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Chemical Resistance Reference Chart

This chart provides a guideline for the chemical resistance of the glass and plastic materials. Because so many factors can affect chemical resistance, test your poduct under your actual conditions of use.

Key to Chart

E - No damage after 30 days of constant exposure
G - Little or no damage after 30 days of constant exposure
F - Some effect after seven days of constant exposure
N - Immediate damage may occur. Not recommended for continuous use
S - Surface etching possible

The first letter of each pair applies to minimum temperature conditions;
the second to maximum temperature conditions.

Plastic Resin Code Description Temp MAX °C Temp MIN °C
HDPE High-density polyethylene 120 -35
LDPE Low-density polyethylene 100 -40
TPX polyethylene 175 0
PP polypropylene 135 -20
PTFE polytetrafluoroethylene 260 -200
RedRubber/PTFE 110 -30
Silicon/PTFE 200 -60
PTFE/Silicon/PTFE 200 -60
Viton® 230 -30

Effect of Chemicals on Glass

Clear borosilicate and amber 51 expansion glass exhibit a high degree of chemical resistance with a few exception: Some chemicals can etch the surface of glass. Surface etching does not usually affect the dimensional characteristics of glass, but it can release chemical components into the sample solution.

ChemicalLDPEHDPEPPTPXGlassPTFE
1,4-Dioxane GF GG FN GF EE EE
2,2,4-Trimethylpentane FN FN FN FN EE EE
2-Methoxyethanol EG EE GE EE EE EE
2-Propanol EE EE EE EE EE EE
ChemicalLDPEHDPEPPTPXGlassPTFE
Acetaldehyde GN GF GN GN EE EE
Acetamide, Sat. EE EE EE EE EE EE
Acetic Acid, 5% EE EE EE EE EE EE
Acetic Acid, 50% GF EG EE EE EE EE
Acetic Acid, Glacial GN GG EG GG EE EE
Acetic Anhydride NN FF GF EG EE EE
Acetone NN NN GN EE EE EE
Acetonitrile EE EE EG FN EE EE
Acetophenone NN FF FN GN EE EE
Acrylonitrile EE EE EG FN EE EE
Adipic Acid EG EE EE EE EE EE
Alanine EE EE EE EE EE EE
Allyl Alcohol EE EE EE EG EE EE
Aluminum Chloride EE EE EE EE EE EE
Aluminum Hydroxide EG EE EG EG SS EE
Aluminum Salts EE EE EE EE EE EE
Amino Acids EE EE EE EE EE EE
Ammonia (pure) EE EE EE EE SS EE
Ammonia, 25% EE EE EE EE SS EE
Ammonium Acetate, Sat. EE EE EE EE EE EE
Ammonium Chloride EE EE EE EE EE EE
Ammonium Glycolate EG EE EG EG EE EE
Ammonium Hydroxide, 5% EE EE EE EE SS EE
Ammonium Hydroxide, 30% EG EE EG EG SS EE
Ammonium Oxalate EG EE EG EG EE EE
Ammonium Salts EE EE EE EE EE EE
Amyl Alcohol EE EE EF GF EE EE
Amyl Chloride NN FN NN FF EE EE
Aniline EG GF EG GF EE EE
Aqua Regia NN NN NN NN SS EE
Arsenic Acid GF EE EE EE EE EE
ChemicalLDPEHDPEPPTPXGlassPTFE
Benzaldehyde EG GN EG EF EE EE
Benzenamine EG GF EG GF EE EE
Benzene NN NN NN NN EE EE
Benzoic Acid, Sat. EE EE EG EE EE EE
Benzyl Acetate EG EE EG EG EE EE
Benzyl Alcohol NN FN GG GG EE EE
Boric Acid EE EE EE EE EE EE
Bromine NN FN NN NN EE EE
Bromobenzene NN NN NN NN EE EE
Bromoform NN NN NN NN EE EE
