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HDPE and Calcium Hypochlorite: Chemical Resistance

High-density polyethylene

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
aqueous––
saturatedAA

Material comparison at 20 °C

Calcium Hypochlorite: Material comparison at 20 °CHDPE: A (highlighted); ECTFE/ETFE: A; FEP: A; LDPE: A; Nylon (PA): A; PMP: A.ECTFE/ETFE: AFEP: AHDPE: AHDPELDPE: ANylon (PA): APMP: AAcetal (POM): APP: APolysulfone: APTFE: APVDF: ASAN: AEPDM: BViton (FPM): BPolystyrene: BPVC Rigid: BSS 316: BPolycarbonate: CPETG: CPVC Flexible: CSS 304: CAluminium: DNBR: DSilicone: –
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 shows very good resistance (A) to Calcium Hypochlorite at saturated at 20 °C, meaning the material remains essentially unaffected by this chemical under standard laboratory test conditions. 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

Calcium Hypochlorite is commonly encountered in bleaching and water disinfection. HDPE (High-density polyethylene) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. Because Calcium Hypochlorite is classified as corrosive, the choice of containment material is especially critical to prevent leaks, equipment damage, and safety hazards.

Practical recommendation

HDPE can be used with confidence for Calcium Hypochlorite 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?

Chemical resistance testing according to DIN and ISO standards typically evaluates weight change, dimensional change, and retention of tensile strength after immersion.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Based on the row for saturated, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
PP A, PVC Rigid B, LDPE A, Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) A, Polystyrene B, Polysulfone A, PMP A, SAN A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A
Elastomers
EPDM B, Viton (FPM) B
Metals
SS 316 B

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.