ChemicalResistance
ChemicalResistance.org

PP vs PMP: Chemical Resistance Compared

Of 416 source rows rated for both materials at 20 °C, 276 (66 %) have the same rating. PP is rated better in 111 rows and PMP in 29. A row is one chemical at one concentration.

Summary

PP is rated better with
Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+46 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+33 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+32 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+29 points); Esters and ethers (+27 points); Organic acids (+12 points)
Within 10 points of each other
Mineral acids; Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; Oxidising agents and halogens; Alcohols and glycols; Aromatic hydrocarbons; Halogenated hydrocarbons; Foods and beverages

Points are the difference in the share of rows rated A or B.

The two materials

PP

Polypropylene

Polypropylene resists most acids, alkalis and salt solutions. Concentrated oxidising acids, chlorinated solvents and aromatic hydrocarbons attack it, and it turns brittle below about 0 °C.

Rated rows: 978. A 66 %, B 11 %, C 15 %, D 8 %

All chemicals for PP

PMP

Polymethylpentene (TPX)

Polymethylpentene (TPX) is a transparent polyolefin used for labware. It resists many acids and alkalis, while aromatic and chlorinated solvents and strong oxidisers attack it.

Rated rows: 416. A 55 %, B 6 %, C 7 %, D 32 %

All chemicals for PMP

Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical class

PP, PMP: Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical classMineral acids: PP 70 %, PMP 71 %. Organic acids: PP 97 %, PMP 85 %. Alkalis: PP 100 %, PMP 100 %. Salts and salt solutions: PP 99 %, PMP 100 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: PP 72 %, PMP 67 %. Alcohols and glycols: PP 93 %, PMP 96 %. Ketones and aldehydes: PP 69 %, PMP 37 %. Esters and ethers: PP 63 %, PMP 36 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: PP 79 %, PMP 50 %. Aromatic hydrocarbons: PP 14 %, PMP 10 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: PP 63 %, PMP 30 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: PP 75 %, PMP 29 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: PP 4 %, PMP 3 %. Foods and beverages: PP 100 %, PMP 100 %.Mineral acidsMineral acids, PP: 70 % (63)70 %Mineral acids, PMP: 71 % (35)71 %Organic acidsOrganic acids, PP: 97 % (64)97 %Organic acids, PMP: 85 % (26)85 %AlkalisAlkalis, PP: 100 % (22)100 %Alkalis, PMP: 100 % (17)100 %Salts and salt solutionsSalts and salt solutions, PP: 99 % (198)99 %Salts and salt solutions, PMP: 100 % (67)100 %Oxidising agents and halogensOxidising agents and halogens, PP: 72 % (61)72 %Oxidising agents and halogens, PMP: 67 % (30)67 %Alcohols and glycolsAlcohols and glycols, PP: 93 % (59)93 %Alcohols and glycols, PMP: 96 % (28)96 %Ketones and aldehydesKetones and aldehydes, PP: 69 % (35)69 %Ketones and aldehydes, PMP: 37 % (27)37 %Esters and ethersEsters and ethers, PP: 63 % (71)63 %Esters and ethers, PMP: 36 % (42)36 %Amines and nitrogen compoundsAmines and nitrogen compounds, PP: 79 % (39)79 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, PMP: 50 % (10)50 %Aromatic hydrocarbonsAromatic hydrocarbons, PP: 14 % (14)14 %Aromatic hydrocarbons, PMP: 10 % (10)10 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbonsFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, PP: 63 % (78)63 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, PMP: 30 % (37)30 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oilsVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, PP: 75 % (48)75 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, PMP: 29 % (14)29 %Halogenated hydrocarbonsHalogenated hydrocarbons, PP: 4 % (70)4 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, PMP: 3 % (33)3 %Foods and beveragesFoods and beverages, PP: 100 % (46)100 %Foods and beverages, PMP: 100 % (13)100 %
PPPMP
Rating at 20 °C. Only classes with at least 8 rated rows for both materials are shown.

