Summary
- SAN is rated better with
- Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+55 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+20 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+16 points); Foods and beverages (+13 points)
- Within 10 points of each other
- Mineral acids; Organic acids; Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; Oxidising agents and halogens; Alcohols and glycols; Phenols; Esters and ethers; Amines and nitrogen compounds; Halogenated hydrocarbons
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 %
SAN
Styrene-acrylonitrile
Styrene-acrylonitrile resists oils and dilute acids better than polystyrene, but ketones, esters and aromatic and chlorinated solvents still attack it.
Rated rows: 364. A 67 %, B 0 %, C 9 %, D 24 %
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 | SAN: rated A or B |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral acids | 51 % (41 rows) | 61 % (18 rows) |
| Organic acids | 74 % (34 rows) | 79 % (24 rows) |
| Alkalis | 100 % (17 rows) | 100 % (8 rows) |
| Salts and salt solutions | 100 % (88 rows) | 100 % (80 rows) |
| Oxidising agents and halogens | 71 % (34 rows) | 73 % (26 rows) |
| Alcohols and glycols | 64 % (36 rows) | 70 % (33 rows) |
| Phenols | 22 % (9 rows) | 25 % (8 rows) |
| Ketones and aldehydes | 5 % (21 rows) | 21 % (19 rows) |
| Esters and ethers | 3 % (38 rows) | 0 % (19 rows) |
| Amines and nitrogen compounds | 47 % (15 rows) | 56 % (9 rows) |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | 0 % (13 rows) | – |
| Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons | 24 % (38 rows) | 79 % (24 rows) |
| Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils | 48 % (27 rows) | 68 % (22 rows) |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | 0 % (36 rows) | 5 % (20 rows) |
| Foods and beverages | 69 % (32 rows) | 82 % (22 rows) |
Where the ratings differ most
Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 37 in total.
| Chemical | Concentration | Polystyrene | SAN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benzaldehyde | D | A | |
| Bitter Almond Oil | D | A | |
| Butane | technical grade | D | A |
| Caraway | ground | D | A |
| Carbazole | A | D | |
| Cardamom | D | A | |
| Cyclohexane | D | A | |
| Hydroquinone | saturated | D | A |
| n-Heptane | D | A | |
| n-Hexane | D | A | |
| n-Octane | D | A | |
| Rum Flavoring | D | A | |
| Turpentine Substitute | D | A | |
| Valerian Drops | D | A | |
| White Spirit | liquid | D | A |
| Allyl Alcohol | 96 % | B | D |
| Almond Oil | C | A | |
| Cinnamon | ground | C | A |
| Curry | C | A | |
| Cyclohexanol | technical grade | C | A |
| Diesel Fuel | 100 % | C | A |
| Ethanol | 96 % | C | A |
| Ethyl Alcohol | 96 % | C | A |
| Formaldehyde Solution | 10 % | C | A |
| Formic Acid | 50 % | C | A |
| Heating Oil | C | A | |
| Hydrochloric Acid | 35 % | C | A |
| Hydrochloric Acid | concentrated | C | A |
| Hydrogen Sulfide | saturated | C | A |
| Isooctane | technical grade | C | A |
| Ligroin | C | A | |
| Naphthalene | 100 % | C | A |
| Pentane | C | A | |
| Propanol | C | A | |
| Pyrogallol | C | A | |
| Silicone Oil | C | A | |
| Spirit | C | 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 SAN more chemical-resistant?
Of 307 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, Polystyrene and SAN share the same rating in 224 rows (73 %). Polystyrene is rated better in 7 rows and SAN in 76 rows.
How do Polystyrene and SAN compare for chemical resistance?
Based on 307 chemicals tested for both: Polystyrene is rated better with –. SAN is rated better with Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Ketones and aldehydes, Foods and beverages. They perform similarly with Mineral acids, Organic acids, Alkalis, Salts and salt solutions.
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.