Fundamentals concerning plastics
Chemical resistance of plastics
Material | Abbreviation | General chemical resistance |
---|---|---|
Polyvinyl chloride | PVC-U | Resistance to most acids, alkaline solutions, salt solutions and organic compounds mixable with water. Non-resistant to aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons. |
Polyvinyl chloride, chlorinated | PVC-C | Similar to PVC-U but up to a temperature of 90 °C. |
Polyethylene | HD-PE | Resistant to aqueous solutions of acids, alkaline solutions and salts as well as a huge number of organic solvents. Unsuitable for concentrated oxidising acids. Non-resistant to aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons. |
Polyethylene, cross-linked | PE-X | Similar to HD-PE but applicable at higher temperatures. |
Polypropylene | PP | Similar to HD-PE but applicable at higher temperatures. |
Polybutylene | PB | Similar to HD-PE but applicable at higher temperatures. |
Polyvinylidene fluoride | PVDF | Resistant to acids, salt solutions, aliphatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons, alcohols and halogens. Only suitable to a limited extent for ketones, aether, organic bases and alkaline solutions. |
Ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene | ECTFE | Similar to PVDF; in addition, high resistance to alkaline solutions above pH 11. |
Polytetrafluoroethylene | PTFE | Resistant to all chemicals of this list. |
Glass-fibre-reinforced plastics | GRP | Different resistance depending on thermosetting resins used. |