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Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution) Chemical Resistance

Resistance ratings for 24 plastics, elastomers and metals at 20 °C and 50 °C. Listed at 3 concentrations, because the rating depends on it.

At a glance

Based on the row for 30 %, 20 °C.

Rated A, very good resistance
PTFE, HDPE, PP, PVC Rigid, EPDM, SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium, LDPE, FEP, ECTFE/ETFE, Acetal (POM), PMP (13)
Rated B, good resistance
PVDF, NBR, Polystyrene, Polysulfone, PETG (5)
Rated C, limited resistance
Viton (FPM), Nylon (PA) (2)
Rated D, not resistant
Polycarbonate (1)
No data in the source
Silicone, PVC Flexible, SAN
Rated lower at 50 °C than at 20 °C
PP (A → B), PVC Rigid (A → B), NBR (B → C), LDPE (A → B), Acetal (POM) (A → B), Polystyrene (B → C), Polysulfone (B → C), PETG (B → D), PMP (A → B)
Rating changes with concentration (20 °C)
PVDF: A (concentration not stated), B (5 %); Viton (FPM): B (5 %), C (30 %); NBR: B (5 %), D (concentration not stated); Nylon (PA): B (5 %), C (30 %); Polycarbonate: C (5 %), D (30 %); Polystyrene: A (5 %), B (30 %)

Based on the row for 30 %, 20 °C.

Rating profile by material family

Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution): Rating profile by material familyThermoplastics: 6 A, 3 B, 1 C, 1 D, 2 no data. Fluoropolymers: 3 A, 1 B. Elastomers: 1 A, 1 B, 1 C, 1 no data. Metals: 3 A.Thermoplastics (13)Thermoplastics: 6 × A, very good resistance (HDPE, LDPE, PP, PVC Rigid, PMP, Acetal (POM))A 6Thermoplastics: 3 × B, good resistance (Polystyrene, PETG, Polysulfone)B 3Thermoplastics: 1 × C, limited resistance (Nylon (PA))Thermoplastics: 1 × D, not resistant (Polycarbonate)Thermoplastics: 2 × no data (PVC Flexible, SAN)– 2Fluoropolymers (4)Fluoropolymers: 3 × A, very good resistance (PTFE, FEP, ECTFE/ETFE)A 3Fluoropolymers: 1 × B, good resistance (PVDF)B 1Elastomers (4)Elastomers: 1 × A, very good resistance (EPDM)A 1Elastomers: 1 × B, good resistance (NBR)B 1Elastomers: 1 × C, limited resistance (Viton (FPM))C 1Elastomers: 1 × no data (Silicone)– 1Metals (3)Metals: 3 × A, very good resistance (SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium)A 3
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistantno data
Number of materials in each family with each rating at 20 °C.

Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °C

Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution): Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °CLDPE A → B; PP A → B; PVC Rigid A → B; PMP A → B; Polystyrene B → C; PETG B → D; Acetal (POM) A → B; Polysulfone B → C; NBR B → C.ABCDLDPE: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CLDPEPP: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CPPPVC Rigid: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CPVC RigidPMP: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CPMPPolystyrene: B at 20 °C, C at 50 °CPolystyrenePETG: B at 20 °C, D at 50 °CPETGAcetal (POM): A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CAcetal (POM)Polysulfone: B at 20 °C, C at 50 °CPolysulfoneNBR: B at 20 °C, C at 50 °CNBR
20 °C50 °C
Materials whose rating differs between 20 °C and 50 °C. Materials not shown keep their rating or have no 50 °C value.

