Summary
- SAN is rated better with
- Mineral acids (+56 points); Organic acids (+54 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+47 points); Salts and salt solutions (+22 points); Phenols (+17 points)
- Nylon (PA) is rated better with
- Esters and ethers (+80 points); Halogenated hydrocarbons (+58 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+32 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+30 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+18 points); Foods and beverages (+16 points)
- Within 10 points of each other
- Alkalis; Alcohols and glycols; Amines and nitrogen compounds
Points are the difference in the share of rows rated A or B.
The two materials
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 %
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 | SAN: rated A or B | Nylon (PA): rated A or B |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral acids | 61 % (18 rows) | 5 % (63 rows) |
| Organic acids | 79 % (24 rows) | 25 % (63 rows) |
| Alkalis | 100 % (8 rows) | 91 % (22 rows) |
| Salts and salt solutions | 100 % (80 rows) | 78 % (194 rows) |
| Oxidising agents and halogens | 73 % (26 rows) | 26 % (62 rows) |
| Alcohols and glycols | 70 % (33 rows) | 67 % (58 rows) |
| Phenols | 25 % (8 rows) | 8 % (13 rows) |
| Ketones and aldehydes | 21 % (19 rows) | 53 % (32 rows) |
| Esters and ethers | 0 % (19 rows) | 80 % (65 rows) |
| Amines and nitrogen compounds | 56 % (9 rows) | 50 % (34 rows) |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | – | 100 % (14 rows) |
| Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons | 79 % (24 rows) | 97 % (73 rows) |
| Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils | 68 % (22 rows) | 98 % (46 rows) |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | 5 % (20 rows) | 63 % (70 rows) |
| Foods and beverages | 82 % (22 rows) | 98 % (46 rows) |
Where the ratings differ most
Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 109 in total, the first 40 shown.
| Chemical | Concentration | SAN | Nylon (PA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,2-Dichlorobenzene | D | A | |
| Acetic Acid | 10 % | A | D |
| Acetic Acid | 5 % | A | D |
| Acetone | D | A | |
| Brake Fluid | D | A | |
| Butyl Acetate | 100 % | D | A |
| Calcium Hypochlorite | A | D | |
| Cetyl Alcohol | 100 % | A | D |
| Chloroethane (Ethyl Chloride) | D | A | |
| Cyclohexanone | technical grade | D | A |
| Dibutyl Sebacate | technical grade | D | A |
| Diethyl Ether | technical grade | D | A |
| Dimethylformamide (DMF) | D | A | |
| Dioxane | D | A | |
| Ethyl Acetate | 100 % | D | A |
| Formic Acid | 50 % | A | D |
| Hydrochloric Acid | 1-5 % | A | D |
| Hydrochloric Acid | 35 % | A | D |
| Hydrochloric Acid | concentrated | A | D |
| Hydrogen Peroxide | 30 % | A | D |
| Hydroquinone | saturated | A | D |
| Methyl Isobutyl Ketone (MIBK) | D | A | |
| Mercury(II) Chloride | aqueous | A | D |
| Methyl Acetate | technical grade | D | A |
| Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) | D | A | |
| Nitric Acid | 1-10 % | A | D |
| Ozone | A | D | |
| Phosphoric Acid | 30 % | A | D |
| Phosphoric Acid | 85 % | A | D |
| Potassium Bisulfate | A | D | |
| Potassium Dichromate | saturated | A | D |
| Potassium Permanganate | A | D | |
| Potassium Persulfate | any concentration | A | D |
| Propylene Glycol | A | D | |
| Pyridine | D | A | |
| Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach) | 12,5 % Cl | A | D |
| Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach) | 15 % | A | D |
| Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach) | saturated | A | D |
| Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach) | dilute | A | D |
| Sodium Perborate | saturated | A | D |
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 SAN or Nylon (PA) more chemical-resistant?
Of 358 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, SAN and Nylon (PA) share the same rating in 150 rows (42 %). SAN is rated better in 123 rows and Nylon (PA) in 85 rows.
How do SAN and Nylon (PA) compare for chemical resistance?
Based on 358 chemicals tested for both: SAN is rated better with Mineral acids, Organic acids, Oxidising agents and halogens, Salts and salt solutions. Nylon (PA) is rated better with Esters and ethers, Halogenated hydrocarbons, Ketones and aldehydes, Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils. They perform similarly with Alkalis, Alcohols and glycols, Amines and nitrogen compounds.
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.