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Polycarbonate vs SS 316: Chemical Resistance Compared

Of 846 source rows rated for both materials at 20 °C, 268 (32 %) have the same rating. Polycarbonate is rated better in 38 rows and SS 316 in 540. A row is one chemical at one concentration.

Summary

SS 316 is rated better with
Aromatic hydrocarbons (+100 points); Esters and ethers (+99 points); Halogenated hydrocarbons (+88 points); Phenols (+86 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+86 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+82 points); Alkalis (+82 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+45 points); Organic acids (+44 points); Mineral acids (+33 points); Alcohols and glycols (+28 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+27 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+13 points)
Within 10 points of each other
Salts and salt solutions; 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

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

Polycarbonate, SS 316: Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical classMineral acids: Polycarbonate 32 %, SS 316 65 %. Organic acids: Polycarbonate 54 %, SS 316 98 %. Alkalis: Polycarbonate 18 %, SS 316 100 %. Salts and salt solutions: Polycarbonate 91 %, SS 316 93 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: Polycarbonate 66 %, SS 316 79 %. Alcohols and glycols: Polycarbonate 72 %, SS 316 100 %. Phenols: Polycarbonate 14 %, SS 316 100 %. Ketones and aldehydes: Polycarbonate 14 %, SS 316 100 %. Esters and ethers: Polycarbonate 1 %, SS 316 100 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: Polycarbonate 13 %, SS 316 95 %. Aromatic hydrocarbons: Polycarbonate 0 %, SS 316 100 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: Polycarbonate 55 %, SS 316 100 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: Polycarbonate 73 %, SS 316 100 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: Polycarbonate 0 %, SS 316 88 %. Foods and beverages: Polycarbonate 91 %, SS 316 100 %.Mineral acidsMineral acids, Polycarbonate: 32 % (59)32 %Mineral acids, SS 316: 65 % (60)65 %Organic acidsOrganic acids, Polycarbonate: 54 % (63)54 %Organic acids, SS 316: 98 % (55)98 %AlkalisAlkalis, Polycarbonate: 18 % (22)18 %Alkalis, SS 316: 100 % (22)100 %Salts and salt solutionsSalts and salt solutions, Polycarbonate: 91 % (197)91 %Salts and salt solutions, SS 316: 93 % (175)93 %Oxidising agents and halogensOxidising agents and halogens, Polycarbonate: 66 % (61)66 %Oxidising agents and halogens, SS 316: 79 % (57)79 %Alcohols and glycolsAlcohols and glycols, Polycarbonate: 72 % (57)72 %Alcohols and glycols, SS 316: 100 % (58)100 %PhenolsPhenols, Polycarbonate: 14 % (14)14 %Phenols, SS 316: 100 % (11)100 %Ketones and aldehydesKetones and aldehydes, Polycarbonate: 14 % (35)14 %Ketones and aldehydes, SS 316: 100 % (33)100 %Esters and ethersEsters and ethers, Polycarbonate: 1 % (69)1 %Esters and ethers, SS 316: 100 % (69)100 %Amines and nitrogen compoundsAmines and nitrogen compounds, Polycarbonate: 13 % (38)13 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, SS 316: 95 % (38)95 %Aromatic hydrocarbonsAromatic hydrocarbons, Polycarbonate: 0 % (14)0 %Aromatic hydrocarbons, SS 316: 100 % (14)100 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbonsFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Polycarbonate: 55 % (75)55 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, SS 316: 100 % (76)100 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oilsVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Polycarbonate: 73 % (48)73 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, SS 316: 100 % (48)100 %Halogenated hydrocarbonsHalogenated hydrocarbons, Polycarbonate: 0 % (70)0 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, SS 316: 88 % (24)88 %Foods and beveragesFoods and beverages, Polycarbonate: 91 % (46)91 %Foods and beverages, SS 316: 100 % (46)100 %
PolycarbonateSS 316
Rating at 20 °C. Only classes with at least 8 rated rows for both materials are shown.