Butadiene NN FN NN NN EE EE
Butyl Acetate GF GF FN FF EE EE
Butyl Chloride NN NN NN FN EE EE
Butyric Acid NN FN NN NN EE EE
ChemicalLDPEHDPEPPTPXGlassPTFE
Calcium Chloride EE EE EE EE EE EE
Calcium Hydroxide, Conc. EE EE EE EE SS EE
Calcium Hypochlorite, Sat. EE EE EE EG EE EE
Carbazole EE EE EE EE EE EE
Carbon Disulfide NN NN NN NN EE EE
Carbon Tetrachloride FN GF GF NNEE EE
Caustic Potash EE EE EE EE SS EE
Caustic Soda, 1% EE FF EE EE SS EE
Caustic Soda GG GF EE EE SS EE
Cedarwood Oil NN FN NN NN EE EE
Cellosolve Acetate EG EE FN EG EE EE
Chlorine Water GN GF FN NN EE EE
Chlorine, 10% (Moist) GN GF FN NN EE EE
Chlorine, 10% in air GN EF FN GN EE EE
Chlorine, wet gas GN GF FN NN EE EE
Chloroacetic Acid EE EE EG EG EE EE
Chlorobenzene NN NN NN NN EE EE
Chloroform FN FN NN NN EE EE
Chromic Acid, 10% EE EE EE EE EE EE
Chromic Acid, 20% EE EE GG EE EE EE
Chromic Acid, 50% EE EE GF GG EE EE
Chromic:Sulfuric NN NN NN NN EE EE
Cinnamon Oil NN NN NN NN EE EE
Citric Acid, 10% EE EE EE EE EE EE
Copper Sulfate EE EE EE EE EE EE
Cresol NN FN GF NN EE EE
Cyclohexane FN FN GN NN EE EE
Cyclohexanone NN FN FN GF EE EE
Cyclopentane NN FN FN FN EE EE
ChemicalLDPEHDPEPPTPXGlassPTFE
Decahydronapthtalene GF EG NN FN EE EE
Decalin GF EG NN FN EE EE
Diacetone NN NN GF FF EE EE
Diacetone Alcohol FN EE GF EE EE EE
Dibutylphthalate FN FN GN GG EE EE
Diethyl Benzene NN FN NN NN EE EE
Diethyl Ether NN FN FN NN EE EE
Diethyl Ketone NN NN GG GF EE EE
Diethyl Malonate EE EE EE EG EE EE
Diethylamine NN FN GN FF EE EE
Diethylene Dioxide GF GG NN FN EE EE
Diethylene Glycol EE EE EE EE EE EE
Diethylene Glycol Ethyl Ether EE EE EE EE EE EE
Dimethyl Acetamide FN EE EE FG EE EE
Dimethyl Formamide EE EE EE EE EE EE
Dimethylsulfoxide EE EE EE EE EE EE
Dioxane GF GG NN FN EE EE
Dipropylene Glycol EE EE EE EE EE EE
DMSO EE EE EE EE EE EE
ChemicalLDPEHDPEPPTPXGlassPTFE
Ethanol, 40% EG EE EE EG EE EE
Ether NN FN NN FN EE EE
Ethyl Acetate EE EE GN FN EE EE
Ethyl Alcohol (Absolute) EG EE EE EG EE EE
Ethyl Alcohol, 40% EG EE EE EG EE EE
Ethyl Alcohol, 96% EG EG EE EG EE EE
Ethyl Benzene NN FN NN NN EE EE
Ethyl Benzoate FF GG GF GF EE EE
Ethyl Butyrate GN GF GN FN EE EE
Ethyl Chloride FN NN FN FN EE EE
Ethyl Chloride, Liquid FN FF FN FN EE EE
Ethyl Cyanoacetate EE EE EE EE EE EE
Ethyl Lactate EE EE EE EE EE EE
Ethylene Chloride NN NN NN NN EE EE
Ethylene Glycol EE EE EE EE EE EE
Ethylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether EG EE GF EE EE EE
Ethylene Oxide FF GF FN FN EE EE
Ethylene Oxide Gas GG GG GG GG EE EE
Ethylene Oxide, 100% FF GF FN FN EE EE
EtO Gas GG EE EE GG EE EE
EtO GF GF FN FN EE EE
ChemicalLDPEHDPEPPTPXGlassPTFE
Fatty Acids EG EE EG EG EE EE
Fluorides EE EE EE EE EE EE
Fluorine FN GN NN FN EE EG
Formaldehyde, 10% EE EE EE EE EE EE
Formaldehyde, 40% EG EG EE EE EE EE
Formalin, 10% EE EE EE EE EE EE
Formalin, 40% EG EG EE EE EE EE
Formic Acid GG EE EG EE EE EE
Formic Acid, 3% EG EE EE EE EE EE
