Summary
- Polycarbonate is rated better with
- Mineral acids (+27 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+23 points); Organic acids (+20 points); Salts and salt solutions (+15 points); Phenols (+14 points)
- Acetal (POM) is rated better with
- Aromatic hydrocarbons (+100 points); Esters and ethers (+87 points); Halogenated hydrocarbons (+80 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+77 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+61 points); Alkalis (+58 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+41 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+27 points); Alcohols and glycols (+24 points)
- Within 10 points of each other
- Foods and beverages
Points are the difference in the share of rows rated A or B.
The two materials
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is attacked by alkalis, amines, ketones, esters and many organic solvents, and it stress-cracks under load in contact with them.
Rated rows: 953. A 28 %, B 25 %, C 24 %, D 23 %
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 %
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 | Polycarbonate: rated A or B | Acetal (POM): rated A or B |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral acids | 32 % (59 rows) | 5 % (63 rows) |
| Organic acids | 54 % (63 rows) | 34 % (64 rows) |
| Alkalis | 18 % (22 rows) | 76 % (21 rows) |
| Salts and salt solutions | 91 % (197 rows) | 76 % (197 rows) |
| Oxidising agents and halogens | 66 % (61 rows) | 43 % (63 rows) |
| Alcohols and glycols | 72 % (57 rows) | 96 % (57 rows) |
| Phenols | 14 % (14 rows) | 0 % (14 rows) |
| Ketones and aldehydes | 14 % (35 rows) | 91 % (35 rows) |
| Esters and ethers | 1 % (69 rows) | 88 % (68 rows) |
| Amines and nitrogen compounds | 13 % (38 rows) | 74 % (38 rows) |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | 0 % (14 rows) | 100 % (14 rows) |
| Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons | 55 % (75 rows) | 96 % (73 rows) |
| Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils | 73 % (48 rows) | 100 % (45 rows) |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | 0 % (70 rows) | 80 % (70 rows) |
| Foods and beverages | 91 % (46 rows) | 100 % (46 rows) |
Where the ratings differ most
Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 269 in total, the first 40 shown.
| Chemical | Concentration | Polycarbonate | Acetal (POM) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acetamide | saturated | D | A |
| Acetone | D | A | |
| Acetophenone | D | A | |
| Alanine | D | A | |
| Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution) | D | A | |
| Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution) | 30 % | D | A |
| Amyl Acetate | D | A | |
| Aniline | D | A | |
| Antimony Trichloride | 90 % | A | D |
| Antimony Trichloride | anhydrous | A | D |
| Arsenic Acid | A | D | |
| Arsenic Acid | aqueous | A | D |
| Battery Acid | 38 % | A | D |
| Benzaldehyde | D | A | |
| Benzene | D | A | |
| Benzyl Alcohol | D | A | |
| Bitter Almond Oil | D | A | |
| Bromobenzene | D | A | |
| Calcium Hydroxide | concentrated | D | A |
| Calcium Hydroxide | aqueous | D | A |
| Carbazole | D | A | |
| Chlorobenzene | D | A | |
| Chloroethane (Ethyl Chloride) | D | A | |
| Chlorotoluene | D | A | |
| Cyclohexanone | technical grade | D | A |
| Decahydronaphthalene | D | A | |
| Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) | D | A | |
| Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12) | D | A | |
| Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12) | technical grade | D | A |
| Diethyl Ether | technical grade | D | A |
| Diethyl Ketone | D | A | |
| Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) | D | A | |
| Dimethylformamide (DMF) | D | A | |
| Dioxane | D | A | |
| Dipropyl Ketone | D | A | |
| Epichlorohydrin | 100 % | D | A |
| Ethyl Acetate | 100 % | D | A |
| Ethylbenzene | D | A | |
| Ethylene Dichloride | D | A | |
| Fluorosilicic Acid | 32 % | 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 Polycarbonate or Acetal (POM) more chemical-resistant?
Of 939 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, Polycarbonate and Acetal (POM) share the same rating in 333 rows (35 %). Polycarbonate is rated better in 189 rows and Acetal (POM) in 417 rows.
How do Polycarbonate and Acetal (POM) compare for chemical resistance?
Based on 939 chemicals tested for both: Polycarbonate is rated better with Mineral acids, Oxidising agents and halogens, Organic acids, Salts and salt solutions. Acetal (POM) is rated better with Aromatic hydrocarbons, Esters and ethers, Halogenated hydrocarbons, Ketones and aldehydes. They perform similarly with 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.