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HDPE Chemical Resistance Chart

HDPE is a widely used thermoplastic for chemical storage tanks, containers, and piping. Excellent resistance to many acids, bases, and solvents at an economical price.

555 chemicals tested 20°C & 50°C data
561
Excellent (A)
24
Good (B)
60
Limited (C)
41
Not Recommended (D)

Resistance by chemical class

Most rows rated A or B
Alkalis 100 %; Foods and beverages 100 %; Salts and salt solutions 100 %
Fewest rows rated A or B
Halogenated hydrocarbons 10 %; Aromatic hydrocarbons 33 %; Phenols 62 %
All rated rows, by rating
A 82 %, B 3 %, C 9 %, D 6 % (686)

Chemical classes were assigned by this site, not by the source. Mixtures and trade products without a clear class are not counted.

HDPE: Resistance by chemical classMineral acids: A 71 %, B 7 %, C 7 %, D 14 %. Organic acids: A 95 %, C 3 %, D 2 %. Alkalis: A 100 %. Salts and salt solutions: A 100 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: A 68 %, B 10 %, C 8 %, D 15 %. Alcohols and glycols: A 93 %, C 5 %, D 2 %. Phenols: A 50 %, B 12 %, C 38 %. Ketones and aldehydes: A 79 %, B 5 %, C 16 %. Esters and ethers: A 59 %, B 14 %, C 16 %, D 11 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: A 90 %, C 10 %. Aromatic hydrocarbons: A 11 %, B 22 %, C 56 %, D 11 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: A 66 %, B 13 %, C 18 %, D 3 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: A 67 %, B 5 %, C 19 %, D 10 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: A 6 %, B 3 %, C 48 %, D 42 %. Foods and beverages: A 100 %.Mineral acids (56)Mineral acids: A 71 % (40)A 71 %Mineral acids: B 7 % (4)BMineral acids: C 7 % (4)CMineral acids: D 14 % (8)D 14 %Organic acids (58)Organic acids: A 95 % (55)A 95 %Organic acids: C 3 % (2)Organic acids: D 2 % (1)Alkalis (22)Alkalis: A 100 % (22)A 100 %Salts and salt solutions (193)Salts and salt solutions: A 100 % (193)A 100 %Oxidising agents and halogens (40)Oxidising agents and halogens: A 68 % (27)A 68 %Oxidising agents and halogens: B 10 % (4)BOxidising agents and halogens: C 8 % (3)COxidising agents and halogens: D 15 % (6)D 15 %Alcohols and glycols (43)Alcohols and glycols: A 93 % (40)A 93 %Alcohols and glycols: C 5 % (2)CAlcohols and glycols: D 2 % (1)Phenols (8)Phenols: A 50 % (4)A 50 %Phenols: B 12 % (1)BPhenols: C 38 % (3)C 38 %Ketones and aldehydes (19)Ketones and aldehydes: A 79 % (15)A 79 %Ketones and aldehydes: B 5 % (1)BKetones and aldehydes: C 16 % (3)C 16 %Esters and ethers (37)Esters and ethers: A 59 % (22)A 59 %Esters and ethers: B 14 % (5)B 14 %Esters and ethers: C 16 % (6)C 16 %Esters and ethers: D 11 % (4)DAmines and nitrogen compounds (21)Amines and nitrogen compounds: A 90 % (19)A 90 %Amines and nitrogen compounds: C 10 % (2)CAromatic hydrocarbons (9)Aromatic hydrocarbons: A 11 % (1)AAromatic hydrocarbons: B 22 % (2)B 22 %Aromatic hydrocarbons: C 56 % (5)C 56 %Aromatic hydrocarbons: D 11 % (1)DFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (38)Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: A 66 % (25)A 66 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: B 13 % (5)B 13 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: C 18 % (7)C 18 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: D 3 % (1)Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (21)Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: A 67 % (14)A 67 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: B 5 % (1)BVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: C 19 % (4)C 19 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: D 10 % (2)DHalogenated hydrocarbons (31)Halogenated hydrocarbons: A 6 % (2)AHalogenated hydrocarbons: B 3 % (1)Halogenated hydrocarbons: C 48 % (15)C 48 %Halogenated hydrocarbons: D 42 % (13)D 42 %Foods and beverages (32)Foods and beverages: A 100 % (32)A 100 %
