Polyethylene Chemical Resistance Chart

CDF Technical Memo Number 1 July 2004

CDF Corporation uses only the highest quality raw materials available. These raw materials have out- standing resistance to both physical and chemical attack. The following chart should be used as a guide for evaluating the suitability of our products with the chemical agent you plan to use. Special considera- tion must be given to the expected service temperature, stress involved in the application, as well as the length and type of exposure (i.e. intermittent or continuous).

CODES REAGENT CONC. LDPE HDPE 70° 140° 70° 140° A Resistant no indication that serviceability would be impaired. Acetone B C B C B Variable resistance, depending Acetaldehyde* 100% B C B C on conditions of use. Acetic Acid* 10% AAAA C Unresistant, not recommended Acetic Acid* 60% ABAB for service applications under Acetic Anhydride* CCCC any conditions. Air AAAA Aluminum Chloride all conc A A A A - Information not available. Aluminum Fluoride all conc A A A A Aluminum Sulphate all conc A A A A Alums all types A A A A Ammonia 100% dry gas A A A A # Plasticizer. Ammonium Carbonate AAAA Certain types of chemicals are Ammonium Chloride sat’d A A A A absorbed to varying degrees by poly- Ammonium Fluoride sat’d A A A A ethylene causing swelling, weight-gain, Ammonium Hydroxide 10% AAAA softening and some loss of yield strength. These plasticizing materials Ammonium Hydroxide 28% AAAA cause no actual chemical degrada- Ammonium Nitrate sat’d A A A A tion of the resin. Several of these Ammonium Persulphate sat’d A A A A chemicals have a strong plasticizing Ammonium Sulphate sat’d A A A A effect (e.g. aromatic hydrocarbons benzene), whereas others have weaker Ammonium Metaphosphate sat’d A A A A effects (e.g. gasoline). Certain plasti- Ammonium Sulfide sat’d A A A A cizers are sufficiently volatile that if Amyl Acetate#* 100% C C C C they are removed from contact with Amyl Alcohol#* 100% A A A A the polyethylene, the part will “dry” out and return to its original condition with Amyl Chloride# 100% C C C C no loss of properties. Aniline#* 100% A C C B Aqua Regia+ CCCC Arsenic Acid all conc A A A A Aromatic Hydrocarbons#* CCCC + Oxidizers. Ascorbic Acid 10% AAAA Oxidizers are the only group of materials capable of chemically degrading Barium Carbonate sat’d A A A A polyethylene. The effects on the poly- Barium Chloride sat’d A A A A ethylene may be gradual even for Barium Hydroxide AAAA strong oxidizers and short-term effects Barium Sulphate sat’d A A A A may not be measurable. However, if continuous long-term exposure is Barium Sulphide sat’d A A A A intended, the chemical effects should Beer AAAA be checked regularly. Benzene#* CCCC CODES Benzoic Acid all conc A A A A Bismuth Carbonate sat’d A A A A A Resistant no indication that Bleach Lye 10% AAAA serviceability would be impaired. Borax sat’d A A A A Boric Acid all conc A A A A B Variable resistance, depending Boron Trifluoride AAAA on conditions of use. Brine AAAA C Unresistant, not recommended Bromine+ liquid C C C C for service applications under Bromine Water# sat’d C C C C any conditions. Butanediol* 10% AAAA Butanediol* 60% AAAA - Information not available. Butanediol* 100% A A A A Butter* AAAA n-Butyl Acetate#* 100% B C A B n-Butyl Alcohol* 100% A A A A # Plasticizer. Butyric Acid# conc C C C C Certain types of chemicals are Calcium Bisulphide AAAA absorbed to varying degrees by poly- Calcium Carbonate sat’d A A A A ethylene causing swelling, weight-gain, softening and some loss of yield Calcium Chlorate sat’d A A A A strength. These plasticizing materials Calcium Chloride sat’d A A A A cause no actual chemical degrada- Calcium Hydroxide conc A A A A tion of the resin. Several of these Calcium Hypochloride bleach sol A A A A chemicals