Summary
- SAN is rated better with
- Alkalis (+82 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+43 points); Mineral acids (+29 points); Organic acids (+25 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+24 points); Phenols (+11 points)
- Within 10 points of each other
- Salts and salt solutions; Oxidising agents and halogens; Alcohols and glycols; Ketones and aldehydes; Esters and ethers; Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils; Halogenated hydrocarbons; Foods and beverages
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 %
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is attacked by alkalis, amines, ketones, esters and many organic solvents, and it stress-cracks under load in contact with them.
Rated rows: 953. A 28 %, B 25 %, C 24 %, D 23 %
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 | Polycarbonate: rated A or B |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral acids | 61 % (18 rows) | 32 % (59 rows) |
| Organic acids | 79 % (24 rows) | 54 % (63 rows) |
| Alkalis | 100 % (8 rows) | 18 % (22 rows) |
| Salts and salt solutions | 100 % (80 rows) | 91 % (197 rows) |
| Oxidising agents and halogens | 73 % (26 rows) | 66 % (61 rows) |
| Alcohols and glycols | 70 % (33 rows) | 72 % (57 rows) |
| Phenols | 25 % (8 rows) | 14 % (14 rows) |
| Ketones and aldehydes | 21 % (19 rows) | 14 % (35 rows) |
| Esters and ethers | 0 % (19 rows) | 1 % (69 rows) |
| Amines and nitrogen compounds | 56 % (9 rows) | 13 % (38 rows) |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | – | 0 % (14 rows) |
| Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons | 79 % (24 rows) | 55 % (75 rows) |
| Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils | 68 % (22 rows) | 73 % (48 rows) |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | 5 % (20 rows) | 0 % (70 rows) |
| Foods and beverages | 82 % (22 rows) | 91 % (46 rows) |
Where the ratings differ most
Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 43 in total, the first 40 shown.
| Chemical | Concentration | SAN | Polycarbonate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acetamide | saturated | A | D |
| Benzaldehyde | A | D | |
| Benzoic Acid | saturated | A | D |
| Bitter Almond Oil | A | D | |
| Hexachlorobenzene | A | D | |
| Hydrochloric Acid | 35 % | A | D |
| Hydrochloric Acid | concentrated | A | D |
| Potassium Hydroxide | 10 % | A | D |
| Potassium Hydroxide | 50 % | A | D |
| Potassium Hydroxide | concentrated | A | D |
| Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda) | 45 % | A | D |
| Tannin | A | D | |
| Acetylene | 100 % | C | A |
| Ammonium Carbonate | 50 % | A | C |
| Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution) | B | D | |
| Calcium Hypochlorite | saturated | A | C |
| Camphor | A | C | |
| Chlorine | 10 % wet | D | B |
| Cyclohexane | A | C | |
| Cyclohexanol | technical grade | A | C |
| Diesel Fuel | 100 % | A | C |
| Diethanolamine | 100 % | A | C |
| Ethyl Glycol | 100 % | D | B |
| Formic Acid | 50 % | A | C |
| Gallic Acid | A | C | |
| Glycerin | any concentration | A | C |
| Heating Oil | A | C | |
| Hydroquinone | saturated | A | C |
| Isoamyl Alcohol | A | C | |
| Isobutanol | C | A | |
| Naphthalene | 100 % | A | C |
| Phthalic Acid | saturated | A | C |
| Potassium Carbonate | saturated | A | C |
| Potassium Dichromate | saturated | A | C |
| Prontosil | A | C | |
| Propylene Oxide | D | B | |
| Pyrogallol | A | C | |
| Rum Flavoring | A | C | |
| Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach) | dilute | A | C |
| Sodium Sulfide | saturated | 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 SAN or Polycarbonate more chemical-resistant?
Of 360 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, SAN and Polycarbonate share the same rating in 204 rows (57 %). SAN is rated better in 125 rows and Polycarbonate in 31 rows.
How do SAN and Polycarbonate compare for chemical resistance?
Based on 360 chemicals tested for both: SAN is rated better with Alkalis, Amines and nitrogen compounds, Mineral acids, Organic acids. Polycarbonate is rated better with –. They perform similarly with Salts and salt solutions, Oxidising agents and halogens, Alcohols and glycols, Ketones and aldehydes.
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.