Formic Acid, 100% GG EE EG EE EE EE
Formic Acid, 50% GG EE EG EE EE EE
Formic Acid, 85% GG EE EG EE EE EE
Freon TF EG EG EG FN EE EE
Fuel Oil FN GF EF GF EE EE
ChemicalLDPEHDPEPPTPXGlassPTFE
Gasoline NN FN FN GF EE EE
Glutaraldehyde EG EE EE FF EE EE
Glutaraldehyde Disinfectant EG EE EE FF EE EE
Glycerine EE EE EE EE EE EE
Glycerol EE EE EE EE EE EE
ChemicalLDPEHDPEPPTPXGlassPTFE
Hexane NN GF GF FN EE EE
Hydrazine NN NN NN NN EE EE
Hydrobromic Acid, 69% EE EG EG EE EE EE
Hydrochloric Acid, 5% EE EE EE EE EE EE
Hydrochloric Acid, 20% EE EE EE EE EE EE
HydrochloricAcid, 35% EE EE EG EG EE EE
HydrofluoricAcid, 4% EE EE EE EE SS EE
HydrofluoricAcid, 48% EE EE EG EG SS EE
Hydrogen Peroxide, 3% EE EE EG EE EE EE
Hydrogen Peroxide, 30% EG EE EF EG EE EE
Hydrogen Peroxide, 90% EN EE EF EG EE EE
ChemicalLDPEHDPEPPTPXGlassPTFE
Iodine Crystals NN NN EE GN EE EE
Iso-Propanol, 100% EE EE EE EG EE EE
Isobutanol EE EE EE EG EE EE
IsobutylAlcohol EE EE EE EG EE EE
Isopropanol EE EE EE EG EE EE
Isopropanol, 100% EE EE EE EE EE EE
IsopropylAcetate GF EG GF GF EE EE
IsopropylAlcohol EE EE EE EG EE EE
IsopropylAlcohol, 100% EE EE EE EG EE EE
Isopropyl Benzene FN FN FN NN EE EE
Isopropyl Ether NN FN NN NN EE EE
Jet Fuel FN FN FN FN EE EE
ChemicalLDPEHDPEPPTPXGlassPTFE
Kerosene FN FN FN GF EE EE
Lacquer Thinner NN FN FN FF EE EE
LacticAcid, 3% EG EE EE EG EE EE
Lactic Acid, 85% EG EE EG EG EE EE
Lead Acetate EE EE EE EE EE EE
ChemicalLDPEHDPEPPTPXGlassPTFE
Magnesium Chloride EE EE EE EE EE EE
MEK NN NN EG FN EE EE
Mercuric Chloride EE EE EE EE EE EE
Methanol EG EE EE EG EE EE
Mercury EE EE EE EE EE EE
Methanol, 100% EG EE EE EG EE EE
Methoxyethyl Oleate EG EE EG EG EE EE
Methyl Acetate EN FF GF EE EE EE
Methyl Alcohol EG – EE EG EE EE
Methyl Alcohol, 100% EG EE EE EG EE EE
Methyl Ethyl Ketone NN NN EG FN EE EE
Methyl Isobutyl Ketone NN NN GF FF EE EE
Methyl Propyl Ketone NN FN GF FF EE EE
Methyl-t-Butyl Ether NN FN FN EE EE EE
Methylene Chloride NN FN FN EN EE EE
MIBK NN NN GF FF EE EE
Mineral Oil GN EF EF EG EE EE
Mineral Spirits FN FN FN EE EE EE
ChemicalLDPEHDPEPPTPXGlassPTFE
n-Amyl Acetate GF EG GF GF EE EE
n-Butanol EE EE EE EG EE EE
n-Butyl Acetate GF GF GF GF EE EE
n-Butyl Alcohol EE EE EE EG EE EE
n-Decane FN FN FN FN EE EE
n-Heptane NN FF FF FF EE EE
n-Octane EE EE EE EE EE EE
Nitric Acid, 10% EE EE EE EE EE EE
Nitric Acid, 20% EE GG FF EE EE EE
Nitric Acid, 50% GF FN FN FN EE EE
Nitric Acid, 70% EN FN NN FN EE EE
Nitrobenzene NN NN NN FN EE E
Nitromethane NN FN FN EF EE E
ChemicalLDPEHDPEPPTPXGlassPTFE
o-Dichlorobenzene FN NN FN FN EE EE
Oil, Cedarwood NN FN NN NN EE EE
Oil, Cinnamon NN FN NN NN EE EE
Oil, Mineral GN EE EE EG EE EE
Oil, Pine GN FN EG GF EE EE
Orange Oil FN GF GF FF EE EE
Oxalic Acid, 10% EE EE EE EE EE EE
Ozone GN GN FN EE EE EE
ChemicalLDPEHDPEPPTPXGlassPTFE
p-Chloroacetophenone EE EE EE EE EE EE
p-Dichlorobenzene FN NN GF GF EE EE
