This Chemical Resistance Chart, is provided as a general guide for material compatibility for your chemical application.

Responsibility for the final choice of materials will always remain with the process design engineer.

Please note that NACE, National Association of Chemical Engineers, has more precise information on a material’s ability to survive long term exposure to various chemicals.

Plastic Tank Chemical Resistance Chart for Polypropylene and Polyethylene, Linear and Crosslink;

PE = Polyethylene… PP = Polypropylene… XLPE = Crosslink Polyethylene… A = Excellent… B = Good… C = Not suggested

Chemical Resistance Data
PE PP XLPE PVC CPVC EPDM NEOPRENE VITON 316 SS TITANIUM HASTELLOY C
REAGENT CONC. 70 140 70 140 70 140
Acetone C C C C C C C C C C C C C C
Acetaidehyde* 100% B C A B B C C C A C C A A A
Acetic Acid* 10% A A A A A A A A A A B A A A
Acetic Acid* 60% A B A A A A A A A B B A A A
Acetic Anhydride C C – – C C C C B A C A A A
Air A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Aluminum Chloride all concentr. A A A A A A A A A A A C B A
Aluminum Fluoride all concentr. A A A A A A A A A A A C A B
Aluminum Sulphate all concentr. A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Alums all types A A A A A A A A A A A A – A
Ammonia 100% dry gas A A A A A A B A A A A A C A
Ammonium Carbonate A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Ammonium Chloride sat’d A A A A A A A A A A A C B A
Ammonium Fluoride sat’d A A A A A A A A B A A C A A
Ammonium Hydroxide 10% A A A A A A A A B A B A A B
Ammonium Hydroxide 28% A A A A A A A A A A B A A B
Ammonium Nitrate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A B A A A B
Ammonium
  Persulphate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Ammonium Sulphate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Ammonium
  Metaphoshate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Ammonium Sulfide sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Amyl Acetate*# 100% C C B C C C C C A C C A A A
Amyl Alcohol*# 100% A A A B A A A A A A B A B A
Amyl Chloride*# 100% C C C C C C C C C C B A C A
Aniline*# 100% C C A A A C C C B C C B C B
Aqua Regia+ C C C C C C C C C C B C A C
Arsenic Acid all concentr. A A A A A A A A A A A A B B
Aromatic
  Hydrocarbons*# C C – – C C C C C C A C – –
Ascorbic Acid 10% A A A A A A A A A A A – – –
Barium Carbonate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Barium Chloride sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A A B
Barium Hydroxide A A A A A A A A A A A B B A
Barium Sulphate sat’d. A A A A A A B B A A A B B –
Barium Sulphate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A B A A
Beer A A A A C C A A A C A A B B
Benzene*# C C B C C C C C C C A B A B
Benzoic Acid all concentr. A A A A A A A A C A A B B A
Bismuth Carbonate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A A B
Bleachlye 10% A A A A A A A A A A A A B B
Borax sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A B A
Boric Acid all concentr. A A A A A A A B A A A A A A
Boron Trifluoride A A – – A A A A A A A – B –
Brine A A A A A A A A A A A C A A
Bromine+ liquid C C C C C C C C C C A C A A
Bromine Water # sat’d. C C C – C C C C C C A C A A
Butanediol* 10% A A A A A A – – – – – – – –
Butanediol* 60% A A A A A A – – – – – – – –
Butanedial* 100% A A A A A A – – – – – – – –
Butter* A A A A C C – A A B A A – –
n-Butyl Acetate*# 100% A C C C A C B C B C B B A A
n-Butyl Alcohol 100% A A A – A A A B B A A A A A
Butyric Acid# conc. C C – – – – B B B C B B A A
Calcium Bisulphide A A A A A A A A A A A B A –
Calcium Carbonate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A B B B
Calcium Chlorate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A – A – – –
Calcium Chloride sat’d. A A A A A A A A B A A B A A
Calcium Hydroxide conc. A A A A A A A A B C A B A B
Calcium
  Hyphochlorite bleach sol’n. A A A B B B B B A C A C – B
Calcium Nitrate 50% A A A A A A A A A B A A A
Calcium Oxide sat’d. A A – – A A A A A A A A A A
Calcium Sulphate A A A A A A A A A C – B A A
