Polypropylene Resistance Introduction Among many of the positive attributes of polypropylene, it is probably best known for its resistance to highly aggressive chemicals. While polypropylene is highly resistant to many chemicals at room temperatures, its chemical resistance decreases with increased temperatures. This technical note provides a basic resistance rating for many chemicals. This table is meant to serve as a general guide and should not be used to guarantee performance since specific site and application conditions may cause specific concerns which cannot be addressed in a general table. This chart rates the chemical resistance of polypropylene resin according to the following code: Ratings: A = Excellent B = Good, Minor, slight corrosion or discoloration C = Fair, Moderate, not recommended for continuous use. Softening, loss of strength, or swelling may occur. D = Severe, not recommend for ANY use. = Information not available Explanation of Footnotes: 1. means Satisfactory to 72 F (22 C) 2. means Satisfactory to 120 F (48 C) Acetaldehyde Acetamide Acetate Solvent Alcohols: Diacetone Alcohols: Ethyl Alcohols: Hexyl Alums Amines Ammonia 10% Phosphate, Monobasic Phosphate, Tribasic Sulfate Acetic Acid Acetic Acid Acetic Acid 80% Acetic Acid, Glacial Acetic Anhydride Acetone Acetyl Bromide Acetyl Chloride (dry) Acetylene Acrylonitrile Adipic Acid Alcohols: Amyl Alcohols: Benzyl Alcohols: Butyl Alcohols: Isobutyl Alcohols: Isopropyl Alcohols: Methyl Alcohols: Octyl Alcohols: Propyl Aluminum Chloride Aluminum Chloride Aluminum Fluoride Aluminum Aluminum Nitrate Aluminum Sulfate 10% Aluminum Sulfate Aluminum Sulfate Ammonia Nitrate Ammonia, anhydrous Ammonia, liquid Acetate Bifluoride Carbonate Caseinate Chloride Nitrate Oxalate Persulfate Phosphate, Dibasic Sulfite Thiosulfate Amyl Acetate Amyl Alcohol Amyl Chloride Aniline Aniline Hydrochloride Antifreeze Antimony Trichloride Aqua Regia (80% HCl, HNO3) Arochlor 1248 Aromatic Hydrocarbons Arsenic Acid Page 1 of 6
Polypropylene Resistance Arsenic Salts Butyl Ether Catsup Cresols Asphalt Butyl Phthalate Chloric Acid Cresylic Acid Barium Carbonate Butylacetate Chlorinated Glue Cupric Acid Barium Chloride Butylene Chlorine (dry) Cyanic Acid Barium Cyanide Butyric Acid Chlorine Water Cyclohexane Barium Calcium Bisulfate Chlorine, Anhydrous Liquid Cyclohexanone Barium Nitrate Calcium Bisulfide Chloroacetic Acid Detergents Barium Sulfate Calcium Bisulfite Chlorobenzene (Mono) Diacetone Alcohol Barium Sulfide Calcium Carbonate Chlorobromomethane Dichlorobenzene Beer Calcium Chlorate Chloroform Dichloroethane Beet Sugar Liquids Calcium Chloride Chlorosulfonic Acid Diesel Fuel Benzaldehyde Calcium Chocolate Syrup Diethyl Ether Benzene Calcium Hypochlorite Chromic Acid 10% Diethylamine Benzene Sulfonic Acid Calcium Nitrate Chromic Acid 30% Diethylene Glycol Benzoic Acid Calcium Oxide Chromic Acid 5% Dimethyl Aniline Benzol Calcium Sulfate Chromic Acid 50% Dimethyl Formamide Benzonitrile Calgon Chromium Salts Diphenyl Benzyl Chloride Cane Juice Cider Diphenyl Oxide Bleaching Liquors Carbolic Acid (Phenol) Citric Acid Dyes Borax (Sodium Borate) Carbon Bisulfide Citric Oils Epsom Salts (Magnesium Sulfate) Boric Acid Carbon Dioxide (dry) Clorox (Bleach) Ethane Brewery Slop Carbon Dioxide (wet) Coffee Ethanol Bromine Carbon Disulfide Copper Chloride Ethanolamine Butadiene Carbon Monoxide Copper Cyanide Ether Butane Carbon Tetrachloride Copper Fluoborate Ethyl Acetate Butanol (Butyl Alcohol) Carbon Tetrachloride (dry) Copper Nitrate Ethyl Benzoate Butter Carbon Tetrachloride (wet) Copper Sulfate>5% Ethyl Chloride Buttermilk Carbonated Water Copper Sulfate 5% Ethyl Ether Butyl Amine Carbonic Acid Cream Ethyl Sulfate Page 2 of 6
