Chemical Resistance of Plastics

    Polyethylene
Polypropylene Polycarbonate LD HD
Chemical 20°C 60°C 20°C 60°C 20°C 60°C 20°C 60°C
Acetic acid solution <90% R R R R R R R R
Acetic acid, glacial R U U U A U R L
Acetone R R U U E U R R
Ammonia R R U U R R R R
Aniline R R U U U U R R
Benzene A U U U U U U U
Boric acid R R R R R R R R
Bromine U U U U U U U U
Carbon tetrachloride U U U U U U A U
Chlorinated solvents U U U U U U U U
Chloroform U U U U U U U U
Cresols U U U U U U U U
Diethyl ether U U U U U U U U
Diethylene glycol R R R U R R R E
Ethers U U A U E U A U
Ethyl acetate A A     A U A U
Ethanol R R R R R U R R
Ethylene glycol R R R U R R E E
Formaldehyde solutions 40% R R R R R E R R
Formic acid R R R R R E R R
Hydrochloric acid conc. E E L U R R SW SW
Hydrofluoric acid 1-60% E E 20% U R R R L
Hydrofluoric acid conc. E E L U R U R L
Hydrogen peroxide 30-90% R R R R R U R A
Hypochlorous acid R R     A U R R
Magnesium hydroxide R R     R R R R
Maleic acid R R     R R R R
Mineral oil R R R R A U R E
Nitric acid <25% R R R U R R R R
Nitric acid 25-70% R E U U A U L U
Nitric acid >70 E U U U U U U U
Oxalic acid R A R R R R R R
Paraffin R A R R A U    
Petroleum ether A U R R U U U U
Phosphoric acid <30% R R R R R R R R
Phosphoric acid 30-85% R R R R R A R R
Phosphoric acid >85% R R R R A U R A
Potasium hydroxide 50% 10% U U R R R 30%
Salicylic acid R R R R R R R R
Sodium hydroxide solution 50% 10% U U R R R 30%
Sulfuric acid <60% R R R R R R R R
Sulfuric acid 60-70% R U R R R A R A
Sulfuric acid >70% E U U U A U A L
Silicone oil R R R R A U E E
Stearic acid R R R R R R R R
Toluene U U U U U U U U
Trichloroethylene U U U U U U V U
Water R R R R R R R R
Key  
R Resistant
A Slowly attacked (not recommended for long term storage)
L Limited resistance
U Unsuitable
SW Swelling occurs
V Vapour diffusion
E Environmental stress cracking
% Max concentration