Summary
- SAN is rated better with
- Amines and nitrogen compounds (+56 points)
- Polysulfone is rated better with
- Esters and ethers (+26 points); Foods and beverages (+18 points)
- Within 10 points of each other
- Mineral acids; Organic acids; Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; Oxidising agents and halogens; Alcohols and glycols; Ketones and aldehydes; Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons; Halogenated hydrocarbons
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 %
Polysulfone
Polysulfone
Polysulfone withstands hot water and steam. Ketones, esters and chlorinated and aromatic solvents attack it.
Rated rows: 303. A 51 %, B 10 %, C 10 %, D 30 %
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 | Polysulfone: rated A or B |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral acids | 61 % (18 rows) | 53 % (34 rows) |
| Organic acids | 79 % (24 rows) | 69 % (26 rows) |
| Alkalis | 100 % (8 rows) | 100 % (15 rows) |
| Salts and salt solutions | 100 % (80 rows) | 100 % (49 rows) |
| Oxidising agents and halogens | 73 % (26 rows) | 67 % (15 rows) |
| Alcohols and glycols | 70 % (33 rows) | 74 % (31 rows) |
| Phenols | 25 % (8 rows) | – |
| Ketones and aldehydes | 21 % (19 rows) | 14 % (14 rows) |
| Esters and ethers | 0 % (19 rows) | 26 % (23 rows) |
| Amines and nitrogen compounds | 56 % (9 rows) | 0 % (8 rows) |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | – | 12 % (8 rows) |
| Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons | 79 % (24 rows) | 75 % (24 rows) |
| Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils | 68 % (22 rows) | – |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | 5 % (20 rows) | 14 % (22 rows) |
| Foods and beverages | 82 % (22 rows) | 100 % (9 rows) |
Where the ratings differ most
Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 20 in total.
| Chemical | Concentration | SAN | Polysulfone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acetamide | saturated | A | D |
| Cyclohexane | A | D | |
| Ethyl Glycol | 100 % | D | A |
| Allyl Alcohol | 96 % | D | B |
| Benzaldehyde | A | C | |
| Benzoic Acid | saturated | A | C |
| Bitter Almond Oil | A | C | |
| Butyric Acid | D | B | |
| Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12) | C | A | |
| Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12) | technical grade | C | A |
| Dioxane | D | B | |
| Hexanol | A | C | |
| Isobutanol | C | A | |
| Petroleum | technical grade | C | A |
| Petroleum Ether | technical grade | C | A |
| Propylene Oxide | D | B | |
| Sulfuric Acid | 40 % | A | C |
| Trifluorotrichloroethane | 100 % | C | A |
| Undecyl Alcohol | A | C | |
| Urea | 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 Polysulfone more chemical-resistant?
Of 184 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, SAN and Polysulfone share the same rating in 144 rows (78 %). SAN is rated better in 27 rows and Polysulfone in 13 rows.
How do SAN and Polysulfone compare for chemical resistance?
Based on 184 chemicals tested for both: SAN is rated better with Amines and nitrogen compounds. Polysulfone is rated better with Esters and ethers, Foods and beverages. They perform similarly with Mineral acids, Organic acids, Alkalis, Salts and salt solutions.
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.