Summary
- PVC Rigid is rated better with
- Mineral acids (+21 points); Foods and beverages (+18 points); Phenols (+13 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+12 points)
- SAN is rated better with
- Amines and nitrogen compounds (+33 points)
- Within 10 points of each other
- Organic acids; Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; Alcohols and glycols; Ketones and aldehydes; Esters and ethers; Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons; Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils; 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 %
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 Rigid: rated A or B | SAN: rated A or B |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral acids | 82 % (56 rows) | 61 % (18 rows) |
| Organic acids | 87 % (45 rows) | 79 % (24 rows) |
| Alkalis | 100 % (16 rows) | 100 % (8 rows) |
| Salts and salt solutions | 100 % (111 rows) | 100 % (80 rows) |
| Oxidising agents and halogens | 85 % (39 rows) | 73 % (26 rows) |
| Alcohols and glycols | 79 % (43 rows) | 70 % (33 rows) |
| Phenols | 38 % (8 rows) | 25 % (8 rows) |
| Ketones and aldehydes | 11 % (18 rows) | 21 % (19 rows) |
| Esters and ethers | 5 % (39 rows) | 0 % (19 rows) |
| Amines and nitrogen compounds | 23 % (22 rows) | 56 % (9 rows) |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | 0 % (9 rows) | – |
| Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons | 84 % (38 rows) | 79 % (24 rows) |
| Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils | 59 % (17 rows) | 68 % (22 rows) |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | 8 % (36 rows) | 5 % (20 rows) |
| Foods and beverages | 100 % (23 rows) | 82 % (22 rows) |
Where the ratings differ most
Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 30 in total.
| Chemical | Concentration | PVC Rigid | SAN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acetamide | saturated | D | A |
| Acetic Acid | 90 % | A | D |
| Benzaldehyde | D | A | |
| Bitter Almond Oil | D | A | |
| Brake Fluid | A | D | |
| Camphor | D | A | |
| Chlorine | 10 % wet | A | D |
| Fluorine | A | D | |
| Naphthalene | 100 % | D | A |
| Allyl Alcohol | 96 % | B | D |
| Benzyl Alcohol | B | D | |
| Bromine | B | D | |
| Butyric Acid | B | D | |
| Chloroacetic Acid | 50 % | A | C |
| Chromic Acid | 50 % | A | C |
| Corn Germ Oil | technical grade | C | A |
| Decahydronaphthalene | A | C | |
| Diethylene Glycol | C | A | |
| Isobutanol | A | C | |
| Lanolin | technical grade | C | A |
| Methanol | A | C | |
| n-Octane | C | A | |
| Petroleum | technical grade | A | C |
| Petroleum Ether | technical grade | A | C |
| Petroleum Jelly | technical grade | C | A |
| Phenol | 10 % | A | C |
| Propylene Glycol | C | A | |
| Sulfur | technical grade | C | A |
| Sulfuric Acid | 95 % | B | D |
| Triethanolamine (TEA) | technical grade | 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 SAN more chemical-resistant?
Of 261 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, PVC Rigid and SAN share the same rating in 197 rows (75 %). PVC Rigid is rated better in 28 rows and SAN in 36 rows.
How do PVC Rigid and SAN compare for chemical resistance?
Based on 261 chemicals tested for both: PVC Rigid is rated better with Mineral acids, Foods and beverages, Phenols, Oxidising agents and halogens. SAN is rated better with Amines and nitrogen compounds. They perform similarly with Organic acids, Alkalis, Salts and salt solutions, Alcohols and glycols.
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.