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Polycarbonate vs PETG: Chemical Resistance Compared

Of 614 source rows rated for both materials at 20 °C, 331 (54 %) have the same rating. Polycarbonate is rated better in 85 rows and PETG in 198. A row is one chemical at one concentration.

Summary

Polycarbonate is rated better with
Oxidising agents and halogens (+37 points); Mineral acids (+12 points)
PETG is rated better with
Amines and nitrogen compounds (+65 points); Esters and ethers (+56 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+43 points); Halogenated hydrocarbons (+32 points); Alcohols and glycols (+28 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+27 points); Alkalis (+27 points); Organic acids (+16 points)
Within 10 points of each other
Salts and salt solutions; Ketones and aldehydes; 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 %

All chemicals for Polycarbonate

PETG

Polyethylene terephthalate glycol (co-polyester)

PETG is a co-polyester for clear containers. Strong acids and alkalis and most organic solvents attack it.

Rated rows: 619. A 55 %, B 23 %, C 4 %, D 18 %

All chemicals for PETG

Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical class

Polycarbonate, PETG: Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical classMineral acids: Polycarbonate 32 %, PETG 20 %. Organic acids: Polycarbonate 54 %, PETG 70 %. Alkalis: Polycarbonate 18 %, PETG 45 %. Salts and salt solutions: Polycarbonate 91 %, PETG 100 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: Polycarbonate 66 %, PETG 29 %. Alcohols and glycols: Polycarbonate 72 %, PETG 100 %. Ketones and aldehydes: Polycarbonate 14 %, PETG 21 %. Esters and ethers: Polycarbonate 1 %, PETG 57 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: Polycarbonate 13 %, PETG 78 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: Polycarbonate 55 %, PETG 98 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: Polycarbonate 73 %, PETG 100 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: Polycarbonate 0 %, PETG 32 %. Foods and beverages: Polycarbonate 91 %, PETG 100 %.Mineral acidsMineral acids, Polycarbonate: 32 % (59)32 %Mineral acids, PETG: 20 % (41)20 %Organic acidsOrganic acids, Polycarbonate: 54 % (63)54 %Organic acids, PETG: 70 % (33)70 %AlkalisAlkalis, Polycarbonate: 18 % (22)18 %Alkalis, PETG: 45 % (20)45 %Salts and salt solutionsSalts and salt solutions, Polycarbonate: 91 % (197)91 %Salts and salt solutions, PETG: 100 % (159)100 %Oxidising agents and halogensOxidising agents and halogens, Polycarbonate: 66 % (61)66 %Oxidising agents and halogens, PETG: 29 % (38)29 %Alcohols and glycolsAlcohols and glycols, Polycarbonate: 72 % (57)72 %Alcohols and glycols, PETG: 100 % (40)100 %Ketones and aldehydesKetones and aldehydes, Polycarbonate: 14 % (35)14 %Ketones and aldehydes, PETG: 21 % (24)21 %Esters and ethersEsters and ethers, Polycarbonate: 1 % (69)1 %Esters and ethers, PETG: 57 % (28)57 %Amines and nitrogen compoundsAmines and nitrogen compounds, Polycarbonate: 13 % (38)13 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, PETG: 78 % (9)78 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbonsFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Polycarbonate: 55 % (75)55 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, PETG: 98 % (65)98 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oilsVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Polycarbonate: 73 % (48)73 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, PETG: 100 % (34)100 %Halogenated hydrocarbonsHalogenated hydrocarbons, Polycarbonate: 0 % (70)0 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, PETG: 32 % (25)32 %Foods and beveragesFoods and beverages, Polycarbonate: 91 % (46)91 %Foods and beverages, PETG: 100 % (43)100 %
PolycarbonatePETG
Rating at 20 °C. Only classes with at least 8 rated rows for both materials are shown.