have a strong plasticizing effect (e.g. aromatic hydrocarbons Calcium Nitrate 50% AAAA benzene), whereas others have weaker Calcium Oxide sat’d A A A A effects (e.g. gasoline). Certain plasti- Calcium Sulphate AAAA cizers are sufficiently volatile that if Camphor Oil#* CCBC they are removed from contact with the polyethylene, the part will “dry” out Carbon Dioxide all conc A A A A and return to its original condition with Carbon Disulphide CCCC no loss of properties. Carbon Monoxide AAAA Carbon Tetrachloride# CCBC Carbonic Acid AAAA Castor 0il* conc A A A A + Oxidizers. Chlorine+ 100% dry gas B C C C Oxidizers are the only group of materi- Chlorine Liquid+ CCCC als capable of chemically degrading polyethylene. The effects on the poly- Chlorine Water+ 2% sat’d sol A A A A ethylene may be gradual even for Chlorobenzene#* CCCC strong oxidizers and short-term effects Chloroform*# CCBC may not be measurable. However, if Chlorosulphonic Acid 100% C C C C continuous long-term exposure is intended, the chemical effects should Chrome Alum sat’d A A A A be checked regularly. Chromic Acid 80% -- -- Chromic Acid 50% ABAB Chromic Acid 10% AAAA Cider* AAAA Citric Acid* sat’d A A A A Coconut 0il Alcohols* AAAA Coffee AAAA Cola Concentrate* AAAA Copper Chloride sat’d A A A A Copper Cyanide sat’d A A A A Copper Fluoride 2% AAAA Copper Nitrate sat’d A A A A Copper Sulphate sat’d A A A A Corn 0il* AAAA Cottonseed 0il* AAAA Cuprous Chloride sat’d A A A A Detergents Synthetic* AAAA Developers Photographic AAAA Dextrin sat’d A A A A Dextrose sat’d A A A A CODES Diazo Salts AAAA Dibutylphthalate* BBBB A Resistant no indication that Dichlorobenzene#* CCCC serviceability would be impaired. Diethyl Ketone#* BCBB Diethylene Glycol* AAAA B Variable resistance, depending Diglycolic Acid* AAAA on conditions of use. Dimethylamine CCCC C Unresistant, not recommended Disodium Phosphate AABA for service applications under Emulsions, Photographic* AAAA any conditions. Ethyl Acetate#* 100% B C B C Ethyl Alcohol* 100% A A A A - Information not available. Ethyl Alcohol* 35% AAAA Ethyl Benzene#* CCCC Ethyl Chloride# CCCC Ethyl Ether# CCCC # Plasticizer. Ethylene Chloride#* CCCC Certain types of chemicals are Ethylene Glycol* AAAA absorbed to varying degrees by poly- Fatty Acids* AAAA ethylene causing swelling, weight-gain, Ferric Chloride sat’d A A A A softening and some loss of yield strength. These plasticizing materials Ferric Nitrate sat’d A A A A cause no actual chemical degrada- Ferrous Chloride sat’d A A A A tion of the resin. Several of these Ferrous Sulphate AAAA chemicals have a strong plasticizing Fish Solubles* AAAA effect (e.g. aromatic hydrocarbons benzene), whereas others have weaker Fluoboric Acid AAAA effects (e.g. gasoline). Certain plasti- Fluosillcic Acid conc A B A B cizers are sufficiently volatile that if Fluosillcic Acid 32% AAAA they are removed from contact with Formic Acid all conc A A A A the polyethylene, the part will “dry” out and return to its original condition with Fructose sat’d A A A A no loss of properties. Fruit Pulp* AAAA Furtural# 100% C C B C Furturyl Alcohol#* CCBC Gallic Acid* sat’d A A A A + Oxidizers. Gasoline#* CCBB Oxidizers are the only group of materials capable of chemically degrading Glucose AAAA polyethylene. The effects on the poly- Glycerine* AAAA ethylene may be gradual even for Glycol* AAAA strong oxidizers and short-term effects Glycolic Acid* 30% AAAA may not be measurable. However, if continuous long-term exposure is Grape Sugar AAAA intended, the chemical effects should n-Heptane#* CCBB be checked regularly. Hexachlorobenzene AAA- Hexanol Tertiary* AAAA Hydrobromic Acid 50% AAAA Hydrochloric Acid all conc A A A A Hydrocyanic Acid sat’d A A A A Hydrofluoric Acid* 60% AAAA Hydrogen 100% A A A A Hydrogen Chloride dry