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PP vs PVC Flexible: Chemical Resistance Compared

Of 344 source rows rated for both materials at 20 °C, 191 (56 %) have the same rating. PP is rated better in 145 rows and PVC Flexible in 8. A row is one chemical at one concentration.

Summary

PP is rated better with
Alcohols and glycols (+85 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+79 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+69 points); Esters and ethers (+59 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+46 points); Organic acids (+37 points); Mineral acids (+29 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+25 points)
Within 10 points of each other
Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; 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

PVC Flexible

Flexible (plasticised) polyvinyl chloride

Flexible PVC shares the solvent weaknesses of rigid PVC, and any liquid that extracts the plasticiser also hardens it. It is generally less resistant than rigid PVC.

Rated rows: 344. A 45 %, B 1 %, C 17 %, D 37 %

All chemicals for PVC Flexible

Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical class

PP, PVC Flexible: Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical classMineral acids: PP 70 %, PVC Flexible 41 %. Organic acids: PP 97 %, PVC Flexible 60 %. Alkalis: PP 100 %, PVC Flexible 100 %. Salts and salt solutions: PP 99 %, PVC Flexible 96 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: PP 72 %, PVC Flexible 47 %. Alcohols and glycols: PP 93 %, PVC Flexible 8 %. Ketones and aldehydes: PP 69 %, PVC Flexible 0 %. Esters and ethers: PP 63 %, PVC Flexible 4 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: PP 79 %, PVC Flexible 0 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: PP 63 %, PVC Flexible 17 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: PP 4 %, PVC Flexible 0 %. Foods and beverages: PP 100 %, PVC Flexible 93 %.Mineral acidsMineral acids, PP: 70 % (63)70 %Mineral acids, PVC Flexible: 41 % (27)41 %Organic acidsOrganic acids, PP: 97 % (64)97 %Organic acids, PVC Flexible: 60 % (25)60 %AlkalisAlkalis, PP: 100 % (22)100 %Alkalis, PVC Flexible: 100 % (11)100 %Salts and salt solutionsSalts and salt solutions, PP: 99 % (198)99 %Salts and salt solutions, PVC Flexible: 96 % (81)96 %Oxidising agents and halogensOxidising agents and halogens, PP: 72 % (61)72 %Oxidising agents and halogens, PVC Flexible: 47 % (17)47 %Alcohols and glycolsAlcohols and glycols, PP: 93 % (59)93 %Alcohols and glycols, PVC Flexible: 8 % (26)8 %Ketones and aldehydesKetones and aldehydes, PP: 69 % (35)69 %Ketones and aldehydes, PVC Flexible: 0 % (9)0 %Esters and ethersEsters and ethers, PP: 63 % (71)63 %Esters and ethers, PVC Flexible: 4 % (25)4 %Amines and nitrogen compoundsAmines and nitrogen compounds, PP: 79 % (39)79 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, PVC Flexible: 0 % (12)0 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbonsFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, PP: 63 % (78)63 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, PVC Flexible: 17 % (23)17 %Halogenated hydrocarbonsHalogenated hydrocarbons, PP: 4 % (70)4 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, PVC Flexible: 0 % (31)0 %Foods and beveragesFoods and beverages, PP: 100 % (46)100 %Foods and beverages, PVC Flexible: 93 % (14)93 %
PPPVC Flexible
Rating at 20 °C. Only classes with at least 8 rated rows for both materials are shown.

How often the two ratings agree

PP, PVC Flexible: How often the two ratings agreePP A, PVC Flexible A: 146; PP A, PVC Flexible B: 4; PP A, PVC Flexible C: 51; PP A, PVC Flexible D: 48; PP B, PVC Flexible A: 3; PP B, PVC Flexible C: 1; PP B, PVC Flexible D: 16; PP C, PVC Flexible A: 5; PP C, PVC Flexible C: 6; PP C, PVC Flexible D: 25; PP D, PVC Flexible D: 39.PVC FlexibleABCDPPAPP A, PVC Flexible A: 146146PP A, PVC Flexible B: 44PP A, PVC Flexible C: 5151PP A, PVC Flexible D: 4848BPP B, PVC Flexible A: 33PP B, PVC Flexible B: 00PP B, PVC Flexible C: 11PP B, PVC Flexible D: 1616CPP C, PVC Flexible A: 55PP C, PVC Flexible B: 00PP C, PVC Flexible C: 66PP C, PVC Flexible D: 2525DPP D, PVC Flexible A: 00PP D, PVC Flexible B: 00PP D, PVC Flexible C: 00PP D, PVC Flexible D: 3939
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 BPVC Flexible: rated A or B
Mineral acids70 % (63 rows)41 % (27 rows)
Organic acids97 % (64 rows)60 % (25 rows)
Alkalis100 % (22 rows)100 % (11 rows)
Salts and salt solutions99 % (198 rows)96 % (81 rows)
Oxidising agents and halogens72 % (61 rows)47 % (17 rows)
Alcohols and glycols93 % (59 rows)8 % (26 rows)
Phenols79 % (14 rows)–
Ketones and aldehydes69 % (35 rows)0 % (9 rows)
Esters and ethers63 % (71 rows)4 % (25 rows)
Amines and nitrogen compounds79 % (39 rows)0 % (12 rows)
Aromatic hydrocarbons14 % (14 rows)–
Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons63 % (78 rows)17 % (23 rows)
Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils75 % (48 rows)–
Halogenated hydrocarbons4 % (70 rows)0 % (31 rows)
Foods and beverages100 % (46 rows)93 % (14 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.

ChemicalConcentrationPPPVC Flexible
1-EthylhexanolAD
Acetic Acid90 %AD
Acetic Anhydridetechnical gradeAD
AcetophenoneAD
Acetylene100 %AD
Allyl Acetate100 %AD
BenzaldehydeAD
Bitter Almond OilAD
Butanetriol100 %AD
Butanoltechnical gradeAD
Butyl Glycol100 %AD
Butylphenol100 %AD
Calcium Chloridealcoholic solutionAD
CamphorAD
Chloroacetic AcidAD
Cyclohexanoltechnical gradeAD
Dibutyl Sebacatetechnical gradeAD
Dimethylaminetechnical gradeAD
Ethyl Acetate100 %AD
Ethylenediaminetechnical gradeAD
Formamidetechnical gradeAD
Furfuryl Alcoholtechnical gradeAD
Iodine TinctureAD
Isooctanetechnical gradeAD
Isopropanoltechnical gradeAD
Methyl Acetatetechnical gradeAD
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)AD
Methyl Glycol100 %AD
Methylamine32 %AD
Morpholinetechnical gradeAD
NaphthaAD
Naphthalene100 %AD
Nitrotoluenetechnical gradeAD
Phosphorus OxychlorideAD
Phosphorus Oxychloride100 %AD
Phosphorus PentachlorideAD
Phosphorus TrichlorideAD
Picric Acid1 % aqueousAD
Potassium CyanidesaturatedAD
PropeneAD

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 PVC FlexibleLDPE vs PPLDPE vs PVC FlexiblePVC Rigid vs PPPP vs PMPPP 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 PVC Flexible more chemical-resistant?

Of 344 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, PP and PVC Flexible share the same rating in 191 rows (56 %). PP is rated better in 145 rows and PVC Flexible in 8 rows.

How do PP and PVC Flexible compare for chemical resistance?

Based on 344 chemicals tested for both: PP is rated better with Alcohols and glycols, Amines and nitrogen compounds, Ketones and aldehydes, Esters and ethers. PVC Flexible is rated better with –. They perform similarly with Alkalis, Salts and salt solutions, Halogenated hydrocarbons, 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.