Summary
- Polystyrene is rated better with
- Organic acids (+49 points); Mineral acids (+46 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+45 points); Salts and salt solutions (+22 points); Phenols (+14 points)
- Nylon (PA) is rated better with
- Aromatic hydrocarbons (+100 points); Esters and ethers (+77 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+73 points); Halogenated hydrocarbons (+63 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+50 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+48 points); Foods and beverages (+29 points)
- Within 10 points of each other
- Alkalis; Alcohols and glycols; Amines and nitrogen compounds
Points are the difference in the share of rows rated A or B.
The two materials
Polystyrene
Polystyrene
Polystyrene is attacked by most organic solvents, including ketones, esters, aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons. It is used for dilute aqueous solutions.
Rated rows: 504. A 45 %, B 8 %, C 8 %, D 39 %
Nylon (PA)
Polyamide (nylon)
Polyamide (nylon) resists fuels, oils and many solvents. Mineral acids, even dilute, and strong oxidisers attack it, and it absorbs water.
Rated rows: 945. A 44 %, B 21 %, C 17 %, D 18 %
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 | Polystyrene: rated A or B | Nylon (PA): rated A or B |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral acids | 51 % (41 rows) | 5 % (63 rows) |
| Organic acids | 74 % (34 rows) | 25 % (63 rows) |
| Alkalis | 100 % (17 rows) | 91 % (22 rows) |
| Salts and salt solutions | 100 % (88 rows) | 78 % (194 rows) |
| Oxidising agents and halogens | 71 % (34 rows) | 26 % (62 rows) |
| Alcohols and glycols | 64 % (36 rows) | 67 % (58 rows) |
| Phenols | 22 % (9 rows) | 8 % (13 rows) |
| Ketones and aldehydes | 5 % (21 rows) | 53 % (32 rows) |
| Esters and ethers | 3 % (38 rows) | 80 % (65 rows) |
| Amines and nitrogen compounds | 47 % (15 rows) | 50 % (34 rows) |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | 0 % (13 rows) | 100 % (14 rows) |
| Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons | 24 % (38 rows) | 97 % (73 rows) |
| Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils | 48 % (27 rows) | 98 % (46 rows) |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | 0 % (36 rows) | 63 % (70 rows) |
| Foods and beverages | 69 % (32 rows) | 98 % (46 rows) |
Where the ratings differ most
Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 203 in total, the first 40 shown.
| Chemical | Concentration | Polystyrene | Nylon (PA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,2-Dichlorobenzene | D | A | |
| 1,3-Butadiene | D | A | |
| 1,4-Dichlorobenzene | D | A | |
| Acetic Acid | 10 % | A | D |
| Acetic Acid | 5 % | A | D |
| Acetone | D | A | |
| Acetonitrile | D | A | |
| Acrylonitrile | D | A | |
| Amyl Chloride | D | A | |
| Amyl Phthalate | 100 % | D | A |
| Anisole | 100 % | D | A |
| Battery Acid | 38 % | A | D |
| Benzyl Chloride | 100 % | D | A |
| Bromobenzene | D | A | |
| Bromomethane | technical grade | D | A |
| Butane | technical grade | D | A |
| Butyl Acetate | 100 % | D | A |
| Calcium Hypochlorite | A | D | |
| Calcium Hypochlorite | aqueous | A | D |
| Chlorodifluoromethane | D | A | |
| Chloroethane (Ethyl Chloride) | D | A | |
| Chromic Acid | 10 % | A | D |
| Chromic Acid | 20 % | A | D |
| Cyclohexane | D | A | |
| Cyclohexanone | technical grade | D | A |
| Decahydronaphthalene | D | A | |
| Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) | D | A | |
| Dibutyl Sebacate | technical grade | D | A |
| Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12) | D | A | |
| Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12) | technical grade | D | A |
| Dichlorofluoromethane | 100 % | D | A |
| Diethyl Ether | technical grade | D | A |
| Diethylbenzene | D | A | |
| Diisooctyl Phthalate (DOP) | technical grade | D | A |
| Dimethyl Ether | gas | D | A |
| Dimethylformamide (DMF) | D | A | |
| Dioxane | D | A | |
| Diphyl | D | A | |
| Ethyl Acetate | 100 % | D | A |
| Formaldehyde Solution | 40 % | D | A |
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 Polystyrene or Nylon (PA) more chemical-resistant?
Of 499 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, Polystyrene and Nylon (PA) share the same rating in 188 rows (38 %). Polystyrene is rated better in 115 rows and Nylon (PA) in 196 rows.
How do Polystyrene and Nylon (PA) compare for chemical resistance?
Based on 499 chemicals tested for both: Polystyrene is rated better with Organic acids, Mineral acids, Oxidising agents and halogens, Salts and salt solutions. Nylon (PA) is rated better with Aromatic hydrocarbons, Esters and ethers, Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Halogenated hydrocarbons. They perform similarly with Alkalis, Alcohols and glycols, Amines and nitrogen compounds.
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.