Rating
| Concentration | 20 °C | 50 °C | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 % | B | B | |
| 80 % | A | A | |
| 85 % | B | B |
Material comparison at 20 °C
Resistance overview
The resistance of Polystyrene to Lactic Acid is concentration-dependent. Across the 3 tested concentrations (3 %, 80 %, 85 %), the 20 °C rating ranges from A at lower concentrations to B at higher ones. This means engineers must verify which concentration their process actually involves before relying on a single rating. 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
Lactic Acid is commonly encountered in laboratory work and surface cleaning. Polystyrene (Polystyrene) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. Because Lactic Acid is classified as corrosive, the choice of containment material is especially critical to prevent leaks, equipment damage, and safety hazards.
Practical recommendation
Polystyrene is suitable for use with Lactic Acid 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 HDPE, LDPE, Polycarbonate instead, which are rated A for this chemical.
Did you know?
In industrial practice, Polystyrene components exposed to Lactic Acid are typically inspected for swelling, discoloration, or loss of mechanical strength as early indicators of chemical attack.
Materials rated A or B at 20 °C
Based on the row for 85 %, 20 °C.
- Thermoplastics
- HDPE A, PP A, PVC Rigid B, LDPE A, Polycarbonate A, PVC Flexible B, Polysulfone A, PMP 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 very good resistance
- B good resistance
- C limited resistance
- D not resistant
- – no data
- K no general statement possible
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.