Summary
- PVC Flexible is rated better with
- Mineral acids (+36 points); Organic acids (+35 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+21 points); Salts and salt solutions (+18 points)
- Nylon (PA) is rated better with
- Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+80 points); Esters and ethers (+76 points); Halogenated hydrocarbons (+63 points); Alcohols and glycols (+59 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+53 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+50 points)
- Within 10 points of each other
- Alkalis; Foods and beverages
Points are the difference in the share of rows rated A or B.
The two materials
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 %
Nylon (PA)
Polyamide (nylon)
Polyamide (nylon) resists fuels, oils and many solvents. Mineral acids, even dilute, and strong oxidisers attack it, and it absorbs water.
Rated rows: 945. A 44 %, B 21 %, C 17 %, D 18 %
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 | PVC Flexible: rated A or B | Nylon (PA): rated A or B |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral acids | 41 % (27 rows) | 5 % (63 rows) |
| Organic acids | 60 % (25 rows) | 25 % (63 rows) |
| Alkalis | 100 % (11 rows) | 91 % (22 rows) |
| Salts and salt solutions | 96 % (81 rows) | 78 % (194 rows) |
| Oxidising agents and halogens | 47 % (17 rows) | 26 % (62 rows) |
| Alcohols and glycols | 8 % (26 rows) | 67 % (58 rows) |
| Phenols | – | 8 % (13 rows) |
| Ketones and aldehydes | 0 % (9 rows) | 53 % (32 rows) |
| Esters and ethers | 4 % (25 rows) | 80 % (65 rows) |
| Amines and nitrogen compounds | 0 % (12 rows) | 50 % (34 rows) |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | – | 100 % (14 rows) |
| Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons | 17 % (23 rows) | 97 % (73 rows) |
| Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils | – | 98 % (46 rows) |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | 0 % (31 rows) | 63 % (70 rows) |
| Foods and beverages | 93 % (14 rows) | 98 % (46 rows) |
Where the ratings differ most
Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 139 in total, the first 40 shown.
| Chemical | Concentration | PVC Flexible | Nylon (PA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,2-Dichlorobenzene | D | A | |
| Acetic Acid | 10 % | A | D |
| Acetophenone | D | A | |
| Acetylene | 100 % | D | A |
| Acrylonitrile | D | A | |
| Amyl Chloride | D | A | |
| Benzyl Chloride | 100 % | D | A |
| Bromomethane | technical grade | D | A |
| Butanetriol | 100 % | D | A |
| Butanol | technical grade | D | A |
| Butyl Acetate | 100 % | D | A |
| Butyl Glycol | 100 % | D | A |
| Chloramine-T | dilute | A | D |
| Chloric Acid | 1 % | A | D |
| Chlorodifluoromethane | D | A | |
| Chloroethane (Ethyl Chloride) | D | A | |
| Chromic Acid | 20 % | A | D |
| Chromic Acid | 50 % | A | D |
| Cyclohexanol | technical grade | D | A |
| Cyclohexanone | technical grade | D | A |
| Developer Fluids | A | D | |
| Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) | D | A | |
| Dibutyl Sebacate | technical grade | D | A |
| Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12) | D | A | |
| Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12) | technical grade | D | A |
| Dichlorofluoromethane | 100 % | D | A |
| Diethyl Ether | technical grade | D | A |
| Diisooctyl Phthalate (DOP) | technical grade | D | A |
| Dimethyl Ether | gas | D | A |
| Dimethylamine | technical grade | D | A |
| Dioxane | D | A | |
| Ethyl Acetate | 100 % | D | A |
| Ethyl Acrylate | 100 % | D | A |
| Ethylenediamine | technical grade | D | A |
| Formamide | technical grade | D | A |
| Formic Acid | 98-100 % | A | D |
| Furfuryl Alcohol | technical grade | D | A |
| Methyl Isobutyl Ketone (MIBK) | D | A | |
| Isooctane | technical grade | D | A |
| Isopropyl Acetate | D | 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 PVC Flexible or Nylon (PA) more chemical-resistant?
Of 342 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, PVC Flexible and Nylon (PA) share the same rating in 145 rows (42 %). PVC Flexible is rated better in 66 rows and Nylon (PA) in 131 rows.
How do PVC Flexible and Nylon (PA) compare for chemical resistance?
Based on 342 chemicals tested for both: PVC Flexible is rated better with Mineral acids, Organic acids, Oxidising agents and halogens, Salts and salt solutions. Nylon (PA) is rated better with Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Esters and ethers, Halogenated hydrocarbons, Alcohols and glycols. They perform similarly with Alkalis, 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.