Camphor Oil*# C C C C C C – – – – A A
Carbon Dioxide all concentr. A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Carbon Disulphide C C B C C C C C C C A B B B
Carbon Monoxide A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Carbon
  Tectrachloride# C C C C C C B C C C A B A A
Carbonic Acid A A A A A A A A A A A A B A
Caster Oil# conc. A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Chlorine+ 100% dry gas C C C C B C C C C C A C C B
Chlorineliquid+ C C C C C C A A C C A C A A
Chlorine Water+ 2% sat’d. sol’n. A A A B A A A A C C A C A A
Chlorobenzene*# C C C C C C C C C C A A A B
Chlorofoam*# B C C C C C C C C C A A A A
Chlorosulphonic Acid 100% C C C C C C C C C C C B C A
Chrome Alum sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Chromic Acid 80% – – A – – – C C C C B B C B
Chromic Acid 50% A B A A A B B B B C A B C B
Chromic Acid 10% A A A A A A A A B C A B C B
Cider* A A A A C C – – – A A A A –
Citric Acid* sat’d. A A A A A A – B A A A A A A
Coconut Oil Alcohols* A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Coffee A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Cola Concentrates* A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Copper Chloride sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A C A A
Copper Cyanide sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A B B B
Copper Fluoride 2% A A A A A A A A A – A A A A
Copper Nitrate sat’d. A A A A A A A A – A A B B A
Copper Sulphate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A B A A
Corn Oil* A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Cottonseed Oil* A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Cuprous Chloride sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A C A A
Detergents, Synthetic* A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Developers,
   Photographic A A A A A A A A – – – A A A
Dextrin sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Destrose sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Diazo Salts A A A A A A A A – – – – – –
Dibutylphthalate*# B B A B B B C C – – – A – –
Dichlorobenzene*# C C – – C C – – – – – – – –
Diethyl Ketone*# B B – – B C – – – – – – – –
Diethylene Glycol* A A A A A A C C A A A A A B
Diglycolic Acid* A A – – A A A A A – A A A –
Dimethylamine C C – – C C C C C A C A – –
Disodium Phosphate A A A A A A A A – – A A A –
Emulsions,
   Photgraphic* A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Ethyl Acetate*# 100% B C B B B C C C B C C A A A
Ethyl Alcohol* 100% A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Ethyl Alcohol* 35% A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Ethyl Benzene*# C C C C C C – – – – – A – –
Ethyl Chloride# C C C C C C C C A B A A A A
Ethyl Ether# C C B C C C C C C C C A A B
Ethylene Chloride*# C C C C C C C C A B A A B C
Ethylene Glycol* A A A A A A A A A A A A A B
Fatty Acids* A A A A A A B B C B A A B A
Ferric Chloride sat’d. A A A A A A A A A B A C A B
Ferric Nitrate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A A B
Ferrous Chloride sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A C A B
Ferrous Sulphate A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Fish Solubles* A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Fluoboric Acid A A A A A A A A A A A C C A
Fluosillic Acid conc. A B A B A A A A A A A B C A
Fluosillic Acid 32% A A A A A A A A A A A B C A
Formic Acid all concentr. A A A A A A A A A A C C C A
Fructose sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Fruit Pulp* A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Furtural# 100% B C C C C C C C B C C B B A
Furfuryl Alcohol*# B C C C C C – – – – A A – –
Gallic Acid* sat’d. A B A A A A A B B B A B A B
Gasoline*# B C B C A C C C C B A A A A
Glucose A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Glycerine* A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Glycol* A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Glycolic Acid* 30% A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Grape Sugar sat’d. ag. A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
