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PP vs Polystyrene: Chemical Resistance Compared

Of 504 source rows rated for both materials at 20 °C, 273 (54 %) have the same rating. PP is rated better in 215 rows and Polystyrene in 16. A row is one chemical at one concentration.

Summary

PP is rated better with
Ketones and aldehydes (+64 points); Esters and ethers (+60 points); Phenols (+57 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+39 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+32 points); Foods and beverages (+31 points); Alcohols and glycols (+29 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+27 points); Organic acids (+23 points); Mineral acids (+19 points); Aromatic hydrocarbons (+14 points)
Within 10 points of each other
Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; Oxidising agents and halogens; Halogenated hydrocarbons

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

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 %

All chemicals for Polystyrene

Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical class

PP, Polystyrene: Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical classMineral acids: PP 70 %, Polystyrene 51 %. Organic acids: PP 97 %, Polystyrene 74 %. Alkalis: PP 100 %, Polystyrene 100 %. Salts and salt solutions: PP 99 %, Polystyrene 100 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: PP 72 %, Polystyrene 71 %. Alcohols and glycols: PP 93 %, Polystyrene 64 %. Phenols: PP 79 %, Polystyrene 22 %. Ketones and aldehydes: PP 69 %, Polystyrene 5 %. Esters and ethers: PP 63 %, Polystyrene 3 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: PP 79 %, Polystyrene 47 %. Aromatic hydrocarbons: PP 14 %, Polystyrene 0 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: PP 63 %, Polystyrene 24 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: PP 75 %, Polystyrene 48 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: PP 4 %, Polystyrene 0 %. Foods and beverages: PP 100 %, Polystyrene 69 %.Mineral acidsMineral acids, PP: 70 % (63)70 %Mineral acids, Polystyrene: 51 % (41)51 %Organic acidsOrganic acids, PP: 97 % (64)97 %Organic acids, Polystyrene: 74 % (34)74 %AlkalisAlkalis, PP: 100 % (22)100 %Alkalis, Polystyrene: 100 % (17)100 %Salts and salt solutionsSalts and salt solutions, PP: 99 % (198)99 %Salts and salt solutions, Polystyrene: 100 % (88)100 %Oxidising agents and halogensOxidising agents and halogens, PP: 72 % (61)72 %Oxidising agents and halogens, Polystyrene: 71 % (34)71 %Alcohols and glycolsAlcohols and glycols, PP: 93 % (59)93 %Alcohols and glycols, Polystyrene: 64 % (36)64 %PhenolsPhenols, PP: 79 % (14)79 %Phenols, Polystyrene: 22 % (9)22 %Ketones and aldehydesKetones and aldehydes, PP: 69 % (35)69 %Ketones and aldehydes, Polystyrene: 5 % (21)5 %Esters and ethersEsters and ethers, PP: 63 % (71)63 %Esters and ethers, Polystyrene: 3 % (38)3 %Amines and nitrogen compoundsAmines and nitrogen compounds, PP: 79 % (39)79 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, Polystyrene: 47 % (15)47 %Aromatic hydrocarbonsAromatic hydrocarbons, PP: 14 % (14)14 %Aromatic hydrocarbons, Polystyrene: 0 % (13)0 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbonsFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, PP: 63 % (78)63 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Polystyrene: 24 % (38)24 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oilsVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, PP: 75 % (48)75 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Polystyrene: 48 % (27)48 %Halogenated hydrocarbonsHalogenated hydrocarbons, PP: 4 % (70)4 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, Polystyrene: 0 % (36)0 %Foods and beveragesFoods and beverages, PP: 100 % (46)100 %Foods and beverages, Polystyrene: 69 % (32)69 %
PPPolystyrene
Rating at 20 °C. Only classes with at least 8 rated rows for both materials are shown.