Polypropylene Resistance Ethylene Bromide Gasoline (higharomatic) Hydrofluosilicic Acid Lead Sulfamate Ethylene Chloride Gasoline, leaded, ref. Hydrofluosilicic Acid Ligroin Ethylene Chlorohydrin Gasoline, unleaded Hydrogen Gas Lime Ethylene Diamine Gelatin 10% Linoleic Acid Ethylene Dichloride Glucose Lithium Chloride Ethylene Glycol Glue, P.V.A. 30% Lithium Ethylene Oxide Glycerin 50% Lubricants Fatty Acids Glycolic Acid Hydrogen Sulfide (aqua) Lye: Ca(OH)2 Calcium Ferric Chloride Ferric Nitrate Ferric Sulfate Ferrous Chloride Ferrous Sulfate Gold Monocyanide Grape Juice Grease Heptane Hexane C2-Fair Hydrogen Sulfide (dry) Hydroquinone Hydroxyacetic Acid 70% Ink Iodine Lye: KOH Lye: NaOH Sodium Magnesium Bisulfate Magnesium Carbonate Magnesium Chloride Fluoboric Acid Fluorine Fluosilicic Acid Honey Hydraulic Oil (Petro) Hydraulic Oil (Synthetic) Iodine (in alcohol) Iodoform Isooctane Magnesium Magnesium Nitrate Magnesium Oxide Formaldehyde Formaldehyde 40% Formic Acid Freon 113 Freon 12 Freon 22 Freon TF Freonr 11 Fruit Juice Fuel Oils Furan Resin Furfural Gallic Acid Hydrazine Hydrobromic Acid Hydrobromic Acid Hydrochloric Acid Hydrochloric Acid Hydrochloric Acid 37% Hydrochloric Acid, Dry Gas Hydrocyanic Acid Hydrocyanic Acid (Gas 10%) 50% 75% Isopropyl Acetate Isopropyl Ether Isotane Jet Fuel (JP3, JP4, JP5) Kerosene Ketones Lacquer Thinners Lacquers Lactic Acid Lard Latex Lead Acetate Lead Nitrate Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom Salts) Maleic Acid Maleic Anhydride Malic Acid Manganese Sulfate Mash Mayonnaise Melamine Mercuric Chloride (dilute) Mercuric Cyanide Mercurous Nitrate Mercury Methane Page 3 of 6
Polypropylene Resistance Methanol (Methyl Alcohol) Nickel Nitrate Oils: Fuel (1, 2, 3, 5A, 5B, 6) Pentane Methyl Acetate Nickel Sulfate Oils: Ginger Perchloric Acid Methyl Acetone Nitrating Acid (<15% HNO3) Oils: Hydraulic Oil (Petro) Perchloroethylene Methyl Acrylate Nitrating Acid (>15% H2SO4) Oils: Hydraulic Oil (Synthetic) Petrolatum Methyl Alcohol 10% Nitrating Acid (S1% Acid) Oils: Lemon Petroleum Methyl Bromide Nitrating Acid (S15% H2SO4) Oils: Linseed Phenol (10%) Methyl Butyl Ketone Nitric Acid () Oils: Mineral Phenol (Carbolic Acid) Methyl Cellosolve Nitric Acid (50%) Oils: Olive (>40%) Methyl Chloride Nitric Acid (5-10%) Oils: Orange (crude) Methyl Dichloride Nitric Acid (Concentrated) Oils: Palm (molten) Methyl Ethyl Ketone Nitrobenzene Oils: Peanut (S40%) Methyl Ethyl Ketone Peroxide Nitrogen Fertilizer Oils: Peppermint Anhydride Methyl Isobutyl Ketone Nitromethane Oils: Pine Phosphorus Methyl Isopropyl Ketone Nitrous Acid Oils: Rapeseed Phosphorus Trichloride Methyl Methacrylate Nitrous Oxide Oils: Rosin Photographic Developer Methylamine Oils: Aniline Oils: Sesame Seed Photographic Solutions Methylene Chloride Oils: Anise Oils: Silicone Phthalic Acid Milk Oils: Bay Oils: Soybean Phthalic Anhydride Mineral Spirits Oils: Bone Oils: Sperm (whale) Picric Acid Molasses Monochloroacetic acid Monoethanolamine Morpholine Oils: Castor Oils: Cinnamon Oils: Citric Oils: Clove Oils: Tanning Oils: Transformer Oils: Turbine Oleic Acid, Antimony Plating 130 F, Arsenic Plating 110 F (Brass): High-Speed Brass Bath 110 F Motor oil Mustard Naphtha Naphthalene Oils: Coconut Oils: Cod Liver Oils: Corn Oils: Cottonseed Oleum Oleum 25% Oxalic Acid (cold) Ozone (Brass): Regular Brass Bath 100 F (Bronze): Cu-Cd Bronze Bath R.T. (Bronze): Cu-Sn Bronze Bath 160 F Natural Gas Nickel Chloride Oils: Creosote Oils: Diesel Fuel (20, 30, 40, 50) Palmitic Acid Paraffin (Bronze): Cu-Zn Bronze Bath 100 F (Cadmium): Cyanide Bath 90 F Page 4 of 6
