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LDPE and Ozone: Chemical Resistance

Low-density polyethylene

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
concentration not statedCD

Material comparison at 20 °C

Ozone: Material comparison at 20 °CLDPE: C (highlighted); ECTFE/ETFE: A; EPDM: A; FEP: A; Viton (FPM): A; Polycarbonate: A.ECTFE/ETFE: AEPDM: AFEP: AViton (FPM): APolycarbonate: APMP: APolysulfone: APTFE: APVC Rigid: APVDF: ASAN: AAluminium: BPolystyrene: BHDPE: CLDPE: CLDPEPP: CNBR: DNylon (PA): DAcetal (POM): DPETG: –PVC Flexible: –Silicone: –SS 304: –SS 316: –
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

LDPE has limited resistance (C) to Ozone at 20 °C. This indicates that the chemical has a noticeable effect on the material, which may include visible swelling, softening, or a measurable loss of tensile strength. Use is generally limited to short-term or intermittent contact where full structural integrity is not required. However, at 50 °C the resistance rating drops, indicating that temperature must be factored into the design. For heated applications, additional testing under actual service conditions is strongly recommended.

Application context

Ozone is commonly encountered in bleaching and pulp and paper. LDPE (Low-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

LDPE has limited resistance to Ozone and should only be used for short-term or intermittent contact at ambient temperature. The C rating means the material undergoes noticeable changes — swelling, loss of strength, or surface degradation — that make it unsuitable for permanent installations. For prolonged or continuous exposure, Polycarbonate, PMP, Polysulfone offer significantly better resistance and are rated A.

Did you know?

The ratings shown here apply to pure Ozone in contact with the base thermoplastic. In real-world applications, additives, pigments, and fillers in the material can shift resistance in either direction.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Thermoplastics
PVC Rigid A, Polycarbonate A, Polystyrene B, Polysulfone A, PMP A, SAN A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A
Elastomers
EPDM A, Viton (FPM) A
Metals
Aluminium B

About LDPE

Low-density polyethylene has a similar profile to HDPE but is softer and more permeable, so solvents swell it sooner. Continuous service is usually limited to about 60 °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.