Rating
| Concentration | 20 °C | 50 °C | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| dilute | A | A | |
| saturated | A | – |
Material comparison at 20 °C
Resistance overview
Polystyrene shows excellent resistance to Alum (Potassium Aluminum Sulfate) across all 2 tested concentrations (dilute, saturated) at 20 °C, making it a reliable choice for storage, transfer, and handling applications involving this chemical at any of the tested strengths. 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
Alum (Potassium Aluminum Sulfate) is commonly encountered in chemical storage and electroplating. Polystyrene (Polystyrene) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. The compatibility between these two is therefore an important consideration for engineers and procurement teams selecting containment, transfer, or processing equipment.
Practical recommendation
Polystyrene can be used with confidence for Alum (Potassium Aluminum Sulfate) containment and handling. The A rating indicates that the material shows no significant change in weight, dimensions, or mechanical properties after prolonged contact under test conditions. This holds true at both 20 °C and 50 °C, giving a good safety margin for typical process environments.
Did you know?
Temperature is often the deciding factor when selecting materials for Alum (Potassium Aluminum Sulfate): even materials rated A at 20 °C may lose performance at elevated temperatures.
Materials rated A or B at 20 °C
Based on the row for dilute, 20 °C.
- Thermoplastics
- HDPE A, PP A, PVC Rigid A, LDPE A, Nylon (PA) A, Polycarbonate A, PVC Flexible A, Polysulfone A, PETG B, SAN A
- Fluoropolymers
- PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A
- Elastomers
- EPDM A, Viton (FPM) A
- Metals
- SS 316 A, SS 304 A, Aluminium A
About Polystyrene
Polystyrene is attacked by most organic solvents, including ketones, esters, aromatic and chlorinated hydrocarbons. It is used for dilute aqueous solutions.
Rating scale
- A very good resistance
- B good resistance
- C limited resistance
- D not resistant
- – no data
- K no general statement possible
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.