How often the two ratings agree

Polycarbonate, SS 316: How often the two ratings agreePolycarbonate A, SS 316 A: 238; Polycarbonate A, SS 316 B: 8; Polycarbonate A, SS 316 C: 3; Polycarbonate A, SS 316 D: 8; Polycarbonate B, SS 316 A: 189; Polycarbonate B, SS 316 B: 9; Polycarbonate B, SS 316 C: 5; Polycarbonate B, SS 316 D: 5; Polycarbonate C, SS 316 A: 166; Polycarbonate C, SS 316 B: 13; Polycarbonate C, SS 316 C: 6; Polycarbonate C, SS 316 D: 9; Polycarbonate D, SS 316 A: 160; Polycarbonate D, SS 316 B: 7; Polycarbonate D, SS 316 C: 5; Polycarbonate D, SS 316 D: 15.SS 316ABCDPolycarbonateAPolycarbonate A, SS 316 A: 238238Polycarbonate A, SS 316 B: 88Polycarbonate A, SS 316 C: 33Polycarbonate A, SS 316 D: 88BPolycarbonate B, SS 316 A: 189189Polycarbonate B, SS 316 B: 99Polycarbonate B, SS 316 C: 55Polycarbonate B, SS 316 D: 55CPolycarbonate C, SS 316 A: 166166Polycarbonate C, SS 316 B: 1313Polycarbonate C, SS 316 C: 66Polycarbonate C, SS 316 D: 99DPolycarbonate D, SS 316 A: 160160Polycarbonate D, SS 316 B: 77Polycarbonate D, SS 316 C: 55Polycarbonate D, SS 316 D: 1515
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 BSS 316: rated A or B
Mineral acids32 % (59 rows)65 % (60 rows)
Organic acids54 % (63 rows)98 % (55 rows)
Alkalis18 % (22 rows)100 % (22 rows)
Salts and salt solutions91 % (197 rows)93 % (175 rows)
Oxidising agents and halogens66 % (61 rows)79 % (57 rows)
Alcohols and glycols72 % (57 rows)100 % (58 rows)
Phenols14 % (14 rows)100 % (11 rows)
Ketones and aldehydes14 % (35 rows)100 % (33 rows)
Esters and ethers1 % (69 rows)100 % (69 rows)
Amines and nitrogen compounds13 % (38 rows)95 % (38 rows)
Aromatic hydrocarbons0 % (14 rows)100 % (14 rows)
Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons55 % (75 rows)100 % (76 rows)
Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils73 % (48 rows)100 % (48 rows)
Halogenated hydrocarbons0 % (70 rows)88 % (24 rows)
Foods and beverages91 % (46 rows)100 % (46 rows)

Where the ratings differ most

Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 349 in total, the first 40 shown.

ChemicalConcentrationPolycarbonateSS 316
1,2-DibromoethaneDA
1,3-ButadieneDA
Acetaldehyde40 %DA
Acetaldehydetechnical gradeDA
AcetamidesaturatedDA
Acetic Acid100 %DA
Acetic Acid90 %DA
Acetic Anhydridetechnical gradeDA
AcetoneDA
AcetonitrileDA
AcetophenoneDA
Acetyl Chloride100 %DA
AcrylonitrileDA
AllspicegroundDA
Allyl Acetate100 %DA
Allyl Chloride100 %DA
Allyl Mustard OilDA
Ammonium Bifluoride50 %DA
Ammonium FluoridesaturatedDA
Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution)DA
Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution)30 %DA
Ammonium Sulfideany concentrationDA
Amyl AcetateDA
Amyl CinnamaldehydeDA
Amyl Phthalate100 %DA
AnilineDA
Anisole100 %DA
Antimony Trichloride90 %AD
Antimony TrichlorideanhydrousAD
BenzaldehydeDA
BenzeneDA
Benzoic AcidsaturatedDA
Benzoic AcidaqueousDA
Benzyl AlcoholDA
Benzyl Chloride100 %DA
Bitter Almond OilDA
Brake FluidDA
BromobenzeneDA
Butyl Acetate100 %DA
Butyl Acrylate100 %DA

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Polycarbonate or SS 316 more chemical-resistant?

Of 846 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, Polycarbonate and SS 316 share the same rating in 268 rows (32 %). Polycarbonate is rated better in 38 rows and SS 316 in 540 rows.

How do Polycarbonate and SS 316 compare for chemical resistance?

Based on 846 chemicals tested for both: Polycarbonate is rated better with –. SS 316 is rated better with Aromatic hydrocarbons, Esters and ethers, Halogenated hydrocarbons, Phenols. They perform similarly with Salts and salt solutions, 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.