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HDPE and Acetaldehyde: Chemical Resistance

High-density polyethylene

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
40 %CC
technical gradeCC

Material comparison at 20 °C

Acetaldehyde: Material comparison at 20 °CHDPE: C (highlighted); Aluminium: A; FEP: A; PTFE: A; SS 304: A; SS 316: A.Aluminium: AFEP: APTFE: ASS 304: ASS 316: AECTFE/ETFE: BLDPE: BNylon (PA): BPMP: BAcetal (POM): BEPDM: CHDPE: CHDPEPP: CViton (FPM): DNBR: DPolycarbonate: DPETG: DPolystyrene: DPolysulfone: DPVC Rigid: DPVDF: DSAN: DPVC Flexible: –Silicone: –
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistantno data
Each bar is one material. Taller bars indicate better resistance. The highlighted bar is the current material.

Resistance overview

HDPE maintains a consistent rating of C across all 2 tested concentrations (40 %, technical grade) of Acetaldehyde at 20 °C. The fact that the rating does not change with concentration within the tested range simplifies material selection, though the boundary conditions beyond this range remain untested. The rating remains stable between 20 °C and 50 °C, which means this material can also handle moderately elevated process temperatures without additional risk.

Application context

Acetaldehyde is commonly encountered in cleaning and degreasing and electronics cleaning. HDPE (High-density polyethylene) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. Since Acetaldehyde is flammable, material selection must also consider the risk of static charge buildup and the need for proper grounding in storage and transfer systems.

Practical recommendation

HDPE has limited resistance to Acetaldehyde and should only be used for short-term or intermittent contact at ambient temperature. The C rating means the material undergoes noticeable changes — swelling, loss of strength, or surface degradation — that make it unsuitable for permanent installations. For prolonged or continuous exposure, FEP, PTFE, Aluminium offer significantly better resistance and are rated A.

Did you know?

The ratings shown here apply to pure Acetaldehyde in contact with the base thermoplastic. In real-world applications, additives, pigments, and fillers in the material can shift resistance in either direction.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Based on the row for 40 %, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
LDPE B, Nylon (PA) B, Acetal (POM) B, PMP B
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE B
Metals
SS 316 A, SS 304 A, Aluminium A

About HDPE

High-density polyethylene resists most aqueous acids, alkalis and salt solutions. Strong oxidising acids, chlorinated solvents and aromatic hydrocarbons attack or swell it. Continuous service is usually limited to about 80 °C.

Rating scale

A rating marked * is an estimate in the source, not a test result. An estimate is given as one value without a temperature.

About this data

The ratings come from the chemical resistance list published by Bürkle GmbH, which compiled them from raw-material manufacturers’ data. They describe laboratory tests on the raw material at 20 °C and 50 °C.

A finished part also sees pressure, mechanical stress, welds and mixtures that a laboratory test does not. Treat the rating as a first filter and test under your own conditions before relying on it.