How often the two ratings agree

PP, PMP: How often the two ratings agreePP A, PMP A: 220; PP A, PMP B: 4; PP A, PMP C: 4; PP A, PMP D: 22; PP B, PMP A: 5; PP B, PMP B: 5; PP B, PMP C: 8; PP B, PMP D: 15; PP C, PMP A: 2; PP C, PMP B: 13; PP C, PMP C: 14; PP C, PMP D: 58; PP D, PMP A: 1; PP D, PMP B: 4; PP D, PMP C: 4; PP D, PMP D: 37.PMPABCDPPAPP A, PMP A: 220220PP A, PMP B: 44PP A, PMP C: 44PP A, PMP D: 2222BPP B, PMP A: 55PP B, PMP B: 55PP B, PMP C: 88PP B, PMP D: 1515CPP C, PMP A: 22PP C, PMP B: 1313PP C, PMP C: 1414PP C, PMP D: 5858DPP D, PMP A: 11PP D, PMP B: 44PP D, PMP C: 44PP D, PMP D: 3737
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 classPP: rated A or BPMP: rated A or B
Mineral acids70 % (63 rows)71 % (35 rows)
Organic acids97 % (64 rows)85 % (26 rows)
Alkalis100 % (22 rows)100 % (17 rows)
Salts and salt solutions99 % (198 rows)100 % (67 rows)
Oxidising agents and halogens72 % (61 rows)67 % (30 rows)
Alcohols and glycols93 % (59 rows)96 % (28 rows)
Phenols79 % (14 rows)–
Ketones and aldehydes69 % (35 rows)37 % (27 rows)
Esters and ethers63 % (71 rows)36 % (42 rows)
Amines and nitrogen compounds79 % (39 rows)50 % (10 rows)
Aromatic hydrocarbons14 % (14 rows)10 % (10 rows)
Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons63 % (78 rows)30 % (37 rows)
Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils75 % (48 rows)29 % (14 rows)
Halogenated hydrocarbons4 % (70 rows)3 % (33 rows)
Foods and beverages100 % (46 rows)100 % (13 rows)

Where the ratings differ most

Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 48 in total, the first 40 shown.

ChemicalConcentrationPPPMP
Acetic Anhydridetechnical gradeAD
AcetophenoneAD
Allyl Acetate100 %AD
Crotonaldehydetechnical gradeAD
Diisobutyl Ketonetechnical gradeAD
DiisobutyleneAD
Diisooctyl Phthalate (DOP)technical gradeDA
Ethyl Acetate100 %AD
Ethyl Chloroacetatetechnical gradeAD
Hydrobromic Acid40 %AD
Hydrobromic Acid50 %AD
Hydrobromic AciddiluteAD
Hydrocyanic Acid (Hydrogen Cyanide)aqueousAD
Isooctanetechnical gradeAD
Methyl Acetatetechnical gradeAD
Methyl Chloroacetatetechnical gradeAD
Methyl DichloroacetateAD
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)AD
Nail Polish RemoverAD
Nitrotoluenetechnical gradeAD
Pine Needle OilAD
Vinyl Acetatetechnical gradeAD
White SpiritAD
1-PentanethiolBD
Acetic Acid10 %AC
Acetic Acid100 %AC
Allyl Mustard OilBD
Butylphenol100 %AC
ButyraldehydeBD
Chlorine10 % wetDB
ChloroacetoneBD
CresolBD
Epichlorohydrin100 %BD
Ethyl FormateBD
Fats, Cooking OilsCA
Methyl AcrylateBD
Methyl FormateBD
Methyl Methacrylate (MMA)100 %BD
Methyl OleateBD
Nitric Acid66 %DB

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

HDPE vs PPHDPE vs PMPLDPE vs PPLDPE vs PMPPVC Rigid vs PPPP vs PVC FlexiblePP vs PolystyrenePP vs SANPP vs PolycarbonatePP vs PETGPP vs Acetal (POM)PP vs Nylon (PA)PP vs PolysulfonePP vs PTFEPP vs FEPPP vs PVDFPP vs ECTFE/ETFEPP vs EPDMPP vs Viton (FPM)PP vs NBR

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PP or PMP more chemical-resistant?

Of 416 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, PP and PMP share the same rating in 276 rows (66 %). PP is rated better in 111 rows and PMP in 29 rows.

How do PP and PMP compare for chemical resistance?

Based on 416 chemicals tested for both: PP is rated better with Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Ketones and aldehydes, Amines and nitrogen compounds. PMP is rated better with –. They perform similarly with Mineral acids, Alkalis, Salts and salt solutions, Oxidising agents and halogens.

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.