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Polystyrene and Cyclohexane: Chemical Resistance

Polystyrene

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
concentration not statedDD

Material comparison at 20 °C

Cyclohexane: Material comparison at 20 °CPolystyrene: D (highlighted); Aluminium: A; ECTFE/ETFE: A; FEP: A; Viton (FPM): A; NBR: A.Aluminium: AECTFE/ETFE: AFEP: AViton (FPM): ANBR: ANylon (PA): APETG: AAcetal (POM): APTFE: APVC Flexible: APVDF: ASAN: ASS 304: ASS 316: APVC Rigid: BHDPE: CLDPE: CPolycarbonate: CPP: CEPDM: DPMP: DPolystyrene: DPSPolysulfone: 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

Polystyrene is not resistant (D) to Cyclohexane and should not be used in direct contact. The chemical is expected to cause rapid degradation, which can include dissolution, cracking, severe swelling, or complete structural failure of the material.

Application context

Cyclohexane is commonly encountered in chemical storage and oil and gas. Polystyrene (Polystyrene) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. Since Cyclohexane 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

Polystyrene is not recommended for use with Cyclohexane. The D rating indicates that the material will suffer rapid and severe degradation, which may include cracking, dissolution, severe swelling, or complete structural failure. Using this combination risks equipment damage, leaks, and potential safety incidents. Consider using Nylon (PA), PETG, Acetal (POM) instead, which are rated A for this chemical and offer reliable long-term performance.

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

Thermoplastics
PVC Rigid B, Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) A, PVC Flexible A, PETG A, SAN A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A
Elastomers
Viton (FPM) A, NBR 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 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.