Perchloric Acid GN GN GN GN EE GF
Perchloric Acid, Concentrated (70%) GN GN GN GN EE GF
Perchloroethylene NN NN NN NN EE EE
Petroleum NN GN NN GF EE EE
Phenol, 100% NN NN NN NN EE EE
Phenol, 50% NN NN NN NN EE EE
Phenol, Crystals FN GF GN FG EE EE
Phenol, Liquid NN NN NN NN EE EE
Phosphoric Acid, 5% EE EE EE EE EE EE
Phosphoric Acid, 85% EN EE EG EG EE EE
Picric Acid NN NN NN EE EE EE
Pine Oil GN FN EG GF EE EE
Potassium Chloride EE EE EE EE EE EE
Potassium Hydroxide, 10% EE FF EE EE SS EE
Potassium Hydroxide, 30% EE EE EE EE SS EE
Potassium Hydroxide, Concentrated EE EE EE EE SS EE
Potassium Permanganate EE EE EG EE EE EE
Propane Gas NN EE NN NN EE EE
Proprionic Acid FN EF EG EF EE EE
Propylene Glycol EE EE EE EE EE EE
Propylene Oxide EG EE EG EG EE EE
Pyridine NN NN EE FN EE EE
ChemicalLDPEHDPEPPTPXGlassPTFE
Resorcinol, 5% EE EE EE EE EE EE
Resorcinol, Sat. EE EE EE EE EE EE
ChemicalLDPEHDPEPPTPXGlassPTFE
Salicylaldehyde EG EE EG EG EE EE
SalicylicAcid, Powder EE EE EE EE EE EE
Salicylic Acid, Sat. EE EE EE EG EE EE
Salt Solutions, Metallic EE EE EE EE SS EE
sec-Butanol EE EE EE EG EE EE
sec-Butyl Alcohol EE EE EE EG EE EE
Silicone Oil EG EE EE EE EE EE
Silver Acetate EE EE EE EE EE EE
Silver Nitrate EG EE EE EEEE EE
Skydrol LD4 GF EG EG EG EE EE
Sodium Acetate, Sat. EE EE EE EE EE EE
Sodium Carbonate EE EE EE EE EE EE
Sodium Dichromate EE EE EE EE EE EE
Sodium Hydroxide, 1% EE FF EE EE SS EE
Sodium Hydroxide, 10% EE EE EE EE SS EE
Sodium Hydroxide, Concentrated (50%) GG EE EE EE SS EE
Sodium Hypochlorite, 15% EF EG FN EE EE EE
Stearic Acid EE GG EE EE EE EE
Stearic Acid, Crystals EE EE EE EE EE EE
Sulfur Dioxide NN EN EE NN EE EE
Sulfur Dioxide, Liquid NN FN NN NN EE EE
Sulfur Dioxide,Wet or Dry Gas EE EE EE EE EE EE
Sulfur Salts FN GF FN FN EE EE
Sulfuric Acid, 6% EE EE EE EE EE EE
Sulfuric Acid, 20% EE EE EE EE EE EE
Sulfuric Acid, 30% EE EE EE EE EE EE
Sulfuric Acid, 60% EG EG GF EG EE EE
Sulfuric Acid, 98% GG FN FN GF EE EE
SulfuricAcid, Concentrated (96%) GG FN FN GF EE EE
ChemicalLDPEHDPEPPTPXGlassPTFE
Tartaric Acid EE EE EE EE EE EE
TCA FN FN GF EE EE EE
tert-Butanol EG EE EG EG EE EE
tert-Butyl Alcohol EG EE EG EG EE EE
Tetrahydrofuran FN FN GF FF EE EE
THF FN FN GF FF EE EE
Thionyl Chloride NN NN NN NN EE EE
Tincture of Iodine EG GF EE NN EE EE
Toluene FN NN NN FF EE EE
Tributyl Citrate GF EG GF GF EE EE
Trichloroacetic Acid FN FN GF EE EE EE
Trichloroethane NN NN NN NN EE EG
Trichloroethylene NN NN NN NN EE EE
Triethylene Glycol EE EE EE EE EE EE
Tripropylene Glycol EE EE EE EE EE EE
Tris Buffer, Solution EG EG EG EG EE EE
Trisodium Phosphate EE EE EE EE EE EE
Turpentine FN FN FN FN EE EE
ChemicalLDPEHDPEPPTPXGlassPTFE
Undecyl Alcohol EF EG EG EG EE EE
Urea EE EE EE EG EE EE
Vinylidene Chloride NN FN NN NN EE EE
Xylene NN FN NN NN EE EE
Zinc Chloride, 10% EE EE EE EE EE EE
Zinc Stearate EE EE EE EE EE EE
Zinc Sulfate, 10% EE EE EE EE EE EE