Substance

CAS number
1336-21-6
Formula
NH3 + H2O
Hazard symbols in the source
C (corrosive), N (dangerous for the environment) (pre-GHS European symbols; check the current safety data sheet)
Concentrations listed
5 %; 30 %; concentration not stated
Also listed as
Ammonia; Ammonia Water; Ammonia Solution
Name in the source (German)
Ammoniumhydroxid

Rating by concentration

Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution): Rating by concentrationHDPE: 5 % A, 30 % A, concentration not stated A. LDPE: 5 % A, 30 % A→B, concentration not stated A. PP: 5 % A, 30 % A→B, concentration not stated A. PVC Rigid: 5 % A, 30 % A→B, concentration not stated A→B. PVC Flexible: 5 % –, 30 % –, concentration not stated A→C. PMP: 5 % A, 30 % A→B, concentration not stated A. Polystyrene: 5 % A→C, 30 % B→C, concentration not stated B→C. SAN: 5 % –, 30 % –, concentration not stated B. Polycarbonate: 5 % C→D, 30 % D, concentration not stated D. PETG: 5 % B*, 30 % B→D, concentration not stated B→D. Acetal (POM): 5 % A→B, 30 % A→B, concentration not stated A→B. Nylon (PA): 5 % B*, 30 % C*, concentration not stated C*. Polysulfone: 5 % B, 30 % B→C, concentration not stated B→C. PTFE: 5 % A, 30 % A, concentration not stated A. FEP: 5 % A, 30 % A, concentration not stated A. PVDF: 5 % B*, 30 % B*, concentration not stated A→C. ECTFE/ETFE: 5 % A, 30 % A, concentration not stated A. EPDM: 5 % A, 30 % A, concentration not stated A. Viton (FPM): 5 % B*, 30 % C*, concentration not stated C*. NBR: 5 % B→C, 30 % B→C, concentration not stated D. SS 316: 5 % A, 30 % A, concentration not stated A. SS 304: 5 % A, 30 % A, concentration not stated A. Aluminium: 5 % A, 30 % A, concentration not stated A.5 %30 %concentrationnot statedTHERMOPLASTICSHDPEHDPE, 5 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAHDPE, 30 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAHDPE, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CALDPELDPE, 5 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CALDPE, 30 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BLDPE, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPPPP, 5 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPP, 30 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPP, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVC RigidPVC Rigid, 5 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVC Rigid, 30 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPVC Rigid, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPVC FlexiblePVC Flexible, 5 %: no data–PVC Flexible, 30 %: no data–PVC Flexible, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CPMPPMP, 5 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPMP, 30 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPMP, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPolystyrenePolystyrene, 5 %: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CPolystyrene, 30 %: B at 20 °C, C at 50 °CB→CPolystyrene, concentration not stated: B at 20 °C, C at 50 °CB→CSANSAN, 5 %: no data–SAN, 30 %: no data–SAN, concentration not stated: B at 20 °C, B at 50 °CBPolycarbonatePolycarbonate, 5 %: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CC→DPolycarbonate, 30 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolycarbonate, concentration not stated: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPETGPETG, 5 %: B at 20 °C (estimate)B*PETG, 30 %: B at 20 °C, D at 50 °CB→DPETG, concentration not stated: B at 20 °C, D at 50 °CB→DAcetal (POM)Acetal (POM), 5 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BAcetal (POM), 30 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BAcetal (POM), concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BNylon (PA)Nylon (PA), 5 %: B at 20 °C (estimate)B*Nylon (PA), 30 %: C at 20 °C (estimate)C*Nylon (PA), concentration not stated: C at 20 °C (estimate)C*PolysulfonePolysulfone, 5 %: B at 20 °C, B at 50 °CBPolysulfone, 30 %: B at 20 °C, C at 50 °CB→CPolysulfone, concentration not stated: B at 20 °C, C at 50 °CB→CFLUOROPOLYMERSPTFEPTFE, 5 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPTFE, 30 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPTFE, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEPFEP, 5 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEP, 30 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEP, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDFPVDF, 5 %: B at 20 °C (estimate)B*PVDF, 30 %: B at 20 °C (estimate)B*PVDF, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CECTFE/ETFEECTFE/ETFE, 5 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAECTFE/ETFE, 30 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAECTFE/ETFE, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAELASTOMERSEPDMEPDM, 5 %: A at 20 °CAEPDM, 30 %: A at 20 °CAEPDM, concentration not stated: A at 20 °CAViton (FPM)Viton (FPM), 5 %: B at 20 °C (estimate)B*Viton (FPM), 30 %: C at 20 °C (estimate)C*Viton (FPM), concentration not stated: C at 20 °C (estimate)C*NBRNBR, 5 %: B at 20 °C, C at 50 °CB→CNBR, 30 %: B at 20 °C, C at 50 °CB→CNBR, concentration not stated: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDMETALSSS 316SS 316, 5 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 316, 30 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 316, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 304SS 304, 5 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 304, 30 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 304, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAAluminiumAluminium, 5 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAAluminium, 30 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAAluminium, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CA
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistantno data
Each cell shows the rating at 20 °C. Where the rating at 50 °C differs, it follows the arrow. * marks an estimate in the source.
Show as a table
Material5 %30 %concentration not stated
Thermoplastics
HDPEAAA
LDPEAAA
PPAAA
PVC RigidAAA
PVC Flexible––A
PMPAAA
PolystyreneABB
SAN––B
PolycarbonateCDD
PETGB*BB
Acetal (POM)AAA
Nylon (PA)B*C*C*
PolysulfoneBBB
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAAA
FEPAAA
PVDFB*B*A
ECTFE/ETFEAAA
Elastomers
EPDMAAA
Viton (FPM)B*C*C*
NBRBBD
Silicone–––
Metals
SS 316AAA
SS 304AAA
AluminiumAAA

