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PP vs SS 316: Chemical Resistance Compared

Of 860 source rows rated for both materials at 20 °C, 544 (63 %) have the same rating. PP is rated better in 70 rows and SS 316 in 246. A row is one chemical at one concentration.

Summary

SS 316 is rated better with
Aromatic hydrocarbons (+86 points); Halogenated hydrocarbons (+84 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+37 points); Esters and ethers (+37 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+31 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+25 points); Phenols (+21 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+16 points)
Within 10 points of each other
Mineral acids; Organic acids; Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; Oxidising agents and halogens; Alcohols and glycols; 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

SS 316

Stainless steel 1.4401 (AISI 316)

Stainless steel 316 (1.4401) contains molybdenum, which improves resistance to chlorides over 304. Hydrochloric acid and other halide acids still cause pitting.

Rated rows: 868. A 89 %, B 4 %, C 2 %, D 4 %

All chemicals for SS 316

Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical class

PP, SS 316: Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical classMineral acids: PP 70 %, SS 316 65 %. Organic acids: PP 97 %, SS 316 98 %. Alkalis: PP 100 %, SS 316 100 %. Salts and salt solutions: PP 99 %, SS 316 93 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: PP 72 %, SS 316 79 %. Alcohols and glycols: PP 93 %, SS 316 100 %. Phenols: PP 79 %, SS 316 100 %. Ketones and aldehydes: PP 69 %, SS 316 100 %. Esters and ethers: PP 63 %, SS 316 100 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: PP 79 %, SS 316 95 %. Aromatic hydrocarbons: PP 14 %, SS 316 100 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: PP 63 %, SS 316 100 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: PP 75 %, SS 316 100 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: PP 4 %, SS 316 88 %. Foods and beverages: PP 100 %, SS 316 100 %.Mineral acidsMineral acids, PP: 70 % (63)70 %Mineral acids, SS 316: 65 % (60)65 %Organic acidsOrganic acids, PP: 97 % (64)97 %Organic acids, SS 316: 98 % (55)98 %AlkalisAlkalis, PP: 100 % (22)100 %Alkalis, SS 316: 100 % (22)100 %Salts and salt solutionsSalts and salt solutions, PP: 99 % (198)99 %Salts and salt solutions, SS 316: 93 % (175)93 %Oxidising agents and halogensOxidising agents and halogens, PP: 72 % (61)72 %Oxidising agents and halogens, SS 316: 79 % (57)79 %Alcohols and glycolsAlcohols and glycols, PP: 93 % (59)93 %Alcohols and glycols, SS 316: 100 % (58)100 %PhenolsPhenols, PP: 79 % (14)79 %Phenols, SS 316: 100 % (11)100 %Ketones and aldehydesKetones and aldehydes, PP: 69 % (35)69 %Ketones and aldehydes, SS 316: 100 % (33)100 %Esters and ethersEsters and ethers, PP: 63 % (71)63 %Esters and ethers, SS 316: 100 % (69)100 %Amines and nitrogen compoundsAmines and nitrogen compounds, PP: 79 % (39)79 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, SS 316: 95 % (38)95 %Aromatic hydrocarbonsAromatic hydrocarbons, PP: 14 % (14)14 %Aromatic hydrocarbons, SS 316: 100 % (14)100 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbonsFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, PP: 63 % (78)63 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, SS 316: 100 % (76)100 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oilsVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, PP: 75 % (48)75 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, SS 316: 100 % (48)100 %Halogenated hydrocarbonsHalogenated hydrocarbons, PP: 4 % (70)4 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, SS 316: 88 % (24)88 %Foods and beveragesFoods and beverages, PP: 100 % (46)100 %Foods and beverages, SS 316: 100 % (46)100 %
PPSS 316
Rating at 20 °C. Only classes with at least 8 rated rows for both materials are shown.