n-Heptane*# B B – – A C C A C A A A A A
Hexachlorobenzene A – – – A A – – – – – – – –
Hexanol, Tertiary* A A – – A A – – – – B A A –
Hydrobromic Acid 50% A A A A A A A A A B A C A B
Hydrobromic Acid all conc. A A A A A A A A A – A C C A
Hydrobromic Acid sat’d. A A – – A A A A A – A C B
Hydrochloric Acid A A – – A A A A A – A C B A
Hydrofluoric Acid* 60% A A A A A A A A A – A C C A
Hydrogen 100% A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Hydrogen Chloride dry gas A A A A A A – – – – – – – –
Hydrogen Peroxide 30% B B A – A A A A – – A B B A
Hydrogen Peroxide 10% A A A B A A A A – – A B B A
Hydrogen Sulphide A A A A A A A A A A C B A A
Hydroquinone A A A A A A A A – C A – – –
Hypochlorous Acid conc. A A A A A A A A – – A – A A
Inks# A A A A A A A A – – A C A A
Iodine+ in kl sol’n B – – – B C C C B C A C C B
Isopropyl Alcohol 100% – – A A A A A A – A A A A A
Lead Acetate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Lead Nitrate A A – – A A A A A A A A A A
Lactic Acid* 20% A A A A A A A A A A A B B B
Linseed Oil* 100% B C A A A C A A A A A A A
Magnesium Carbonate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Magnesium Chloride sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Magnesium Hydroxide sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Magnesium Nitrate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Magnesium Sulphate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Mercuric Chloride 40% A A A A A A A A A A A C A C
Mercuric Cyanide sat’d. A A A A A A B A A A C A
Mercury A A A A A A B A A A A A A A
Methyl Alcohol* 100% A A A A A A A A B B C A A C
Methylethyl 100% B C A B B C C C A C C A A A
Ketone*#
Methylene Chloride*# 100% C C B C C C C C C C A A B
Milk A A A A C C A A A A A A A A
Mineral Oils# B C A B A C A A A A A A A A
Molasses A A A A A A A A C A A A A A
Naptha*# B C B C A A C C A A A A
Naphthalene*# B A A C C C C C C A A A A
Nickel Chloride conc. A A A A A A A A A A A C A B
Nickel Nitrate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A B B B
Nickel Sulphate conc. A A A A A A A A A A A B B B
Nicotine* dilute A A A A A A A A
Nitric Acid 0-30% A A C C A A A A B A A A A A
Nitric Acid+ 30-50% A B C C A B B B B A A A A A
Nitric Acid+ 70% A B C C A B C C C A A A A A
Nitric Acid+ 95-98% C C C C C C C C C A A A A
Nitrobenzene*# 100% C C C C C C C C C C B A A C
n-Octane A A A A
Oleic Acid B C A B A C C A B C B B C B
Oxalic Acid* sat’d. A A A B A A A C A B A B C B
Perchloroethylene# C C C C C B C C A A A B
Phosphoric Acid 95% A A A A A B B A B B A B B A
Photographic Solutions A A A A A A A A B A A A A A
Plating Solutions*
  Brass A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
  Cadium A A A A A A A A C C A A C A
  Chromium A A A A A A A A B A C C C
  Copper A A A A A A A A A A A A A
  Gold A A A A A A A A A A A A A
  Indium A A A A A A A A A A
  Lead A A A A A A A A A C C A
  Nickel A A A A A A A A A C A C
  Rhodium A A A A A A A A A A C A
  Silver A A A A A A A A C C A
  Tin A A A A A A A A A C A A
  Zinc A A A A A A A A A A C A B
Potassium Bicarbonate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Potassium Bromide sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Potassium Bromate 10% A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Potassium Carbonate A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Potassium Chlorate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Potassium Chloride sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Potassium Chromate 40% A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Potassium Cyanide sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Potassium Dichromate 40% A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Potassium
  Ferri/Ferro sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
  Cyanide
Potassium Fluoride A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Potassium Hydroxide conc. A A A A A A A A A B B B A B
