Summary
- PVC Flexible is rated better with
- Foods and beverages (+11 points)
- SAN is rated better with
- Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+62 points); Alcohols and glycols (+62 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+56 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+26 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+21 points); Mineral acids (+20 points); Organic acids (+19 points)
- Within 10 points of each other
- Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; Esters and ethers; 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 %
SAN
Styrene-acrylonitrile
Styrene-acrylonitrile resists oils and dilute acids better than polystyrene, but ketones, esters and aromatic and chlorinated solvents still attack it.
Rated rows: 364. A 67 %, B 0 %, C 9 %, D 24 %
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 | SAN: rated A or B |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral acids | 41 % (27 rows) | 61 % (18 rows) |
| Organic acids | 60 % (25 rows) | 79 % (24 rows) |
| Alkalis | 100 % (11 rows) | 100 % (8 rows) |
| Salts and salt solutions | 96 % (81 rows) | 100 % (80 rows) |
| Oxidising agents and halogens | 47 % (17 rows) | 73 % (26 rows) |
| Alcohols and glycols | 8 % (26 rows) | 70 % (33 rows) |
| Phenols | – | 25 % (8 rows) |
| Ketones and aldehydes | 0 % (9 rows) | 21 % (19 rows) |
| Esters and ethers | 4 % (25 rows) | 0 % (19 rows) |
| Amines and nitrogen compounds | 0 % (12 rows) | 56 % (9 rows) |
| Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons | 17 % (23 rows) | 79 % (24 rows) |
| Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils | – | 68 % (22 rows) |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | 0 % (31 rows) | 5 % (20 rows) |
| Foods and beverages | 93 % (14 rows) | 82 % (22 rows) |
Where the ratings differ most
Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 41 in total, the first 40 shown.
| Chemical | Concentration | PVC Flexible | SAN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benzaldehyde | D | A | |
| Bitter Almond Oil | D | A | |
| Butanol | technical grade | D | A |
| Camphor | D | A | |
| Cyclohexanol | technical grade | D | A |
| Isooctane | technical grade | D | A |
| Isopropanol | technical grade | D | A |
| n-Heptane | D | A | |
| n-Hexane | D | A | |
| Naphthalene | 100 % | D | A |
| Triethanolamine (TEA) | technical grade | D | A |
| Acetic Acid | 5 % | C | A |
| Butane | technical grade | C | A |
| Calcium Hypochlorite | saturated | C | A |
| Castor Oil | 100 % | C | A |
| Cetyl Alcohol | 100 % | C | A |
| Chromic Acid | 50 % | A | C |
| Diesel Fuel | 100 % | C | A |
| Ethanol | 96 % | C | A |
| Ethyl Alcohol | 96 % | C | A |
| Ethylene Glycol | C | A | |
| Formaldehyde Solution | 10 % | C | A |
| Formic Acid | 98-100 % | A | C |
| Heating Oil | C | A | |
| Hexanetriol | 100 % | C | A |
| Hexanol | C | A | |
| Hydrochloric Acid | 35 % | C | A |
| Hydrochloric Acid | concentrated | C | A |
| Hydrogen Sulfide | saturated | C | A |
| Lanolin | technical grade | C | A |
| Mercury | pure | C | A |
| n-Octane | C | A | |
| Palmitic Acid | technical grade | C | A |
| Propane | liquid | C | A |
| Propanol | C | A | |
| Sodium Acetate | any concentration | C | A |
| Sodium Perborate | saturated | C | A |
| Spirit | C | A | |
| Sulfur | technical grade | C | A |
| Urea | 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 SAN more chemical-resistant?
Of 196 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, PVC Flexible and SAN share the same rating in 136 rows (69 %). PVC Flexible is rated better in 6 rows and SAN in 54 rows.
How do PVC Flexible and SAN compare for chemical resistance?
Based on 196 chemicals tested for both: PVC Flexible is rated better with Foods and beverages. SAN is rated better with Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Alcohols and glycols, Amines and nitrogen compounds, Oxidising agents and halogens. They perform similarly with Alkalis, Salts and salt solutions, Esters and ethers, 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.