A: 15; PMP B, PVDF B: 3; PMP B, PVDF C: 6; PMP B, PVDF D: 2; PMP C, PVDF A: 19; PMP C, PVDF B: 6; PMP C, PVDF C: 4; PMP C, PVDF D: 1; PMP D, PVDF A: 57; PMP D, PVDF B: 36; PMP D, PVDF C: 29; PMP D, PVDF D: 6.PVDFABCDPMPAPMP A, PVDF A: 192192PMP A, PVDF B: 1414PMP A, PVDF C: 1515PMP A, PVDF D: 77BPMP B, PVDF A: 1515PMP B, PVDF B: 33PMP B, PVDF C: 66PMP B, PVDF D: 22CPMP C, PVDF A: 1919PMP C, PVDF B: 66PMP C, PVDF C: 44PMP C, PVDF D: 11DPMP D, PVDF A: 5757PMP D, PVDF B: 3636PMP D, PVDF C: 2929PMP D, PVDF D: 66
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 classPMP: rated A or BPVDF: rated A or B
Mineral acids71 % (35 rows)87 % (61 rows)
Organic acids85 % (26 rows)94 % (64 rows)
Alkalis100 % (17 rows)64 % (22 rows)
Salts and salt solutions100 % (67 rows)99 % (198 rows)
Oxidising agents and halogens67 % (30 rows)87 % (62 rows)
Alcohols and glycols96 % (28 rows)98 % (58 rows)
Phenols–71 % (14 rows)
Ketones and aldehydes37 % (27 rows)62 % (34 rows)
Esters and ethers36 % (42 rows)64 % (66 rows)
Amines and nitrogen compounds50 % (10 rows)76 % (38 rows)
Aromatic hydrocarbons10 % (10 rows)100 % (14 rows)
Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons30 % (37 rows)97 % (72 rows)
Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils29 % (14 rows)88 % (48 rows)
Halogenated hydrocarbons3 % (33 rows)72 % (54 rows)
Foods and beverages100 % (13 rows)98 % (46 rows)

Where the ratings differ most

Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 136 in total, the first 40 shown.

ChemicalConcentrationPMPPVDF
1,2-DibromoethaneDA
1,3-ButadieneDA
AcetophenoneDA
Acetyl Chloride100 %DA
Allyl Chloride100 %DA
Amyl ChlorideDA
Benzoyl Chloride100 %DA
Benzyl AlcoholDA
BromineDA
Bromine VaporsDA
Bromine WatersaturatedDA
BromobenzeneDA
Butyric AcidDA
Carbon DisulfideDA
Carbon TetrachlorideDA
Chlorine97 %DA
Chlorine GasDA
Chlorine WaterDA
Chloroacetic AcidAD
ChlorobenzeneDA
Chloroform100 %DA
ChlorotolueneDA
CresolDA
Crotonaldehydetechnical gradeDA
CyclohexaneDA
DecahydronaphthaleneDA
Dibutyl Ethertechnical gradeDA
Dichloroethylenetechnical gradeDA
Diethyl Ethertechnical gradeDA
Diisobutyl Ketonetechnical gradeDA
Dimethylformamide (DMF)AD
DL-LimoneneDA
Ethyl Chloroacetatetechnical gradeDA
Ethylene DichlorideDA
HexeneDA
Hydrobromic Acid40 %DA
Hydrobromic Acid50 %DA
Hydrobromic AciddiluteDA
Hydrocyanic Acid (Hydrogen Cyanide)aqueousDA
Isooctanetechnical gradeDA

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

HDPE vs PMPHDPE vs PVDFLDPE vs PMPLDPE vs PVDFPP vs PMPPP vs PVDFPVC Rigid vs PMPPVC Rigid vs PVDFPVC Flexible vs PMPPVC Flexible vs PVDFPMP vs PolystyrenePMP vs SANPMP vs PolycarbonatePMP vs PETGPMP vs Acetal (POM)PMP vs Nylon (PA)PMP vs PolysulfonePMP vs PTFEPMP vs FEPPMP vs ECTFE/ETFE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PMP or PVDF more chemical-resistant?

Of 412 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, PMP and PVDF share the same rating in 205 rows (50 %). PMP is rated better in 45 rows and PVDF in 162 rows.

How do PMP and PVDF compare for chemical resistance?

Based on 412 chemicals tested for both: PMP is rated better with Alkalis. PVDF is rated better with Aromatic hydrocarbons, Halogenated hydrocarbons, Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils. They perform similarly with Organic acids, Salts and salt solutions, Alcohols and glycols, 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.