Chemical Resistance

The following table contains an evaluation of chemical resistance to a number of fluids, judged to be
either aggressive or not towards Polyethylene, Polypropylene or Polystyrene. In general common
chemical names are used.

The evaluation is based on values obtained by immersion of test specimens in the fluid concerned
at 20 °C and atmospheric pressure. It is a provisional classification (sat. sol = saturated aqueous
solution, prepared at 20°C).

Regarding the resistance of TPP products to chemicals many factors need to be taken into
consideration:

ƒ exposure time
ƒ concentration of chemicals
ƒ thermal stress (e.g., autoclaving)
ƒ exertion of force
ƒ exposure to UV radiation
ƒ aging, which may be caused by the action of detergents
ƒ other environmental factors

The recommendations given from TPP are based on technical literature and information provided
by the manufacturers of raw materials. They were prepared carefully and are intended as first
guideline for users of plastic materials, i.e. a general guidance. However, they cannot replace
suitability testing performed by the user under actual working conditions. For the list of chemical
resistance, following legend is valid:

+ = Good += Good to limited – = Poor

chemical resistance chemical resistance chemical resistance t

Continuous exposure to the Continuous exposure to the Not suitable for continuous
substance does not cause substance causes minor exposure to the substance.
damage within 30 days. The damages, some of which is Immediate damage may occur
plastic may remain resistant reversible, within 7-30 days (loss of mechanical strength,
for years. (e.g., swelling, softening, deformation, discoloration,
decrease of mechanical strength, cracking, dissolution).
discoloration).

Polyethylene (PE) Polypropylene (PP) Polystyrene (PS)

Resistance to chemicals
20 °C 20 °C 20 °C
A
Acetaldehyde ± ± -
Acetic acid + + ±
Acetic acid 5% + + +
Acetic acid 50% + + ±
Acetic acid glacial + + -
Acetone + + -
Acetonitrile + + -
Acetophenone + + -
Adipic Acid + + +
Allyl alcohol + + ±
Aluminium chloride + + +
Amino acids + + +
Ammonia aqueous sat. sol + + +
Ammonia liquid 100% + + ±

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 Polyethylene (PE) Polypropylene (PP) Polystyrene (PS)
Resistance to chemicals
20 °C 20 °C 20 °C
Ammonium acetate sat sol + + +
Ammonium chloride sat. sol + + +
Amyl acetate 100% ± ± -
Amyl alcohol 100% + + ±
Aniline 100% + + -
Aqua regia HCl / HNO3= 3:1 - - -
Arsenic acid + + +
B
2-Butanol + + ±
Benzaldehyde + + -
Benzene - - -
Benzyl alcohol ± - -
Boric acid + + +
Butyl acetate 100% ± - -
C
Calcium chlorate + + +
Calcium chloride + ± +
Calcium hydroxide + ± ±
Calcium hypochlorite + ± +
Carbazole + + +
Carbon tetrachloride ± - -
Chlorine aqueous sat sol ± + –
Chlorine liquid 100% – – –
Chlorobenzene ± – –
Chloroform ± ± –
Chromic acid up to 40% – + +
Citric Acid sat. sol + + +
Copper sulphate aq + + +
D
1,4-Dioxane ± ±
Decahydronaphtalene (Decalin) + ± –
Dibutylphthalate + + –
Diethyl ether ± + –
Diethyl malonate + + –
Diethylene dioxide + +
Diethylene glycol + + ±
Dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO) + + +
E
Ethyl acetate + ± –
Ethyl alcohol (absolute) - + ±
Ethyl alcohol 40% + + ±
Ethyl alcohol 96% + + ±
Ethylene chloride - -
Ethylene glycol + + +
Ethylene oxide 100% ± ± –

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 Polyethylene (PE) Polypropylene (PP) Polystyrene (PS)
Resistance to chemicals
20 °C 20 °C 20 °C
F
Fatty acids + + +
Fluorinated hydrocarbon – ± –
Fluorine – –
Fluorine gas - - –
Formaldehyde + + –
Formaldehyde 10% + + ±
Formaldehyde 40% + + –
Formic acid up to 100% + + ±
Formic acid up to 40% + + ±
H
Hexane + + ±
Hydrobromic acid up to 100% + + –
Hydrochloric acid + + ±
Hydrochloric acid 20% + + +
Hydrochloric acid 5% + + +
Hydrochloric acid up to 40% + + +
Hydrofluoric acid 4% + + ±
Hydrofluoric acid 48% + + –
Hydrogen peroxide 30% + +
I
Isopropanol + ± +
Isopropyl ether 100% + + +
L
Lactic acid 10% + + ±
Lactic acid up to 100% + + ±
Lead acetate + –
M
2-Methoxyethanol + + -
Magnesium chloride sat sol + + +
Mercury + + +
Mercury hydroxid + + ±
Methanol 100% + + ±
Methoxyethyl oleate + + –
Methyl alcohol + + +
Methylene chloride - ± –
N
n-Butanol + + +
n-Octane + + –
Nitric acid 40 - 50% ± ± ±
Nitric acid up to 30% + + ±
O
Oxalic acid sat sol + + +
Ozone ± + ±

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 Polyethylene (PE) Polypropylene (PP) Polystyrene (PS)
Resistance to chemicals
20 °C 20 °C 20 °C
P
2-Propanol + + +
Perchloroethylene – – –
Petroleum ether ± ± –
Phenol 90% + – –
Phosphoric acid + + +
Phosphoric acid 5% + + ±
Phosphoric acid 85% + + +
Phosphorus trichloride +
Potassium hydroxide up to 50% + + ±
Potassium permanganate 30% + + ±
Propylene glycol + + +
Pyridine – – –
S
Silicone oil + + +
Silver nitrate + + ±
Sodium carbonate up to 50% + + +
Sodium dichromate sat. sol + + +
Sodium hydroxide 1% ± + ±
Sodium hydroxide 10% - 60% ± + +
Sodium hypochlorite 15% + + +
Stearic acid + + +
Sulphuric acid 10 - 30% + + ±
Sulphuric acid 50% + + ±
Sulphuric acid 96% ± ± –
Sulphuric acid 98% ± ± –
Sulphuric acid up to 10% + + +
T
Tartaric acid sat sol + + ±
Tetrahydrofuran - ± –
Tincture of iodine + + ±
Toluene ± ± –
Tributyl citrate ± ± –
Trichloroethylene - – –
Triethylene glycol + + +
Tripropylene glycol + + +
Trisodium phosphate + +
U
Urea sat sol + + +
X
Xylene ± - ±
Z
Zinc chloride sat sol + + ±
Zinc sulphate sat sol + + +

Chemical Resistance Guide for TPP resins, page 4 of 4 www.dutscher.com version 01_2014