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PMP vs SS 316: Chemical Resistance Compared

Of 383 source rows rated for both materials at 20 °C, 204 (53 %) have the same rating. PMP is rated better in 28 rows and SS 316 in 151. A row is one chemical at one concentration.

Summary

SS 316 is rated better with
Aromatic hydrocarbons (+90 points); Halogenated hydrocarbons (+85 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+71 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+70 points); Esters and ethers (+64 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+63 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+45 points); Organic acids (+13 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+12 points)
Within 10 points of each other
Mineral acids; Alkalis; 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

SS 316

Stainless steel 1.4401 (AISI 316)

Stainless steel 316 (1.4401) contains molybdenum, which improves resistance to chlorides over 304. Hydrochloric acid and other halide acids still cause pitting.

Rated rows: 868. A 89 %, B 4 %, C 2 %, D 4 %

All chemicals for SS 316

Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical class

PMP, SS 316: Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical classMineral acids: PMP 71 %, SS 316 65 %. Organic acids: PMP 85 %, SS 316 98 %. Alkalis: PMP 100 %, SS 316 100 %. Salts and salt solutions: PMP 100 %, SS 316 93 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: PMP 67 %, SS 316 79 %. Alcohols and glycols: PMP 96 %, SS 316 100 %. Ketones and aldehydes: PMP 37 %, SS 316 100 %. Esters and ethers: PMP 36 %, SS 316 100 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: PMP 50 %, SS 316 95 %. Aromatic hydrocarbons: PMP 10 %, SS 316 100 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: PMP 30 %, SS 316 100 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: PMP 29 %, SS 316 100 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: PMP 3 %, SS 316 88 %. Foods and beverages: PMP 100 %, SS 316 100 %.Mineral acidsMineral acids, PMP: 71 % (35)71 %Mineral acids, SS 316: 65 % (60)65 %Organic acidsOrganic acids, PMP: 85 % (26)85 %Organic acids, SS 316: 98 % (55)98 %AlkalisAlkalis, PMP: 100 % (17)100 %Alkalis, SS 316: 100 % (22)100 %Salts and salt solutionsSalts and salt solutions, PMP: 100 % (67)100 %Salts and salt solutions, SS 316: 93 % (175)93 %Oxidising agents and halogensOxidising agents and halogens, PMP: 67 % (30)67 %Oxidising agents and halogens, SS 316: 79 % (57)79 %Alcohols and glycolsAlcohols and glycols, PMP: 96 % (28)96 %Alcohols and glycols, SS 316: 100 % (58)100 %Ketones and aldehydesKetones and aldehydes, PMP: 37 % (27)37 %Ketones and aldehydes, SS 316: 100 % (33)100 %Esters and ethersEsters and ethers, PMP: 36 % (42)36 %Esters and ethers, SS 316: 100 % (69)100 %Amines and nitrogen compoundsAmines and nitrogen compounds, PMP: 50 % (10)50 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, SS 316: 95 % (38)95 %Aromatic hydrocarbonsAromatic hydrocarbons, PMP: 10 % (10)10 %Aromatic hydrocarbons, SS 316: 100 % (14)100 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbonsFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, PMP: 30 % (37)30 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, SS 316: 100 % (76)100 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oilsVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, PMP: 29 % (14)29 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, SS 316: 100 % (48)100 %Halogenated hydrocarbonsHalogenated hydrocarbons, PMP: 3 % (33)3 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, SS 316: 88 % (24)88 %Foods and beveragesFoods and beverages, PMP: 100 % (13)100 %Foods and beverages, SS 316: 100 % (46)100 %
PMPSS 316
Rating at 20 °C. Only classes with at least 8 rated rows for both materials are shown.

