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PVC Rigid vs PP: Chemical Resistance Compared

Of 566 source rows rated for both materials at 20 °C, 368 (65 %) have the same rating. PVC Rigid is rated better in 48 rows and PP in 150. A row is one chemical at one concentration.

Summary

PVC Rigid is rated better with
Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+21 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+13 points); Mineral acids (+12 points)
PP is rated better with
Ketones and aldehydes (+58 points); Esters and ethers (+58 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+56 points); Phenols (+41 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+16 points); Aromatic hydrocarbons (+14 points); Alcohols and glycols (+14 points)
Within 10 points of each other
Organic acids; Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; 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 %

All chemicals for PVC Rigid

PP

Polypropylene

Polypropylene resists most acids, alkalis and salt solutions. Concentrated oxidising acids, chlorinated solvents and aromatic hydrocarbons attack it, and it turns brittle below about 0 °C.

Rated rows: 978. A 66 %, B 11 %, C 15 %, D 8 %

All chemicals for PP

Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical class

PVC Rigid, PP: Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical classMineral acids: PVC Rigid 82 %, PP 70 %. Organic acids: PVC Rigid 87 %, PP 97 %. Alkalis: PVC Rigid 100 %, PP 100 %. Salts and salt solutions: PVC Rigid 100 %, PP 99 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: PVC Rigid 85 %, PP 72 %. Alcohols and glycols: PVC Rigid 79 %, PP 93 %. Phenols: PVC Rigid 38 %, PP 79 %. Ketones and aldehydes: PVC Rigid 11 %, PP 69 %. Esters and ethers: PVC Rigid 5 %, PP 63 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: PVC Rigid 23 %, PP 79 %. Aromatic hydrocarbons: PVC Rigid 0 %, PP 14 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: PVC Rigid 84 %, PP 63 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: PVC Rigid 59 %, PP 75 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: PVC Rigid 8 %, PP 4 %. Foods and beverages: PVC Rigid 100 %, PP 100 %.Mineral acidsMineral acids, PVC Rigid: 82 % (56)82 %Mineral acids, PP: 70 % (63)70 %Organic acidsOrganic acids, PVC Rigid: 87 % (45)87 %Organic acids, PP: 97 % (64)97 %AlkalisAlkalis, PVC Rigid: 100 % (16)100 %Alkalis, PP: 100 % (22)100 %Salts and salt solutionsSalts and salt solutions, PVC Rigid: 100 % (111)100 %Salts and salt solutions, PP: 99 % (198)99 %Oxidising agents and halogensOxidising agents and halogens, PVC Rigid: 85 % (39)85 %Oxidising agents and halogens, PP: 72 % (61)72 %Alcohols and glycolsAlcohols and glycols, PVC Rigid: 79 % (43)79 %Alcohols and glycols, PP: 93 % (59)93 %PhenolsPhenols, PVC Rigid: 38 % (8)38 %Phenols, PP: 79 % (14)79 %Ketones and aldehydesKetones and aldehydes, PVC Rigid: 11 % (18)11 %Ketones and aldehydes, PP: 69 % (35)69 %Esters and ethersEsters and ethers, PVC Rigid: 5 % (39)5 %Esters and ethers, PP: 63 % (71)63 %Amines and nitrogen compoundsAmines and nitrogen compounds, PVC Rigid: 23 % (22)23 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, PP: 79 % (39)79 %Aromatic hydrocarbonsAromatic hydrocarbons, PVC Rigid: 0 % (9)0 %Aromatic hydrocarbons, PP: 14 % (14)14 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbonsFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, PVC Rigid: 84 % (38)84 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, PP: 63 % (78)63 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oilsVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, PVC Rigid: 59 % (17)59 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, PP: 75 % (48)75 %Halogenated hydrocarbonsHalogenated hydrocarbons, PVC Rigid: 8 % (36)8 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, PP: 4 % (70)4 %Foods and beveragesFoods and beverages, PVC Rigid: 100 % (23)100 %Foods and beverages, PP: 100 % (46)100 %
PVC RigidPP
Rating at 20 °C. Only classes with at least 8 rated rows for both materials are shown.