gas A A A A Hydrogen Peroxide 30% AAAA Hydrogen Peroxide 10% AAAA Hydrogen Sulphide AAAA Hydroquinone AAAA Hypochlorous Acid conc. A A A A Inks* AAAA lodine+ in Kl sol’n B C B - Isopropyl Alcohol 100% - - -- Lead Acetate sat’d A A A A Lead Nitrate AAAA Lactic Acid* 20% AAAA Linseed Oil* 100% B C B C CODES Magnesium Carbonate sat’d A A A A Magnesium Chloride sat’d A A A A A Resistant no indication that Magnesium Hydroxide sat’d A A A A serviceability would be impaired. Magnesium Nitrate sat’d A A A A Magnesium Sulphate sat’d A A A A B Variable resistance, depending Mercuric Chloride 40% A A A A on conditions of use. Mercuric Cyanide sat’d A A A A C Unresistant, not recommended Mercury A A A A for service applications under Methyl Alcohol* 100% A A A A any conditions. Methylethyl Ketone#* 100% B C B C Methylene Chloride#* 100% C C B B - Information not available. Milk A A A A Mineral Oils# B C B C Molasses A A A A Naphtha#* B C B C # Plasticizer. Naphthalene#* C C B - Certain types of chemicals are Nickel Chloride conc A A A A absorbed to varying degrees by poly- Nickel Nitrate sat’d A A A A ethylene causing swelling, weight-gain, softening and some loss of yield Nickel Sulphate conc A A A A strength. These plasticizing materials Nicotine* dilute A A A A cause no actual chemical degrada- Nitric Acid 0-30% A A A A tion of the resin. Several of these Nitric Acid+ 30-50% A B A B chemicals have a strong plasticizing effect (e.g. aromatic hydrocarbons Nitric Acid+ 70% A B A B benzene), whereas others have weaker Nitric Acid+ 95-98% C C C C effects (e.g. gasoline). Certain plasti- Nitrobenzene#* 100% C C C C cizers are sufficiently volatile that if n-Octane A A A A they are removed from contact with the polyethylene, the part will “dry” out Oleic Acid B C B C and return to its original condition with Oxalic Acid* sat’d A A A A no loss of properties. Perchloroethylene# C C C C Phosphoric Acid 95% A B A A Photographic Solutions A A A A Plating Solutions* + Oxidizers. Brass A A A A Oxidizers are the only group of materials capable of chemically degrading Cadmium A A A A polyethylene. The effects on the poly- Chromium A A A A ethylene may be gradual even for Copper A A A A strong oxidizers and short-term effects Gold A A A A may not be measurable. However, if continuous long-term exposure is Indium A A A A intended, the chemical effects should Lead A A A A be checked regularly. Nickel A A A A Rhodium A A A A Sliver A A A A Tin A A A A Zinc A A A A Potassium Bicarbonate sat’d A A A A Potassium Bromide sat’d A A A A Potassium Bromate 10% A A A A Potassium Carbonate A A A A Potassium Chlorate sat’d A A A A Potassium Chloride sat’d A A A A Potassium Chromate 40% A A A A Potassium Cyanide sat’d A A A A Potassium Dichromate 40% A A A A Potassium Ferri/Ferro Cyanide sat’d A A A A Potassium Fluoride A A A A Potassium Hydroxide conc A A A A Potassium Nitrate sat’d A A A A Potassium Perborate sat’d A A A A CODES Potassium Perchlorate 10% AAAA Potassium Permanganate 20% AAAA A Resistant no indication that Potassium Persulphate sat’d A A A A serviceability would be impaired. Potassium Sulphate conc A A A A Potassium Sulphide conc A A A A B Variable resistance, depending Potassium Sulphite conc A A A A on conditions of use. Propargyl Alcohol* AAAA C Unresistant, not recommended n-Propyl Alcohol* AAAA for service applications under Propylene Dichloride#* 100% C C C - any conditions. Propylene GlyCol* AAAA Pyridine* A- A- - Information not available. Resorcinol sat’d A A A A Salicylic Acid sat’d A A A A Sea Water AAAA Selenic Acid AAAA # Plasticizer. Shortening* AAAA Certain types of chemicals are Sliver Nitrate Sol’n AAAA absorbed to varying degrees by poly- Soap Solutions* any conc A A A A ethylene causing swelling, weight-gain, Sodium Acetate sat’d A A A A