Summary
- PVC Rigid is rated better with
- Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+54 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+30 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+18 points); Mineral acids (+11 points)
- PMP is rated better with
- Esters and ethers (+31 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+27 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+26 points); Alcohols and glycols (+17 points)
- Within 10 points of each other
- Organic acids; Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; Aromatic hydrocarbons; Halogenated hydrocarbons; 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 %
PMP
Polymethylpentene (TPX)
Polymethylpentene (TPX) is a transparent polyolefin used for labware. It resists many acids and alkalis, while aromatic and chlorinated solvents and strong oxidisers attack it.
Rated rows: 416. A 55 %, B 6 %, C 7 %, D 32 %
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 | PMP: rated A or B |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral acids | 82 % (56 rows) | 71 % (35 rows) |
| Organic acids | 87 % (45 rows) | 85 % (26 rows) |
| Alkalis | 100 % (16 rows) | 100 % (17 rows) |
| Salts and salt solutions | 100 % (111 rows) | 100 % (67 rows) |
| Oxidising agents and halogens | 85 % (39 rows) | 67 % (30 rows) |
| Alcohols and glycols | 79 % (43 rows) | 96 % (28 rows) |
| Phenols | 38 % (8 rows) | – |
| Ketones and aldehydes | 11 % (18 rows) | 37 % (27 rows) |
| Esters and ethers | 5 % (39 rows) | 36 % (42 rows) |
| Amines and nitrogen compounds | 23 % (22 rows) | 50 % (10 rows) |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | 0 % (9 rows) | 10 % (10 rows) |
| Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons | 84 % (38 rows) | 30 % (37 rows) |
| Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils | 59 % (17 rows) | 29 % (14 rows) |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | 8 % (36 rows) | 3 % (33 rows) |
| Foods and beverages | 100 % (23 rows) | 100 % (13 rows) |
Where the ratings differ most
Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 54 in total, the first 40 shown.
| Chemical | Concentration | PVC Rigid | PMP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acetamide | saturated | D | A |
| Alanine | D | A | |
| Benzaldehyde | D | A | |
| Benzyl Acetate | D | A | |
| Bitter Almond Oil | D | A | |
| Carbazole | D | A | |
| Decahydronaphthalene | A | D | |
| Diisooctyl Phthalate (DOP) | technical grade | D | A |
| Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) | D | A | |
| Hydrobromic Acid | 40 % | A | D |
| Hydrobromic Acid | 50 % | A | D |
| Hydrobromic Acid | dilute | A | D |
| Hydrocyanic Acid (Hydrogen Cyanide) | aqueous | A | D |
| Iodine Tincture | D | A | |
| Isooctane | technical grade | A | D |
| Methoxyethyl Oleate | D | A | |
| p-Chloroacetophenone | D | A | |
| Phenol | 100 % | D | A |
| Propane | gaseous | A | D |
| Tetraethyl Lead | technical grade | A | D |
| White Spirit | A | D | |
| White Spirit | liquid | A | D |
| 1,4-Dichlorobenzene | D | B | |
| Acetaldehyde | 40 % | D | B |
| Acetaldehyde | technical grade | D | B |
| Acetic Acid | 10 % | A | C |
| Acetone | D | B | |
| Amyl Acetate | D | B | |
| Aniline | D | B | |
| Benzene | D | B | |
| Benzyl Alcohol | B | D | |
| Bromine | B | D | |
| Butyl Acrylate | 100 % | D | B |
| Butyric Acid | B | D | |
| Chloroacetic Acid | C | A | |
| Cyclohexane | B | D | |
| Diethyl Ketone | D | B | |
| Diethylene Glycol | C | A | |
| Diethylene Glycol Ether | C | A | |
| Dimethylformamide (DMF) | 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 Rigid or PMP more chemical-resistant?
Of 341 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, PVC Rigid and PMP share the same rating in 225 rows (66 %). PVC Rigid is rated better in 32 rows and PMP in 84 rows.
How do PVC Rigid and PMP compare for chemical resistance?
Based on 341 chemicals tested for both: PVC Rigid is rated better with Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Oxidising agents and halogens, Mineral acids. PMP is rated better with Esters and ethers, Amines and nitrogen compounds, Ketones and aldehydes, Alcohols and glycols. They perform similarly with Organic acids, Alkalis, Salts and salt solutions, Aromatic 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.