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HDPE and Diethyl Ketone: Chemical Resistance

High-density polyethylene

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
concentration not statedBB

Material comparison at 20 °C

Diethyl Ketone: Material comparison at 20 °CHDPE: B (highlighted); Aluminium: A; FEP: A; Acetal (POM): A; PTFE: A; SS 304: A.Aluminium: AFEP: AAcetal (POM): APTFE: ASS 304: ASS 316: AECTFE/ETFE: BHDPE: BHDPELDPE: BPMP: BPP: BEPDM: CNylon (PA): CPVDF: CViton (FPM): DNBR: DPolycarbonate: DPETG: DPolystyrene: DPolysulfone: DPVC Rigid: DSAN: DPVC Flexible: –Silicone: –
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 good but limited resistance (B) to Diethyl Ketone at 20 °C. The material can be used in contact with this chemical, but minor effects such as slight swelling or a small reduction in mechanical properties may occur over extended exposure periods. Regular inspection of components in service is advisable. 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

Diethyl Ketone is commonly encountered in electroplating and water treatment. HDPE (High-density polyethylene) 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

HDPE is suitable for use with Diethyl Ketone 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. For safety-critical or long-life applications, consider Acetal (POM), FEP, PTFE instead, which are rated A for this chemical.

Did you know?

High-density polyethylene was first developed in the 1950s and remains one of the most widely used thermoplastics in chemical handling equipment.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Thermoplastics
PP B, LDPE B, Acetal (POM) A, PMP B
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE B
Metals
SS 316 A, SS 304 A, Aluminium A

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.