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Polystyrene and Sodium Acetate: Chemical Resistance

Polystyrene

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
any concentrationBB

Material comparison at 20 °C

Sodium Acetate: Material comparison at 20 °CPolystyrene: B (highlighted); Aluminium: A; ECTFE/ETFE: A; EPDM: A; FEP: A; HDPE: A.Aluminium: AECTFE/ETFE: AEPDM: AFEP: AHDPE: ALDPE: ANylon (PA): APolycarbonate: APETG: APMP: AAcetal (POM): APP: APolysulfone: APTFE: APVDF: ASAN: ASS 304: ASS 316: APolystyrene: BPSPVC Rigid: BViton (FPM): CNBR: CPVC Flexible: CSilicone: –
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

Polystyrene shows good but limited resistance (B) to Sodium Acetate at any concentration 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

Sodium Acetate is commonly encountered in water treatment and electroplating. Polystyrene (Polystyrene) 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

Polystyrene is suitable for use with Sodium Acetate 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, Nylon (PA) instead, which are rated A for this chemical.

Did you know?

When choosing between thermoplastics for Sodium Acetate service, engineers consider not just the resistance rating but also factors such as permeation rate, creep resistance, and weldability.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Based on the row for any concentration, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP A, PVC Rigid B, LDPE A, Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) A, Polycarbonate A, Polysulfone A, PETG A, PMP A, SAN A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A
Elastomers
EPDM 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 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.