How often the two ratings agree

PMP, SS 316: How often the two ratings agreePMP A, SS 316 A: 194; PMP A, SS 316 B: 12; PMP A, SS 316 C: 2; PMP A, SS 316 D: 11; PMP B, SS 316 A: 22; PMP B, SS 316 B: 1; PMP B, SS 316 D: 1; PMP C, SS 316 A: 27; PMP C, SS 316 D: 2; PMP D, SS 316 A: 97; PMP D, SS 316 B: 3; PMP D, SS 316 C: 2; PMP D, SS 316 D: 9.SS 316ABCDPMPAPMP A, SS 316 A: 194194PMP A, SS 316 B: 1212PMP A, SS 316 C: 22PMP A, SS 316 D: 1111BPMP B, SS 316 A: 2222PMP B, SS 316 B: 11PMP B, SS 316 C: 00PMP B, SS 316 D: 11CPMP C, SS 316 A: 2727PMP C, SS 316 B: 00PMP C, SS 316 C: 00PMP C, SS 316 D: 22DPMP D, SS 316 A: 9797PMP D, SS 316 B: 33PMP D, SS 316 C: 22PMP D, SS 316 D: 99
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 BSS 316: rated A or B
Mineral acids71 % (35 rows)65 % (60 rows)
Organic acids85 % (26 rows)98 % (55 rows)
Alkalis100 % (17 rows)100 % (22 rows)
Salts and salt solutions100 % (67 rows)93 % (175 rows)
Oxidising agents and halogens67 % (30 rows)79 % (57 rows)
Alcohols and glycols96 % (28 rows)100 % (58 rows)
Phenols–100 % (11 rows)
Ketones and aldehydes37 % (27 rows)100 % (33 rows)
Esters and ethers36 % (42 rows)100 % (69 rows)
Amines and nitrogen compounds50 % (10 rows)95 % (38 rows)
Aromatic hydrocarbons10 % (10 rows)100 % (14 rows)
Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons30 % (37 rows)100 % (76 rows)
Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils29 % (14 rows)100 % (48 rows)
Halogenated hydrocarbons3 % (33 rows)88 % (24 rows)
Foods and beverages100 % (13 rows)100 % (46 rows)

Where the ratings differ most

Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 141 in total, the first 40 shown.

ChemicalConcentrationPMPSS 316
1,2-DibromoethaneDA
1,3-ButadieneDA
1-PentanethiolDA
Acetic Anhydridetechnical gradeDA
AcetophenoneDA
Acetyl Chloride100 %DA
Allyl Acetate100 %DA
Allyl Chloride100 %DA
Allyl Mustard OilDA
Amyl CinnamaldehydeDA
Anise OilDA
Benzyl AlcoholDA
Benzyl Chloride100 %DA
BromobenzeneDA
ButyraldehydeDA
Butyric AcidDA
Carbon DisulfideDA
Carbon TetrachlorideDA
Cedar OilDA
Chlorine97 %DA
Chlorine GasDA
Chloroacetic AcidAD
ChlorobenzeneDA
Chloroform100 %DA
ChlorotolueneDA
CinnamaldehydeDA
Cinnamon OilDA
Copper(II) ChloridesaturatedAD
CresolDA
Crotonaldehydetechnical gradeDA
CumeneDA
CyclohexaneDA
CymeneDA
DecahydronaphthaleneDA
Dibutyl Ethertechnical gradeDA
Dichloroethylenetechnical gradeDA
Diethyl Ethertechnical gradeDA
DiethylbenzeneDA
Diisobutyl Ketonetechnical gradeDA
DiisobutyleneDA

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 SS 316LDPE vs PMPLDPE vs SS 316PP vs PMPPP vs SS 316PVC Rigid vs PMPPVC Rigid vs SS 316PVC Flexible vs PMPPVC Flexible vs SS 316PMP vs PolystyrenePMP vs SANPMP vs PolycarbonatePMP vs PETGPMP vs Acetal (POM)PMP vs Nylon (PA)PMP vs PolysulfonePMP vs PTFEPMP vs FEPPMP vs PVDF

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PMP or SS 316 more chemical-resistant?

Of 383 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, PMP and SS 316 share the same rating in 204 rows (53 %). PMP is rated better in 28 rows and SS 316 in 151 rows.

How do PMP and SS 316 compare for chemical resistance?

Based on 383 chemicals tested for both: PMP is rated better with –. SS 316 is rated better with Aromatic hydrocarbons, Halogenated hydrocarbons, Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons. They perform similarly with Mineral acids, Alkalis, Salts and salt solutions, Alcohols and glycols.

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.