Summary
- PVC Rigid is rated better with
- Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+60 points); Mineral acids (+31 points); Foods and beverages (+31 points); Phenols (+16 points); Alcohols and glycols (+15 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+14 points); Organic acids (+13 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+11 points)
- Polystyrene is rated better with
- Amines and nitrogen compounds (+24 points)
- Within 10 points of each other
- Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; Ketones and aldehydes; Esters and ethers; Aromatic hydrocarbons; Halogenated hydrocarbons
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 %
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 Rigid: rated A or B | Polystyrene: rated A or B |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral acids | 82 % (56 rows) | 51 % (41 rows) |
| Organic acids | 87 % (45 rows) | 74 % (34 rows) |
| Alkalis | 100 % (16 rows) | 100 % (17 rows) |
| Salts and salt solutions | 100 % (111 rows) | 100 % (88 rows) |
| Oxidising agents and halogens | 85 % (39 rows) | 71 % (34 rows) |
| Alcohols and glycols | 79 % (43 rows) | 64 % (36 rows) |
| Phenols | 38 % (8 rows) | 22 % (9 rows) |
| Ketones and aldehydes | 11 % (18 rows) | 5 % (21 rows) |
| Esters and ethers | 5 % (39 rows) | 3 % (38 rows) |
| Amines and nitrogen compounds | 23 % (22 rows) | 47 % (15 rows) |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | 0 % (9 rows) | 0 % (13 rows) |
| Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons | 84 % (38 rows) | 24 % (38 rows) |
| Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils | 59 % (17 rows) | 48 % (27 rows) |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | 8 % (36 rows) | 0 % (36 rows) |
| Foods and beverages | 100 % (23 rows) | 69 % (32 rows) |
Where the ratings differ most
Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 67 in total, the first 40 shown.
| Chemical | Concentration | PVC Rigid | Polystyrene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acetamide | saturated | D | A |
| Acetic Acid | 90 % | A | D |
| Alanine | D | A | |
| Butane | technical grade | A | D |
| Camphor | D | A | |
| Carbazole | D | A | |
| Chlorine | 10 % wet | A | D |
| Decahydronaphthalene | A | D | |
| Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) | D | A | |
| Fluorine | A | D | |
| Formamide | technical grade | D | A |
| Hydrobromic Acid | 40 % | A | D |
| Hydrobromic Acid | 50 % | A | D |
| Hydrobromic Acid | dilute | A | D |
| Hydrofluoric Acid | 70 % | A | D |
| Hydroquinone | saturated | A | D |
| Kerosene | A | D | |
| Perfumes | A | D | |
| Petroleum | technical grade | A | D |
| Petroleum Ether | technical grade | A | D |
| Phenol | 10 % | A | D |
| Propane | gaseous | A | D |
| Propionic Acid | 50 % | A | D |
| White Spirit | liquid | A | D |
| 1-Ethylhexanol | A | C | |
| Benzyl Alcohol | B | D | |
| Brake Fluid | A | C | |
| Bromine | B | D | |
| Butyric Acid | B | D | |
| Chlorodifluoromethane | B | D | |
| Chromic Acid | 50 % | A | C |
| Corn Germ Oil | technical grade | C | A |
| Crude Oil | 100 % | A | C |
| Cyclohexane | B | D | |
| Cyclohexanol | technical grade | A | C |
| Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12) | B | D | |
| Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12) | technical grade | B | D |
| Diesel Fuel | 100 % | A | C |
| Diethyl Malonate | B | D | |
| Ethanol | 96 % | A | C |
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 Polystyrene more chemical-resistant?
Of 396 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, PVC Rigid and Polystyrene share the same rating in 256 rows (65 %). PVC Rigid is rated better in 110 rows and Polystyrene in 30 rows.
How do PVC Rigid and Polystyrene compare for chemical resistance?
Based on 396 chemicals tested for both: PVC Rigid is rated better with Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Mineral acids, Foods and beverages, Phenols. Polystyrene is rated better with Amines and nitrogen compounds. They perform similarly with Alkalis, Salts and salt solutions, Ketones and aldehydes, Esters and ethers.
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.