Summary
- PVC Flexible is rated better with
- Foods and beverages (+24 points)
- Polystyrene is rated better with
- Alcohols and glycols (+56 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+47 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+24 points); Organic acids (+14 points)
- Within 10 points of each other
- Mineral acids; Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; Ketones and aldehydes; Esters and ethers; Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons; Halogenated hydrocarbons
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 %
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 %
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 | Polystyrene: rated A or B |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral acids | 41 % (27 rows) | 51 % (41 rows) |
| Organic acids | 60 % (25 rows) | 74 % (34 rows) |
| Alkalis | 100 % (11 rows) | 100 % (17 rows) |
| Salts and salt solutions | 96 % (81 rows) | 100 % (88 rows) |
| Oxidising agents and halogens | 47 % (17 rows) | 71 % (34 rows) |
| Alcohols and glycols | 8 % (26 rows) | 64 % (36 rows) |
| Phenols | – | 22 % (9 rows) |
| Ketones and aldehydes | 0 % (9 rows) | 5 % (21 rows) |
| Esters and ethers | 4 % (25 rows) | 3 % (38 rows) |
| Amines and nitrogen compounds | 0 % (12 rows) | 47 % (15 rows) |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | – | 0 % (13 rows) |
| Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons | 17 % (23 rows) | 24 % (38 rows) |
| Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils | – | 48 % (27 rows) |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | 0 % (31 rows) | 0 % (36 rows) |
| Foods and beverages | 93 % (14 rows) | 69 % (32 rows) |
Where the ratings differ most
Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 34 in total.
| Chemical | Concentration | PVC Flexible | Polystyrene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butanol | technical grade | D | A |
| Camphor | D | A | |
| Cyclohexane | A | D | |
| Formamide | technical grade | D | A |
| Triethanolamine (TEA) | technical grade | D | A |
| Acetic Acid | 5 % | C | A |
| Allyl Alcohol | 96 % | D | B |
| Amyl Alcohol (1-Pentanol) | C | A | |
| Arsenic Acid | C | A | |
| Arsenic Acid | aqueous | C | A |
| Battery Acid | 38 % | C | A |
| Castor Oil | 100 % | C | A |
| Chloroacetic Acid | D | B | |
| Chromic Acid | 50 % | A | C |
| Ethanol | 50 % | C | A |
| Ethyl Alcohol | 50 % | C | A |
| Ethylene Glycol | C | A | |
| Formic Acid | 98-100 % | A | C |
| Hexanetriol | 100 % | C | A |
| Hydrofluoric Acid | 50 % | B | D |
| Isopropanol | technical grade | D | B |
| Lanolin | technical grade | C | A |
| Mercury | pure | C | A |
| Palmitic Acid | technical grade | C | A |
| Perchloric Acid | 70 % | D | B |
| Petroleum Oil | 100 % | C | A |
| Potassium Hypochlorite | dilute | A | C |
| Sodium Perborate | saturated | C | A |
| Sulfur | technical grade | C | A |
| Sulfuric Acid | 80 % | A | C |
| Tar | C | A | |
| Urea | C | A | |
| Urine | A | C | |
| Vinegar | C | 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 Polystyrene more chemical-resistant?
Of 274 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, PVC Flexible and Polystyrene share the same rating in 204 rows (74 %). PVC Flexible is rated better in 32 rows and Polystyrene in 38 rows.
How do PVC Flexible and Polystyrene compare for chemical resistance?
Based on 274 chemicals tested for both: PVC Flexible is rated better with Foods and beverages. Polystyrene is rated better with Alcohols and glycols, Amines and nitrogen compounds, Oxidising agents and halogens, Organic acids. They perform similarly with Mineral acids, Alkalis, Salts and salt solutions, Ketones and aldehydes.
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.