ChemicalResistance
ChemicalResistance.org

Ethylene Oxide Chemical Resistance

Resistance ratings for 24 plastics, elastomers and metals at 20 °C and 50 °C.

At a glance

Ratings at 20 °C.

Rated A, very good resistance
PTFE, PVDF, SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium, FEP, ECTFE/ETFE, Acetal (POM), Polysulfone, PETG (10)
Rated B, good resistance
HDPE (1)
Rated C, limited resistance
PP, PVC Rigid, LDPE, Nylon (PA), Polycarbonate, PMP (6)
Rated D, not resistant
EPDM, Viton (FPM), NBR, Polystyrene (4)
No data in the source
Silicone, PVC Flexible, SAN
Rated lower at 50 °C than at 20 °C
HDPE (B → C), PVC Rigid (C → D), Polycarbonate (C → D), PMP (C → D)

Rating profile by material family

Ethylene Oxide: Rating profile by material familyThermoplastics: 3 A, 1 B, 6 C, 1 D, 2 no data. Fluoropolymers: 4 A. Elastomers: 3 D, 1 no data. Metals: 3 A.Thermoplastics (13)Thermoplastics: 3 × A, very good resistance (PETG, Acetal (POM), Polysulfone)A 3Thermoplastics: 1 × B, good resistance (HDPE)Thermoplastics: 6 × C, limited resistance (LDPE, PP, PVC Rigid, PMP, Polycarbonate, Nylon (PA))C 6Thermoplastics: 1 × D, not resistant (Polystyrene)Thermoplastics: 2 × no data (PVC Flexible, SAN)– 2Fluoropolymers (4)Fluoropolymers: 4 × A, very good resistance (PTFE, FEP, PVDF, ECTFE/ETFE)A 4Elastomers (4)Elastomers: 3 × D, not resistant (EPDM, Viton (FPM), NBR)D 3Elastomers: 1 × no data (Silicone)– 1Metals (3)Metals: 3 × A, very good resistance (SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium)A 3
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistantno data
Number of materials in each family with each rating at 20 °C.

Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °C

Ethylene Oxide: Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °CHDPE B → C; PVC Rigid C → D; PMP C → D; Polycarbonate C → D.ABCDHDPE: B at 20 °C, C at 50 °CHDPEPVC Rigid: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CPVC RigidPMP: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CPMPPolycarbonate: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CPolycarbonate
20 °C50 °C
Materials whose rating differs between 20 °C and 50 °C. Materials not shown keep their rating or have no 50 °C value.

Substance

CAS number
75-21-8
Formula
C2H4O
Hazard symbols in the source
F+ (extremely flammable), T (toxic) (pre-GHS European symbols; check the current safety data sheet)
Flammable
yes
Name in the source (German)
Ethylenoxid

Resistance table

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEBC
LDPECC
PPCC
PVC RigidCD
PMPCD
PolystyreneDD
PolycarbonateCD
PETGA–
Acetal (POM)A–
Nylon (PA)C–
PolysulfoneAA
Fluoropolymers
PTFEA*–
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMDD
Viton (FPM)DD
NBRDD
Metals
SS 316A*–
SS 304A*–
AluminiumAA

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: PVC Flexible, SAN, Silicone

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.

Chemicals with a similar resistance profile

Same 20 °C rating on the share of materials shown.

Piperidine 77 %Turpentine Substitute 75 %n-Heptane 71 %Toluene 71 %Diethylamine 71 %Ethylbenzene 70 %