Nylon Chemical Resistance Guide

Are you considering Nylon 6 or Nylon 66 for your next project? While nylon offers excellent resistance to many chemicals, you will want to review our Nylon Chemical Resistance Guide to help you determine if nylon will meet your chemical resistance needs.

Nylon 6 and Nylon 66 resins have outstanding resistance to a wide range of chemicals, especially aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, alkalis, greases, fuels, lubricants, and ketones. This guide is intended to provide some general information on how Nylon resins perform in contact with common chemicals. Testing of molded parts under actual conditions of use is strongly recommended as stresses found in molded parts may negatively influence chemical resistance test results.

Aqueous Solutions of Hydrogen Peroxide and Inorganic Salts at 23°C

Solution

Visual Change

Ratings

Hydrogen Peroxide

0.5% Hydrogen Peroxide

Unchanged

Good

1% Hydrogen Peroxide

Degrades

Poor

3% Hydrogen Peroxide

Degrades

Poor

10% Hydrogen Peroxide

Degrades

Not Recommended

30% Hydrogen Peroxide

Degrades

Not Recommended

Inorganic Salts

10% Aluminum Chloride

Unchanged

Fair

10% Calcium Chloride

Unchanged

Fair

10% Chrome Alum

Unchanged

Good

10% Copper Sulfate

Unchanged

Good

10% Ferric Chloride

Yellowing

Poor

10% Magnesium Chloride

Unchanged

Good

10% Magnesium Sulfate

Unchanged

Good

5% Mercuric Chloride

Swelled

Poor

5% Potassium Dichromate

Yellowing

Poor

10% Potassium Nitrate

Unchanged

Good

1% Potassium Permanganate

Degrades

Not Recommended

10% Sodium Bisulfite

Unchanged

Good

10% Sodium Hypochlorite

Chalking

Good

10% Sodium Sulfate

Unchanged

Good

10% Zinc Chloride

Unchanged

Fair


Organic Solvents at 23°C

Reagent

Visual Change

Rating

Alcohols

Benzyl Alcohol

Coarse Surface after 2 days

Not Recommended

Butyl Alcohol

Temporary loss of stiffness

Good

Ethyl Alcohol

Temporary loss of stiffness

Good

Ethylene Glycol

Temporary loss of stiffness

Good

Isopropyl Alcohol

Temporary loss of stiffness

Good

Methyl Alcohol

Temporary loss of stiffness

Good

Aldehyde

Benzaldehyde

Unchanged

Excellent

Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Benzene

Unchanged

Excellent

Toluene

Unchanged

Excellent

Xylene

Unchanged

Excellent

Chlorinated Hydrocarbons

Carbon Tetrachloride

Unchanged

Excellent

Chloroform

Temporary loss of stiffness

Good

Dichloroethylene

Temporary loss of stiffness

Good

Dichloromethane

Temporary loss of stiffness

Good

Monochlorobenzene

Unchanged

Excellent

Perchloroethylene

Unchanged

Excellent

Cyclic Amine

Pyridine

Unchanged

Excellent

Ester

Amyl Acetate

Unchanged

Excellent

Butyl Acetate

Unchanged

Excellent

Ethyl Acetate

Unchanged

Excellent

Methyl Acetate

Unchanged

Excellent

Ethers

Ether (Diethyl)

Unchanged

Excellent

Tetrahydrofuran

Unchanged

Excellent

Ketone

Acetone

Unchanged

Excellent

Cyclohexanone

Unchanged

Excellent

Mixture of Hydrocarbons

Decalin

Unchanged

Excellent

Gasoline

Unchanged

Excellent

Kerosene

Unchanged

Excellent

Mineral Oil

Unchanged

Excellent

Petroleum

Unchanged

Excellent

Resorcinol

Dissolves

Not Recommended

Tetralin

Unchanged

Excellent

Turpentine

Unchanged

Excellent

Sulfur Compounds

Carbon Disulfide

Unchanged

Excellent


Acids, Bases, Halogen, etc.

Reagent

Temp (°C)

Visual Change

Rating

Amide

Dimethylformamide

23

Strong Attack

Not Recommended

Bases

Potassium Hydroxide (5%)

23

Minimal Effect

Good

Potassium Hydroxide (5%)

70

Minimal Effect

Good

Potassium Hydroxide (10%)

23

Minimal Effect

Good

Potassium Hydroxide (10%)

70

Crazing

Poor

Sodium Hydroxide (1%)

23

Unchanged

Excellent

Sodium Hydroxide (5%)

23

Minimal Effect

Good

Sodium Hydroxide (5%)

70

Minimal Effect

Good

Sodium Hydroxide (10%)

23

Minimal Effect

Good

Sodium Hydroxide (10%)

70

Crazing

Poor

Halogens

Bromine

23

Strong Attack

Not Recommended

Chlorine

23

Strong Attack

Not Recommended

Inorganic Acids

Hydrochloric Acid (Conc)

23

Dissolves

Not Recommended

Hydrochloric Acid (Dilute)

23

Partially Dissolves

Not Recommended

Nitric Acid (Conc)

23

Dissolves

Not Recommended

Phosphoric Acid (Conc)

23

Dissolves

Not Recommended

Sulfuric Acid (Conc)

23

Dissolves

Not Recommended

Sulfuric Acid (Dilute)

23

Partially Dissolves

Not Recommended

Ketone

Gamma-Butyrolactone

23

Strong Attack

Not Recommended

Organic Acids

Acetic Acid (Conc)

23

Partially Dissolves

Not Recommended

Acetic Acid (Conc)

93

Dissolves

Not Recommended

Acetic Acid (Dilute)

23

Etched

Not Recommended

Formic Acid (Conc)

23

Dissolves

Not Recommended

Formic Acid (Dilute)

23

Partially Dissolves

Not Recommended

Phenol Compounds

O-Chlorophenol

23

Dissolves

Not Recommended

m-Chlorophenol

23

Dissolves

Not Recommended

p-Chlorophenol

23

Dissolves

Not Recommended

Cresol

23

Dissolves

Not Recommended

Phenol

23

Dissolves

Not Recommended

Xylenols

23

Dissolves

Not Recommended