Potassium Nitrate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Potassium Perborate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Potassium Perchlorate 10% A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Potassium
  Permanganate 20% A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Potassium Persulphate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A B A B
Potassium Sulphate conc. A A A A A A A A A C A B A B
Potassium Sulphide conc. A A A A A A A A A C A B A B
Potassium Sulphite conc. A A A A A A A A A C A B A B
Propargyl Alcohol* A A A A
n-Propyl Alcohol* A A A A A A A A A A A A
Propylene Dichloride*# 100% C C C C C C A A C A B
Propylene Glycol* A A A A C C A B A B
Pyridine* A A A C C B B C C A B B
Resorcinol sat’d. A A A A
Sallcylic Acid sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A
Sea Water A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Selenic Acid A A A A A A A
Shortening* A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Silver Nitrate Solution A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Soap Solution* any con A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Sodium Acetate sat’d. A A A A A A B B A B C B A A
Sodium Benzoate 35% A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Sodium Biscarbonate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A B C B B B
Sodium Bisulphate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A C A B B A
Sodium Bisulphite sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A B B A
Sodum Borate A A A A A A A A A A A B A A
Sodium Bromide dilute A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Sodium Carbonate conc. A A A A A A A A A A C A A A
Sodium Chlorate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Sodium Chloride sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A C A A
Sodium Cyanide A A A A A A A A A A A B A A
Sodium Dichromate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Sodium Ferri/Ferro
  Cyanide sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Sodium Fluoride sat’d. A A A A A A A A A C A C A A
Sodium Hydroxide conc. A A A A A A A A A B A B B B
Sodium Hypochlorite 1 A A A B B B B B B C A C C B
Sodium Nitrate A A A A A A A A A B A B A B
Sodium Sulphate A A A A A A A A A B A B A B
Sodium Sulphide sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Sodium Sulphite sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Stannic Chloride sat’d. A A A A A A A A B C A C A B
Stannous Chloride sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A A B
Starch Solution* sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Stearic Acid* 100% A A A A A A B B B B A A A B
Sulphuric Acid 0-50% A A A B A A A A B C A C C B
Sulphuric Acid + 70% A B A B A B A A B C A C C B
Sulphuric Acid + 80% A C C C A B A A B A C C B
Sulphuric Acid + 96% B C C A B C B B C A C C B
Sulphuric Acid + 98-conc. B C C B C C B B C A C C B
Sulphuric Acid + fuming C C C C C C C B C C A C C C
Sulphurous Acid A A A A A A A A B C A B A B
Tallow# A A A A B A A
Tannic Acid* sat’d. A A A A A A A A A B A A A B
Tartaric Acid A A A A A A A A B B A C A B
Tetrolydrofuran*# B C C C C C C C B C C A A A
Titanium Tetrachloride* sat’d. C C C A
Toluene* B B C C C C C C C C C A A A
Trichloroethylene*# C C C C C C C C C C A B A B
Triethylene Glycol* A A A A A A A
Trisodium Phosphate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Turpentine# C C C C C C B B C C A A B B
Urea 30% A A A A A A B B A
Urine A A A A A A A A A C A A
Vanilla Extract* A A A A A A
Vinegar A A A A A A A A A C A A A A
Water A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Wetting Agent* A A A A A A
Whiskey* A A A A C C A A A A A A A A
Wines* A A A A A C C A A A A A A A
Xylene# C C C C C C C C C C C A A A
Yeast A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Zinc Bromide sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A
Zinc Carbonate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A
Zinc Chloride sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Zinc Oxide sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Zinc Stearate A A A A A A A A A A A A
Zinc Sulphate sat’d. A A A A A A A A A A A A A