How often the two ratings agree

Polycarbonate, PETG: How often the two ratings agreePolycarbonate A, PETG A: 169; Polycarbonate A, PETG B: 51; Polycarbonate A, PETG C: 3; Polycarbonate A, PETG D: 2; Polycarbonate B, PETG A: 102; Polycarbonate B, PETG B: 67; Polycarbonate B, PETG C: 8; Polycarbonate B, PETG D: 3; Polycarbonate C, PETG A: 38; Polycarbonate C, PETG B: 12; Polycarbonate C, PETG C: 5; Polycarbonate C, PETG D: 18; Polycarbonate D, PETG A: 30; Polycarbonate D, PETG B: 8; Polycarbonate D, PETG C: 8; Polycarbonate D, PETG D: 90.PETGABCDPolycarbonateAPolycarbonate A, PETG A: 169169Polycarbonate A, PETG B: 5151Polycarbonate A, PETG C: 33Polycarbonate A, PETG D: 22BPolycarbonate B, PETG A: 102102Polycarbonate B, PETG B: 6767Polycarbonate B, PETG C: 88Polycarbonate B, PETG D: 33CPolycarbonate C, PETG A: 3838Polycarbonate C, PETG B: 1212Polycarbonate C, PETG C: 55Polycarbonate C, PETG D: 1818DPolycarbonate D, PETG A: 3030Polycarbonate D, PETG B: 88Polycarbonate D, PETG C: 88Polycarbonate D, PETG D: 9090
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 classPolycarbonate: rated A or BPETG: rated A or B
Mineral acids32 % (59 rows)20 % (41 rows)
Organic acids54 % (63 rows)70 % (33 rows)
Alkalis18 % (22 rows)45 % (20 rows)
Salts and salt solutions91 % (197 rows)100 % (159 rows)
Oxidising agents and halogens66 % (61 rows)29 % (38 rows)
Alcohols and glycols72 % (57 rows)100 % (40 rows)
Phenols14 % (14 rows)–
Ketones and aldehydes14 % (35 rows)21 % (24 rows)
Esters and ethers1 % (69 rows)57 % (28 rows)
Amines and nitrogen compounds13 % (38 rows)78 % (9 rows)
Aromatic hydrocarbons0 % (14 rows)–
Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons55 % (75 rows)98 % (65 rows)
Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils73 % (48 rows)100 % (34 rows)
Halogenated hydrocarbons0 % (70 rows)32 % (25 rows)
Foods and beverages91 % (46 rows)100 % (43 rows)

Where the ratings differ most

Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 84 in total, the first 40 shown.

ChemicalConcentrationPolycarbonatePETG
1,3-ButadieneDA
Amyl AcetateDA
Battery Acid38 %AD
Benzoic AcidsaturatedDA
Benzoic AcidaqueousDA
Bromochloromethane100 %DA
Butyl Acrylate100 %DA
Calcium HydroxideconcentratedDA
Calcium HydroxideaqueousDA
Carbon TetrachlorideDA
ChlorobenzeneDA
ClovesgroundDA
Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP)DA
Diethyl Ethertechnical gradeDA
Diisooctyl Phthalate (DOP)technical gradeDA
Dimethylformamide (DMF)DA
DioxaneDA
Fluorosilicic Acid32 %AD
Isopropyl Ethertechnical gradeDA
KeroseneDA
MethanolDA
NitrobenzeneDA
Nitrotoluenetechnical gradeDA
Polyester ResinsDA
Styrene100 %DA
Sulfurous AcidsaturatedDA
Tetrahydrofuran (THF)DA
Tetrahydronaphthalenetechnical gradeDA
TolueneDA
Tricresyl Phosphate (TCP)technical gradeDA
Turpentine OilDA
Vinyl Chloridetechnical gradeDA
AlanineDB
Allyl Alcohol96 %CA
Ammonium FluoridesaturatedDB
Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution)DB
Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution)30 %DB
Bitter Orange OilCA
BromobenzeneDB
Butyl Stearate100 %CA

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.

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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.