How often the two ratings agree

PVC Rigid, PP: How often the two ratings agreePVC Rigid A, PP A: 322; PVC Rigid A, PP B: 10; PVC Rigid A, PP C: 11; PVC Rigid A, PP D: 6; PVC Rigid B, PP A: 28; PVC Rigid B, PP B: 4; PVC Rigid B, PP C: 4; PVC Rigid B, PP D: 7; PVC Rigid C, PP A: 32; PVC Rigid C, PP B: 3; PVC Rigid C, PP C: 7; PVC Rigid C, PP D: 10; PVC Rigid D, PP A: 40; PVC Rigid D, PP B: 16; PVC Rigid D, PP C: 31; PVC Rigid D, PP D: 35.PPABCDPVC RigidAPVC Rigid A, PP A: 322322PVC Rigid A, PP B: 1010PVC Rigid A, PP C: 1111PVC Rigid A, PP D: 66BPVC Rigid B, PP A: 2828PVC Rigid B, PP B: 44PVC Rigid B, PP C: 44PVC Rigid B, PP D: 77CPVC Rigid C, PP A: 3232PVC Rigid C, PP B: 33PVC Rigid C, PP C: 77PVC Rigid C, PP D: 1010DPVC Rigid D, PP A: 4040PVC Rigid D, PP B: 1616PVC Rigid D, PP C: 3131PVC Rigid D, PP D: 3535
Number of source rows for each pair of ratings at 20 °C. Outlined cells are rows where both materials have the same rating.

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 classPVC Rigid: rated A or BPP: rated A or B
Mineral acids82 % (56 rows)70 % (63 rows)
Organic acids87 % (45 rows)97 % (64 rows)
Alkalis100 % (16 rows)100 % (22 rows)
Salts and salt solutions100 % (111 rows)99 % (198 rows)
Oxidising agents and halogens85 % (39 rows)72 % (61 rows)
Alcohols and glycols79 % (43 rows)93 % (59 rows)
Phenols38 % (8 rows)79 % (14 rows)
Ketones and aldehydes11 % (18 rows)69 % (35 rows)
Esters and ethers5 % (39 rows)63 % (71 rows)
Amines and nitrogen compounds23 % (22 rows)79 % (39 rows)
Aromatic hydrocarbons0 % (9 rows)14 % (14 rows)
Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons84 % (38 rows)63 % (78 rows)
Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils59 % (17 rows)75 % (48 rows)
Halogenated hydrocarbons8 % (36 rows)4 % (70 rows)
Foods and beverages100 % (23 rows)100 % (46 rows)

Where the ratings differ most

Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 112 in total, the first 40 shown.

ChemicalConcentrationPVC RigidPP
AcetamidesaturatedDA
Acetic Anhydridetechnical gradeDA
AcetoneDA
AcetophenoneDA
AlanineDA
BenzaldehydeDA
Benzyl AcetateDA
Bitter Almond OilDA
Butenetechnical gradeAD
Butyl Glycol100 %DA
CamphorDA
CarbazoleDA
Chloric Acid10 %AD
Chlorine10 % wetAD
Crotonaldehydetechnical gradeDA
Dibutyl Sebacatetechnical gradeDA
Diisobutyl Ketonetechnical gradeDA
Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO)DA
Dinonyl Phthalate (DNP)technical gradeDA
Ethyl Acetate100 %DA
FluorineAD
Formamidetechnical gradeDA
Furfuryl Alcoholtechnical gradeDA
Iodine TinctureDA
Methoxyethyl OleateDA
Methyl Acetatetechnical gradeDA
Methyl DichloroacetateDA
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)DA
Morpholinetechnical gradeDA
Naphthalene100 %DA
Nitrotoluenetechnical gradeDA
Oleum Vaporslow concentrationAD
p-ChloroacetophenoneDA
Phenol100 %DA
Phosphorus OxychlorideDA
Phosphorus Oxychloride100 %DA
Phosphorus PentachlorideDA
Phosphorus TrichlorideDA
Propionic AcidDA
Sulfur Trioxide Exhaust Gaseslow concentrationAD

Rating scale

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

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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.