Chemical Guidelines for Plastic

Selecting the correct material for your package is important to ensure product compatibility.  Below are characteristics for the most common resins.

 

CHEMICAL GUIDELINES FOR PLASTICS CHART
Chemical  
LDPE
HDPE
PP
PVC
PET
PS
Acetic Acid, glacial  
B
A
A
D
D
D
Acetone  
B
A
A
D
D
D
Alcohol: Ethyl  
B
A
A
A
A
B
Alcohol: Methyl  
A
A
A
A
A
A
Alcohol: N-Propyl  
A
A
A
A
A
B
Aliphatic (Straight Chain) Hydrocarbons  
D
B
B
A
A
D
Ammonia 28%  
B
A
A
A
C
B
Battery Electrolyte  
A
A
A
B
B
B
Benzene, Xylene and other Aromatic Hydrocarbons  
D
D
D
D
D
D
Bromine, liquid  
D
D
B
D
D
D
Carbon Tetrachloride and other Chlorinated Hydrocarbons  
D
D
D
D
D
D
Chromic Acid below 40%  
A
A
A
A
A
B
Chromic Acid 40% or above  
B
A
A
A
C
D
Dipropylene Glycol  
A
A
A
A
C
A
Ethers, simple  
D
D
D
B
C
D
Ethyl Acetate and other Simple Esters  
B
B
B
D
D
D
Ethylene Glycol  
A
A
A
A
B
A
Formaldehyde 36%  
A
A
A
A
C
D
Formic Acid  
A
A
A
A
C
B
Gasoline  
D
B
B
B
B
D
Hexachlorophene  
B
A
C
B
C
C
Hydrobromic Acid 48%  
A
A
B
A
C
B
Hydrochloric (muriatic) Acid 36% or 22.4º Be  
A
A
A
A
B
B
Hydrofluoric Acid up to 52%  
A
A
A
A
C
D
Hydrofluosilicic Acid up to 26%  
A
A
C
C
C
B
Hydrogen Peroxide up to 30%  
A
A
A
A
A
B
Kerosene, Naphtha, Mineral Spirits, Petroleum, Distillate or Stoddard Solvent   
D
B
C
B
B
D
Mercury, metal  
A
A
A
A
C
A
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)  
B
B
B
D
D
D
MEK Peroxide  
C
A
C
D
C
D
Nitric Acid under 20%  
A
A
A
A
A
D
Nitric Acid 20-70%  
B
B
B
A
C
D
Oxalic Acid  
A
A
A
A
C
A
Phenol  
B
B
A
B
D
D
Phosphoric Acid 85% or 59º Be  
A
A
A
A
C
B
Potassium Hydroxide  
A
A
A
A
C
B
Quaternary Ammonium Salt Solutions  
A
A
A
A
C
B
Sodium Hydroxide  
A
A
A
A
B
B
Sodium Hypochlorite to 6% available Chloride  
A
A
A
A
C
B
Sodium Hypochlorite 7-15% available Chloride  
A
A
B
A
C
B
Sulphuric Acid, cond. to 93% or 66º Be  
B
B
A
B
D
D
Trichloroethane  
D
D
B
A
A
D
Turpentine  
D
D
B
A
A
D
Water  
A
A
A
A
A
A

 

 
KEY 
 
A. Satisfactory
 
B. Probably Satisfactory
 
C. No Information Available
 
D. Unsatisfactory
 
 
 
LDPE - Low Density Polyethylene
 
HDPE - High Density Polyethylene
 
PP - Polypropylene
 
PVC - Polyvinyl Chloride
 
PET - Polyethylene Terephthalate
 
PS - Polystyrene