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Polystyrene and Diethyl Ketone: Chemical Resistance

Polystyrene

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
concentration not statedDD

Material comparison at 20 °C

Diethyl Ketone: Material comparison at 20 °CPolystyrene: D (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: BLDPE: BPMP: BPP: BEPDM: CNylon (PA): CPVDF: CViton (FPM): DNBR: DPolycarbonate: DPETG: DPolystyrene: DPSPolysulfone: 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

Polystyrene is not resistant (D) to Diethyl Ketone 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

Diethyl Ketone is commonly encountered in chemical storage and electroplating. Polystyrene (Polystyrene) 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

Polystyrene is not recommended for use with Diethyl Ketone. 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 Acetal (POM), FEP, PTFE instead, which are rated A for this chemical and offer reliable long-term performance.

Did you know?

The chemical resistance of Polystyrene depends not only on the chemical concentration but also on exposure time, mechanical stress, and the presence of other chemicals in the mixture.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Thermoplastics
HDPE B, 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 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.