Polypropylene Resistance (Cadmium): Fluoborate Bath 100 F, (Chromium): Barrel Chrome Bath 95 F, (Chromium): Black Chrome Bath 115 F, (Chromium): Chromic-Sulfuric Bath 130 F, (Chromium): Fluoride Bath 130 F, (Chromium): Fluosilicate Bath 95 F (Copper) (Acid): Copper Fluoborate Bath 120 F (Copper) (Acid): Copper Sulfate Bath R.T. (Copper) (Cyanide): Copper Strike Bath 120 F (Copper) (Cyanide): High-Speed Bath 180 F (Copper) (Cyanide): Rochelle Salt Bath 150 F (Copper) (Misc): Copper (Electroless) (Copper) (Misc): Copper Pyrophosphate (Gold): Acid 75 F (Gold): Cyanide 150 F (Gold): Neutral 75 F, Indium Sulfamate Plating R.T. (Iron): Ferrous Am Sulfate Bath 150 F (Iron): Ferrous Chloride Bath 190 F (Iron): Ferrous Sulfate Bath 150 F (Iron): Fluoborate Bath 145 F (Iron): Sulfamate 140 F (Iron): Sulfate- Chloride Bath 160 F, Lead Fluoborate Plating, (Nickel): Electroless 200 F, (Nickel): Fluoborate 100-170 F, (Nickel): High- Chloride 130-160 F, (Nickel): Sulfamate 100-140 F, (Nickel): Watts Type 115-160 F (Rhodium) 120 F, (Silver) 80-120 F, Tin-Fluoborate Plating 100 F, Tin-Lead Plating 100 F (Zinc): Acid Chloride 140 F (Zinc): Acid Fluoborate Bath R.T. (Zinc): Acid Sulfate Bath 150 F (Zinc): Alkaline Cyanide Bath R.T. Potash ( Carbonate) Bicarbonate Bromide Chlorate Chloride Chromate Cyanide Solutions Dichromate Ferricyanide Ferrocyanide (Caustic Potash) Hypochlorite Iodide Nitrate Oxalate Permanganate Sulfate Sulfide Propane (liquefied) Propylene Propylene Glycol Pyridine Pyrogallic Acid Resorcinal Rosins Rum Rust Inhibitors Salad Dressings Salicylic Acid Salt Brine (NaCl saturated) Sea Water Shellac (Bleached) Shellac (Orange) Silicone Silver Bromide Silver Nitrate Soap Solutions Soda Ash (see Sodium Carbonate) Sodium Acetate Sodium Aluminate Sodium Benzoate Sodium Bicarbonate Sodium Bisulfate Sodium Bisulfite Sodium Borate (Borax) Sodium Bromide Sodium Carbonate Sodium Chlorate Sodium Chloride Sodium Chromate Sodium Cyanide Sodium Ferrocyanide Sodium Fluoride Sodium Hydrosulfite Sodium () Sodium (50%) Sodium (80%) Sodium Hypochlorite (<) Sodium Hypochlorite () Sodium Hyposulfate Sodium Metaphosphate Sodium Metasilicate Sodium Nitrate Sodium Perborate Sodium Peroxide Page 5 of 6
Polypropylene Resistance Sodium Polyphosphate Sulfate (Liquors) Tartaric Acid Urine Sodium Silicate Sulfur Chloride Tetrachloroethane Varnish Sodium Sulfate Sulfur Dioxide Tetrachloroethylene Vegetable Juice Sodium Sulfide Sulfur Dioxide (dry) Tetrahydrofuran C2-Fair Vinegar Sodium Sulfite Sulfur Hexafluoride Tin Salts Vinyl Acetate Sodium Tetraborate Sulfur Trioxide Toluene (Toluol) Vinyl Chloride Sodium Thiosulfate (hypo) Sulfur Trioxide (dry) Tomato Juice Water, Acid, Mine Sorghum Sulfuric Acid (<10%) Trichloroacetic Acid Water, Deionized Soy Sauce Sulfuric Acid (10-75%) Trichloroethane Water, Distilled Stannic Chloride Sulfuric Acid (75- ) Trichloroethylene Water, Fresh Stannic Fluoborate Sulfuric Acid (cold concentrated) Trichloropropane Water, Salt Stannous Chloride Sulfuric Acid (hot concentrated) Tricresylphosphate Weed Killers Starch Sulfurous Acid Triethylamine Whey Stearic Acid Sulfuryl Chloride Trisodium Phosphate Whiskey & Wines Stoddard Solvent Tallow Turpentine White Liquor (Pulp Mill) Styrene Tannic Acid Urea White Water (Paper Mill) Sugar (Liquids) Tanning Liquors Uric Acid Xylene Zinc Chloride Zinc Hydrosulfite Source: The test results indicated in this table are based on data provided by CP Lab Safety s chart, Zinc Sulfate Polypropylene Chart. Please note that these charts are for general reference only. We have aggregated this data from dozens of sources and any single piece of data cannot be guaranteed. Additionally, many factors affect the chemical resistance of a given plastic product including the concentration/purity of the chemical, working temperature, wall thickness and condition, etc. It is your responsibility to test a product and chemical together ensuring computability under your unique circumstances. Ratings of chemical behavior listed in this chart apply at a 48-hr exposure period. We have no knowledge of possible effects beyond this period. We do not warrant (neither express nor implied) that the information in this chart is accurate or complete or that any material is suitable for any purpose. Anyone who uses this information assumes all risk to any results associated with its use. Page 6 of 6