Rating
| Concentration | 20 °C | 50 °C | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| dilute | C | – |
Material comparison at 20 °C
Resistance overview
Polystyrene has limited resistance (C) to Potassium Hypochlorite at dilute 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. 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
Potassium Hypochlorite is commonly encountered in water disinfection and chemical processing. Polystyrene (Polystyrene) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. Because Potassium Hypochlorite is classified as corrosive, the choice of containment material is especially critical to prevent leaks, equipment damage, and safety hazards.
Practical recommendation
Polystyrene has limited resistance to Potassium Hypochlorite 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, HDPE, LDPE, PMP offer significantly better resistance and are rated A.
Did you know?
The ratings shown here apply to pure Potassium Hypochlorite 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
Based on the row for dilute, 20 °C.
- Thermoplastics
- HDPE A, PP A, PVC Rigid A, LDPE A, PVC Flexible A, Polysulfone A, PMP A
- Fluoropolymers
- PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A
- Elastomers
- Viton (FPM) A
- Metals
- SS 316 B
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.