How often the two ratings agree

PP, Polystyrene: How often the two ratings agreePP A, Polystyrene A: 215; PP A, Polystyrene B: 35; PP A, Polystyrene C: 33; PP A, Polystyrene D: 50; PP B, Polystyrene A: 11; PP B, Polystyrene B: 1; PP B, Polystyrene C: 3; PP B, Polystyrene D: 33; PP C, Polystyrene A: 3; PP C, Polystyrene B: 1; PP C, Polystyrene C: 5; PP C, Polystyrene D: 61; PP D, Polystyrene B: 1; PP D, Polystyrene D: 52.PolystyreneABCDPPAPP A, Polystyrene A: 215215PP A, Polystyrene B: 3535PP A, Polystyrene C: 3333PP A, Polystyrene D: 5050BPP B, Polystyrene A: 1111PP B, Polystyrene B: 11PP B, Polystyrene C: 33PP B, Polystyrene D: 3333CPP C, Polystyrene A: 33PP C, Polystyrene B: 11PP C, Polystyrene C: 55PP C, Polystyrene D: 6161DPP D, Polystyrene A: 00PP D, Polystyrene B: 11PP D, Polystyrene C: 00PP D, Polystyrene D: 5252
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 BPolystyrene: rated A or B
Mineral acids70 % (63 rows)51 % (41 rows)
Organic acids97 % (64 rows)74 % (34 rows)
Alkalis100 % (22 rows)100 % (17 rows)
Salts and salt solutions99 % (198 rows)100 % (88 rows)
Oxidising agents and halogens72 % (61 rows)71 % (34 rows)
Alcohols and glycols93 % (59 rows)64 % (36 rows)
Phenols79 % (14 rows)22 % (9 rows)
Ketones and aldehydes69 % (35 rows)5 % (21 rows)
Esters and ethers63 % (71 rows)3 % (38 rows)
Amines and nitrogen compounds79 % (39 rows)47 % (15 rows)
Aromatic hydrocarbons14 % (14 rows)0 % (13 rows)
Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons63 % (78 rows)24 % (38 rows)
Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils75 % (48 rows)48 % (27 rows)
Halogenated hydrocarbons4 % (70 rows)0 % (36 rows)
Foods and beverages100 % (46 rows)69 % (32 rows)

Where the ratings differ most

Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 120 in total, the first 40 shown.

ChemicalConcentrationPPPolystyrene
Acetic Acid90 %AD
Acetic Anhydridetechnical gradeAD
AcetoneAD
Allyl Acetate100 %AD
BenzaldehydeAD
Benzyl AcetateAD
Bitter Almond OilAD
Butanetechnical gradeAD
Dibutyl Sebacatetechnical gradeAD
Diethyl MalonateAD
Diethylene Glycol EtherAD
Dimethylformamide (DMF)AD
EthanolamineAD
Ethyl Acetate100 %AD
Ethyl Chloroacetatetechnical gradeAD
Ethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether AcetateAD
Formaldehyde Solution30 %AD
Formaldehyde Solution40 %AD
Hydrobromic Acid40 %AD
Hydrobromic Acid50 %AD
Hydrobromic AciddiluteAD
Hydrofluoric Acid50 %AD
Hydrofluoric Acid70 %AD
HydroquinonesaturatedAD
MentholsolidAD
Methoxyethyl OleateAD
Methyl Acetatetechnical gradeAD
Methyl Chloroacetatetechnical gradeAD
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)AD
Methyl Glycol100 %AD
Methyl SalicylateAD
Nail Polish RemoverAD
Nitrotoluenetechnical gradeAD
n-OctaneAD
p-ChloroacetophenoneAD
PerfumesAD
Petroleumtechnical gradeAD
Petroleum Ethertechnical gradeAD
Phenol10 %AD
Phenol100 %AD

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 PP or Polystyrene more chemical-resistant?

Of 504 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, PP and Polystyrene share the same rating in 273 rows (54 %). PP is rated better in 215 rows and Polystyrene in 16 rows.

How do PP and Polystyrene compare for chemical resistance?

Based on 504 chemicals tested for both: PP is rated better with Ketones and aldehydes, Esters and ethers, Phenols, Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons. Polystyrene is rated better with –. They perform similarly with Alkalis, Salts and salt solutions, Oxidising agents and halogens, Halogenated hydrocarbons.

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.