Rating
| Concentration | 20 °C | 50 °C | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| aqueous | – | – | |
| saturated | A | A | |
| concentration not stated | B | – |
Material comparison at 20 °C
Resistance overview
The resistance of Polystyrene to Sodium Carbonate is concentration-dependent. Across the 2 tested concentrations (saturated), 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
Sodium Carbonate is commonly encountered in chemical storage and water treatment. 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 can be used with confidence for Sodium Carbonate containment and handling. The A rating indicates that the material shows no significant change in weight, dimensions, or mechanical properties after prolonged contact under test conditions. This holds true at both 20 °C and 50 °C, giving a good safety margin for typical process environments.
Did you know?
The chemical resistance of Polystyrene depends not only on the chemical concentration but also on exposure time, mechanical stress, and the presence of other chemicals in the mixture.
Materials rated A or B at 20 °C
Based on the row for saturated, 20 °C.
- Thermoplastics
- HDPE A, PP A, PVC Rigid A, LDPE A, Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) A, Polycarbonate A, PVC Flexible A, Polysulfone A, PMP A, SAN A
- Fluoropolymers
- PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A
- Elastomers
- EPDM A, Viton (FPM) A, NBR A
- Metals
- SS 316 A, SS 304 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.