Chemical Resistance Chart

General guide for material compatibility ratings across polyethylene, polypropylene, XLPE, PVC, CPVC, and other materials used in chemical storage applications.

This chart serves as a general guide for material compatibility across common chemical applications. Ratings indicate relative performance: A = Excellent, B = Good, C = Not Suggested, = Data Not Available.

Materials evaluated include Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), Crosslink Polyethylene (XLPE) at 70°F and 140°F, PVC, CPVC, EPDM, Neoprene, Viton, Stainless Steel 316, Titanium, and Hastelloy C.

For additional technical guidance on long-term chemical exposure, reference NACE (National Association of Corrosion Engineers). Always confirm compatibility with tank material, fittings, process connections, and gasket materials prior to use.

The information provided in this chart is intended for general reference purposes only and does not constitute a guarantee of material performance. Chemical compatibility can be affected by temperature, concentration, pressure, exposure duration, and the presence of secondary substances. Responsibility for the final selection of materials rests solely with the process design engineer or a qualified professional overseeing the application. Always conduct independent verification before use in critical or regulated systems.

Compatibility Chart

Reagent PE 70°F PE 140°F PP 70°F PP 140°F XLPE 70°F XLPE 140°F PVC CPVC EPDM Neoprene Viton 316 SS Titanium Hastelloy C
Acetone C C C C C C C C C C C C C C
Acetaldehyde 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 A A A A A A A A A A A C B A
Aluminum Fluoride A A A A A A A A A A A C A B
Aluminum Sulphate A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Alums 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.) A A A A A A A A A A A C B A
Ammonium Fluoride (sat.) 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.) A A A A A A A A A B A A A B
Ammonium Persulphate (sat.) A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Ammonium Sulphate (sat.) A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Ammonium Metaphosphate (sat.) A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Ammonium Sulfide (sat.) 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 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.) A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Barium Chloride (sat.) 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.) A A A A A A B B A A A B B
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 A A A A A A A A C A A B B A
Bismuth Carbonate (sat.) A A A A A A A A A A A A A B
Bleach Lye 10% A A A A A A A A A A A A B B
Borax (sat.) A A A A A A A A A A A A B A
Boric Acid 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.) 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.) A A A A A A A A A A A B B B
Calcium Chlorate (sat.) A A A A A A A A A A
Calcium Chloride (sat.) 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 Hypochlorite (bleach sol.) 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.) 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 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 Tetrachloride 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
Castor 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
Chlorine (liquid) C C C C C C A A C C A C A A
Chlorine Water 2% (sat. sol.) 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
Chloroform 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.) 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.) 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.) A A A A A A A A A A A C A A
Copper Cyanide (sat.) 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.) A A A A A A A A A A B B A
Copper Sulphate (sat.) 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.) 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.) A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Dextrose (sat.) 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 (Photographic) 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.) A A A A A A A A A B A C A B
Ferric Nitrate (sat.) A A A A A A A A A A A A A B
Ferrous Chloride (sat.) 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
Fluosilicic Acid (conc.) A B A B A A A A A A A B C A
Fluosilicic Acid 32% A A A A A A A A A A A B C A
Formic Acid A A A A A A A A A A C C C A
Fructose (sat.) 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
Furfural 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.) 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.) 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
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 KI sol.) 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
Lactic Acid 20% A A A A A A A A A A A B B B
Lead Acetate (sat.) 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
Linseed Oil 100% B C A A A C A A A A A A A
Magnesium Carbonate (sat.) A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Magnesium Chloride (sat.) A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Magnesium Hydroxide (sat.) A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Magnesium Nitrate (sat.) A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Magnesium Sulphate (sat.) 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.) 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 Ketone 100% B C A B B C C C A C C A A A
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
Naphtha 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.) 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.) 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
Plating Solutions (Cadmium) A A A A A A A A C C A A C A
Plating Solutions (Chromium) A A A A A A A A B A C C C
Plating Solutions (Copper) A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Plating Solutions (Gold) A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Plating Solutions (Indium) A A A A A A A A A A
Plating Solutions (Lead) A A A A A A A A A C C A
Plating Solutions (Nickel) A A A A A A A A A C A C
Plating Solutions (Rhodium) A A A A A A A A A A C A
Plating Solutions (Silver) A A A A A A A A C C A
Plating Solutions (Tin) A A A A A A A A A C A A
Plating Solutions (Zinc) A A A A A A A A A A C A B
Potassium Bicarbonate (sat.) A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Potassium Bromide (sat.) 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.) A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Potassium Chloride (sat.) 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.) 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/Ferrocyanide (sat.) A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
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.) A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Potassium Perborate (sat.) 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.) 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.) A A A A
Salicylic Acid (sat.) 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 A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Sodium Acetate (sat.) 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 Bicarbonate (sat.) A A A A A A A A A B C B B B
Sodium Bisulphate (sat.) A A A A A A A A A C A B B A
Sodium Bisulphite (sat.) A A A A A A A A A A A B B A
Sodium 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.) A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Sodium Chloride (sat.) 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.) A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Sodium Ferri/Ferrocyanide (sat.) A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Sodium Fluoride (sat.) 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 15% 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.) A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Sodium Sulphite (sat.) A A A A A A A A A A A B A B
Stannic Chloride (sat.) A A A A A A A A B C A C A B
Stannous Chloride (sat.) A A A A A A A A A A A A A B
Starch Solution (sat.) 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.) 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
Tetrahydrofuran B C C C C C C C B C C A A A
Titanium Tetrachloride (sat.) 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.) 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.) A A A A A A A A A A A A
Zinc Carbonate (sat.) A A A A A A A A A A A A
Zinc Chloride (sat.) A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
Zinc Oxide (sat.) 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.) A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
A Excellent B Good C Not Suggested N/A

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