Summary
- PVC Rigid is rated better with
- Mineral acids (+77 points); Organic acids (+62 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+59 points); Phenols (+30 points); Salts and salt solutions (+22 points); Alcohols and glycols (+12 points)
- Nylon (PA) is rated better with
- Aromatic hydrocarbons (+100 points); Esters and ethers (+75 points); Halogenated hydrocarbons (+55 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+42 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+39 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+27 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+13 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 Rigid
Rigid (unplasticised) polyvinyl chloride
Rigid PVC resists acids, alkalis and salt solutions well. Ketones, esters, aromatic and chlorinated solvents dissolve or swell it. Service temperature is limited to about 60 °C.
Rated rows: 569. A 62 %, B 8 %, C 9 %, D 21 %
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 Rigid: rated A or B | Nylon (PA): rated A or B |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral acids | 82 % (56 rows) | 5 % (63 rows) |
| Organic acids | 87 % (45 rows) | 25 % (63 rows) |
| Alkalis | 100 % (16 rows) | 91 % (22 rows) |
| Salts and salt solutions | 100 % (111 rows) | 78 % (194 rows) |
| Oxidising agents and halogens | 85 % (39 rows) | 26 % (62 rows) |
| Alcohols and glycols | 79 % (43 rows) | 67 % (58 rows) |
| Phenols | 38 % (8 rows) | 8 % (13 rows) |
| Ketones and aldehydes | 11 % (18 rows) | 53 % (32 rows) |
| Esters and ethers | 5 % (39 rows) | 80 % (65 rows) |
| Amines and nitrogen compounds | 23 % (22 rows) | 50 % (34 rows) |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | 0 % (9 rows) | 100 % (14 rows) |
| Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons | 84 % (38 rows) | 97 % (73 rows) |
| Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils | 59 % (17 rows) | 98 % (46 rows) |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | 8 % (36 rows) | 63 % (70 rows) |
| Foods and beverages | 100 % (23 rows) | 98 % (46 rows) |
Where the ratings differ most
Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 211 in total, the first 40 shown.
| Chemical | Concentration | PVC Rigid | Nylon (PA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,2-Dichlorobenzene | D | A | |
| 1,4-Dichlorobenzene | D | A | |
| Acetamide | saturated | D | A |
| Acetic Acid | 10 % | A | D |
| Acetic Acid | 5 % | A | D |
| Acetic Acid | 50 % | A | D |
| Acetic Acid | 90 % | A | D |
| Acetone | D | A | |
| Acetonitrile | D | A | |
| Acetophenone | D | A | |
| Acrylonitrile | D | A | |
| Alanine | D | A | |
| Ammonium Persulfate | saturated | A | D |
| Amyl Chloride | D | A | |
| Antimony Trichloride | 90 % | A | D |
| Battery Acid | 38 % | A | D |
| Benzyl Chloride | 100 % | D | A |
| Bromobenzene | D | A | |
| Bromomethane | technical grade | D | A |
| Butyl Acetate | 100 % | D | A |
| Butyl Glycol | 100 % | D | A |
| Cetyl Alcohol | 100 % | A | D |
| Chloric Acid | 1 % | A | D |
| Chloric Acid | 10 % | A | D |
| Chloric Acid | 20 % | A | D |
| Chlorine | 10 % wet | A | D |
| Chloroacetic Acid | 50 % | A | D |
| Chloroethane (Ethyl Chloride) | D | A | |
| Chromic Acid | 10 % | A | D |
| Chromic Acid | 20 % | A | D |
| Chromic Acid | 50 % | A | D |
| Clophen A60 (PCB) | D | A | |
| Cyclohexanone | technical grade | D | A |
| Developer Fluids | A | D | |
| Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP) | D | A | |
| Dibutyl Sebacate | technical grade | D | A |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 50 % | A | D |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | technical grade | A | D |
| Dichlorofluoromethane | 100 % | D | A |
| Diethyl Ether | technical grade | 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 Rigid or Nylon (PA) more chemical-resistant?
Of 562 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, PVC Rigid and Nylon (PA) share the same rating in 240 rows (43 %). PVC Rigid is rated better in 186 rows and Nylon (PA) in 136 rows.
How do PVC Rigid and Nylon (PA) compare for chemical resistance?
Based on 562 chemicals tested for both: PVC Rigid is rated better with Mineral acids, Organic acids, Oxidising agents and halogens, Phenols. Nylon (PA) is rated better with Aromatic hydrocarbons, Esters and ethers, Halogenated hydrocarbons, Ketones and aldehydes. 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.