softening and some loss of yield strength. These plasticizing materials Sodium Benzoate 35% AAAA cause no actual chemical degrada- Sodium Biscarbonate sat’d A A A A tion of the resin. Several of these Sodium Bisulphate sat’d A A A A chemicals have a strong plasticizing Sodium Bisulphite sat’d A A A A effect (e.g. aromatic hydrocarbons benzene), whereas others have weaker Sodium Borate AAAA effects (e.g. gasoline). Certain plasti- Sodium Bromide dilute A A A A cizers are sufficiently volatile that if Sodium Carbonate conc A A A A they are removed from contact with Sodium Chlorate sat’d A A A A the polyethylene, the part will “dry” out and return to its original condition with Sodium Chloride sat’d A A A A no loss of properties. Sodium Cyanide AAAA Sodium Dichromate sat’d A A A A Sodium Ferri/Ferro Cyanide sat’d A A A A + Oxidizers. Sodium Fluoride sat’d A A A A Oxidizers are the only group of materials capable of chemically degrading Sodium Hydroxide conc A A A A polyethylene. The effects on the poly- Sodium Hypochlorite AAAA ethylene may be gradual even for Sodium Nitrate AAAA strong oxidizers and short-term effects Sodium Sulphate AAAA may not be measurable. However, if continuous long-term exposure is Sodium Sulphide sat’d A A A A intended, the chemical effects should Sodium Sulphite sat’d A A A A be checked regularly. Stannic Chloride sat’d A A A A Stannous Chloride sat’d A A A A Starch Solution* sat’d A A A A Stearic Acid* 100% A A A A Sulphuric Acid 0-50% A A A A Sulphuric Acid+ 70% ABAB Sulphuric Acid+ 80% ACAC Sulphuric Acid+ 96% BCBC Sulphuric Acid+ 98-conc B C B C Sulphuric Acid+ fuming C C C C Sulphurous Acid AAAA Tallow# ABA- Tannic Acid* sat’d A A A A Tartaric Acid AAAA Tetrolydrofuran#* CCBC Titanium Tetrochloride sat’d C C C - Toluene#* CCBB Trichloroethylene#* CCCC Triethylene Glycol* AAAA Trisodium Phosphate sat’d A A A A CODES Turpentine# CCBB Urea 0-30% A A A A A Resistant no indication that Urine AAAA serviceability would be impaired. Vanilla Extract* AAAA Vinegar AAAA B Variable resistance, depending Water AAAA on conditions of use. Wetting Agents* AAAA C Unresistant, not recommended Whiskey* AAAA for service applications under Wines* AAAA any conditions. Xylene# CCBB Yeast AAAA - Information not available. Zinc Bromide sat’d A A A A Zinc Carbonate sat’d A A A A Zinc Chloride sat’d A A A A Zinc Oxide sat’d A A A A # Plasticizer. Zinc Stearate AAAA Certain types of chemicals are Zinc Sulphate sat’d A A A A absorbed to varying degrees by polyethylene causing swelling, weight-gain, softening and some loss of yield strength. These plasticizing materials cause no actual chemical degrada- tion of the resin. Several of these "All statements, technical information and recommendations contained herein are based on data CDF chemicals have a strong plasticizing believes to be reliable, but the accuracy or completeness thereof is not guaranteed. Neither CDF nor its effect (e.g. aromatic hydrocarbons suppliers shall be liable for any injury, loss, or damage, direct or consequential, arising out of the use of benzene), whereas others have weaker or inability to use the data contained herein. The user assumes all risk and liability whatsoever in effects (e.g. gasoline). Certain plasti- connection therewith." cizers are sufficiently volatile that if they are removed from contact with the polyethylene, the part will “dry” out and return to its original condition with no loss of properties.

+ Oxidizers. Oxidizers are the only group of materials capable of chemically degrading polyethylene. The effects on the polyethylene may be gradual even for strong oxidizers and short-term effects may not be measurable. However, if continuous long-term exposure is intended, the chemical effects should be checked regularly.

M-163-0704 RevA 7/2004