How often the two ratings agree

PP, SS 316: How often the two ratings agreePP A, SS 316 A: 528; PP A, SS 316 B: 28; PP A, SS 316 C: 11; PP A, SS 316 D: 26; PP B, SS 316 A: 97; PP B, SS 316 B: 6; PP B, SS 316 C: 2; PP C, SS 316 A: 95; PP C, SS 316 B: 4; PP C, SS 316 C: 2; PP C, SS 316 D: 3; PP D, SS 316 A: 46; PP D, SS 316 B: 1; PP D, SS 316 C: 3; PP D, SS 316 D: 8.SS 316ABCDPPAPP A, SS 316 A: 528528PP A, SS 316 B: 2828PP A, SS 316 C: 1111PP A, SS 316 D: 2626BPP B, SS 316 A: 9797PP B, SS 316 B: 66PP B, SS 316 C: 22PP B, SS 316 D: 00CPP C, SS 316 A: 9595PP C, SS 316 B: 44PP C, SS 316 C: 22PP C, SS 316 D: 33DPP D, SS 316 A: 4646PP D, SS 316 B: 11PP D, SS 316 C: 33PP D, SS 316 D: 88
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 BSS 316: rated A or B
Mineral acids70 % (63 rows)65 % (60 rows)
Organic acids97 % (64 rows)98 % (55 rows)
Alkalis100 % (22 rows)100 % (22 rows)
Salts and salt solutions99 % (198 rows)93 % (175 rows)
Oxidising agents and halogens72 % (61 rows)79 % (57 rows)
Alcohols and glycols93 % (59 rows)100 % (58 rows)
Phenols79 % (14 rows)100 % (11 rows)
Ketones and aldehydes69 % (35 rows)100 % (33 rows)
Esters and ethers63 % (71 rows)100 % (69 rows)
Amines and nitrogen compounds79 % (39 rows)95 % (38 rows)
Aromatic hydrocarbons14 % (14 rows)100 % (14 rows)
Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons63 % (78 rows)100 % (76 rows)
Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils75 % (48 rows)100 % (48 rows)
Halogenated hydrocarbons4 % (70 rows)88 % (24 rows)
Foods and beverages100 % (46 rows)100 % (46 rows)

Where the ratings differ most

Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 179 in total, the first 40 shown.

ChemicalConcentrationPPSS 316
1,2-DibromoethaneDA
1,3-ButadieneDA
1-ChloronaphthaleneDA
Allyl Chloride100 %DA
Aniline HydrochloridesaturatedAD
Antimony PentachlorideAD
Antimony Trichloride90 %AD
Antimony TrichlorideanhydrousAD
Antimony TrichlorideaqueousAD
Benzyl AlcoholDA
Benzyl Chloride100 %DA
BromobenzeneDA
Bromomethanetechnical gradeDA
Butenetechnical gradeDA
Butyric AcidDA
Camphor OilDA
Carbon DisulfideDA
Carbon TetrachlorideDA
Cedar OilDA
Chloric Acid1 %AD
Chloric Acid20 %AD
Chlorine97 %DA
Chlorine GasDA
Chloroacetic AcidAD
Chloroethanoltechnical gradeDA
Chloromethane (Methyl Chloride)technical gradeDA
Cinnamon OilDA
Clophen A60 (PCB)DA
Copper(I) ChlorideaqueousAD
Copper(II) ChloridesaturatedAD
Diethyl Ethertechnical gradeDA
DiethylbenzeneDA
Diisooctyl Phthalate (DOP)technical gradeDA
Dimethyl EthergasDA
DimethylanilineDA
Dioctyl AdipateDA
Diphenyl EtherDA
DiphylDA
Ethyl Acrylate100 %DA
FurfuralDA

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 SS 316LDPE vs PPLDPE vs SS 316PVC Rigid vs PPPP vs PVC FlexiblePP 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)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PP or SS 316 more chemical-resistant?

Of 860 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, PP and SS 316 share the same rating in 544 rows (63 %). PP is rated better in 70 rows and SS 316 in 246 rows.

How do PP and SS 316 compare for chemical resistance?

Based on 860 chemicals tested for both: PP is rated better with –. SS 316 is rated better with Aromatic hydrocarbons, Halogenated hydrocarbons, Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Esters and ethers. 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.