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Resistance table: Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution), 5 %

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC RigidAA
PMPAA
PolystyreneAC
PolycarbonateCD
PETGB*–
Acetal (POM)AB
Nylon (PA)B*–
PolysulfoneBB
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFB*–
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMA–
Viton (FPM)B*–
NBRBC
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumAA

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: PVC Flexible, SAN, Silicone

Resistance table: Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution), 30 %

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAB
PPAB
PVC RigidAB
PMPAB
PolystyreneBC
PolycarbonateDD
PETGBD
Acetal (POM)AB
Nylon (PA)C*–
PolysulfoneBC
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFB*–
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMA–
Viton (FPM)C*–
NBRBC
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumAA

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: PVC Flexible, SAN, Silicone

Resistance table: Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution), concentration not stated

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC RigidAB
PVC FlexibleAC
PMPAA
PolystyreneBC
SANBB
PolycarbonateDD
PETGBD
Acetal (POM)AB
Nylon (PA)C*–
PolysulfoneBC
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAC
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMA–
Viton (FPM)C*–
NBRDD
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumAA

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: Silicone

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which materials resist Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution) at high concentrations?

The materials with an A rating (resistant) for Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution) at 20 °C are: PTFE, HDPE, PP, PVC Rigid, EPDM, SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium. These can generally be used in direct contact.

Which materials should be avoided with Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution)?

Materials rated D (not resistant) for Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution) are: Polycarbonate. These should not be used in contact with Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution).

Does temperature affect chemical resistance to Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution)?

Yes. 9 of 17 tested materials show a worse rating at 50 °C than at 20 °C for Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution). Materials affected include: PP, PVC Rigid, NBR, LDPE, Acetal (POM), Polystyrene.

Is PTFE safe for Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution)?

PTFE is rated A for Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution) at 20 °C. A rating of A means resistant, B means limited resistance, C means partly resistant, and D means not resistant.

Does concentration affect chemical resistance to Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution)?

Yes. Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution) is tested at 3 concentrations (5 %, 30 %, concentration not stated). Some materials change their rating depending on the concentration.

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.

Chemicals with a similar resistance profile

Same 20 °C rating on the share of materials shown.

Potassium Acetate 78 %Diethylene Glycol 75 %Hydrazine 75 %Sodium Sulfite 74 %Glycolic Acid 73 %Aluminum Hydroxide 71 %