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Polycarbonate and n-Hexane: Chemical Resistance

Polycarbonate

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
concentration not statedB*–

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Material comparison at 20 °C

n-Hexane: Material comparison at 20 °CPolycarbonate: B (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): APolysulfone: APTFE: APVDF: ASAN: ASS 304: ASS 316: AHDPE: BPolycarbonate: BPCPP: BPVC Rigid: BPMP: CEPDM: DLDPE: DPolystyrene: DPVC Flexible: 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

Polycarbonate shows good but limited resistance (B) to n-Hexane 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

n-Hexane is commonly encountered in laboratory work and chemical storage. Polycarbonate (Polycarbonate) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. Since n-Hexane 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

Polycarbonate is suitable for use with n-Hexane 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 Nylon (PA), PETG, Acetal (POM) instead, which are rated A for this chemical.

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
HDPE B, PP B, PVC Rigid B, Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) A, Polysulfone 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 Polycarbonate

Polycarbonate is attacked by alkalis, amines, ketones, esters and many organic solvents, and it stress-cracks under load in contact with them.

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.