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Polystyrene and Calcium Hypochlorite: Chemical Resistance

Polystyrene

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
aqueousAC
saturatedBC

Material comparison at 20 °C

Calcium Hypochlorite: Material comparison at 20 °CPolystyrene: B (highlighted); ECTFE/ETFE: A; FEP: A; HDPE: A; LDPE: A; Nylon (PA): A.ECTFE/ETFE: AFEP: AHDPE: ALDPE: ANylon (PA): APMP: AAcetal (POM): APP: APolysulfone: APTFE: APVDF: ASAN: AEPDM: BViton (FPM): BPolystyrene: BPSPVC 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

The resistance of Polystyrene to Calcium Hypochlorite is concentration-dependent. Across the 2 tested concentrations (aqueous, saturated), the 20 °C rating ranges from A at lower concentrations to C at higher ones. This means engineers must verify which concentration their process actually involves before relying on a single rating. However, at 50 °C the resistance rating drops, indicating that temperature must be factored into the design. For heated applications, additional testing under actual service conditions is strongly recommended.

Application context

Calcium Hypochlorite is commonly encountered in chemical processing and waste treatment. Polystyrene (Polystyrene) 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

Polystyrene is suitable for use with Calcium Hypochlorite under normal conditions, but some minor effects on the material are expected over time. Periodic monitoring for swelling, softening, or weight change is recommended, especially for long-service components. Avoid prolonged exposure at elevated temperatures, as the resistance decreases further at 50 °C. For safety-critical or long-life applications, consider HDPE, LDPE, Nylon (PA) instead, which are rated A for this chemical.

Did you know?

Polystyrene is commonly chosen for tanks, piping, containers and liners because of its combination of chemical resistance, mechanical strength, and cost-effectiveness.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Based on the row for saturated, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP A, PVC Rigid B, LDPE A, Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) A, 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 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 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.