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistant
Share of each rating at 20 °C among the source rows of a class. The number in brackets is the number of rated rows; a row is one chemical at one concentration. Classes with fewer than 8 rated rows are left out.
Showing 686 chemicals
Chemical Concentration 20°C 50°C CAS
Alkaline Exhaust Gases
Abgase, alkalisch
—AA—
Hydrogen Fluoride Exhaust Gases
Abgase, fluorwasserstoffhaltig
low concentrationAA—
Carbon Dioxide Exhaust Gases
Abgase, kohlendioxidhaltig
low concentrationAA—
Nitrous Exhaust Gases
Abgase, nitrosehaltig
low concentrationAA—
Hydrochloric Acid Exhaust Gases
Abgase, salzsäurehaltig
any concentrationAA—
Sulfur Dioxide Exhaust Gases
Abgase, schwefeldioxidhaltig
low concentrationAA—
Sulfuric Acid Exhaust Gases
Abgase, schwefelsäurehaltig
any concentrationAA—
Sulfur Trioxide Exhaust Gases
Abgase, schwefeltrioxidhaltig
low concentrationAA—
Acetaldehyd
40 %CC75-07-0
Acetaldehyd
technical gradeCC75-07-0
Acetamide
Acetamid
saturatedAA60-35-5
Aceton
—AA67-64-1
Acetonitril
—AA75-05-8
Acetylen
100 %A–74-86-2
Acrylnitril
—AA107-13-1
Adipinsäure
saturatedAA124-04-9
Akkusäure
38 %AA7664-93-9
Alanine
Alanin
—AA56-41-7
Allylalkohol
96 %AC107-18-6
Allyl Chloride
Allylchlorid
100 %C*–107-05-1
Aluminum Hydroxide Acetate
Aluminium(hydroxid)acetat
aqueousAA139-12-8
Aluminum Ammonium Sulfate
Aluminiumammoniumsulfat
saturatedAA7784-26-1
Aluminiumchlorid
10 %AA7784-13-6
Aluminiumchlorid
saturatedAA7784-13-6
Aluminiumchlorid
solidAA7784-13-6
Aluminum Fluoride
Aluminiumfluorid
aqueousAA7789-18-1
Aluminiumhydroxid
—AA21645-51-2
Aluminiumnitrat
aqueousAA13473-90-0
Aluminiumoxid
solidAA1344-28-1
Aluminiumsulfat
10 %AA10043-01-3
Aluminiumsulfat
saturatedAA10043-01-3
Ameisensäure
3 %AA64-18-6
Ameisensäure
50 %AA64-18-6
Ameisensäure
98-100 %AA64-18-6
Glycine
Aminoessigsäure
10 %AA56-40-6
Ammoniumacetat
saturatedAA631-61-8
Ammoniumcarbonat
50 %AA10361-29-2
Ammoniumcarbonat
aqueousAA10361-29-2
Ammoniumchlorid
aqueousAA12125-02-9
Ammoniumchlorid
solidAA12125-02-9
Ammonium Dihydrogen Phosphate
Ammoniumdihydrogenphosphat
any concentrationAA7722-76-1
Ammonium Iron(II) Sulfate
Ammoniumeisen-(II)-sulfat
—AA7783-85-9
Ammonium Iron(III) Sulfate
Ammoniumeisen-(III)-sulfat
saturatedAA7783-83-7
Ammoniumfluorid
aqueousAA12125-01-8
Ammoniumfluorid
saturatedAA12125-01-8
Ammonium Glycolate
Ammoniumglycolat
—AA35249-89-9
Ammonium Heptamolybdate
Ammoniumheptamolybdat
—AA12054-85-2
Ammonium Bicarbonate
Ammoniumhydrogencarbonat
saturatedAA1066-33-7
Ammonium Bifluoride
Ammoniumhydrogendifluorid
50 %AA1341-49-7
Ammonium Hydrosulfide
Ammoniumhydrosulfid
any concentrationAA12124-99-1

* = estimated rating in the source, given without a temperature. L = risk of pitting or stress-corrosion cracking. Only chemicals with a rating for this material are listed.

HDPE Properties

Full Name High-Density Polyethylene
Max Temperature 80°C (176°F) continuous
Min Temperature -50°C (-58°F)
Density 0.94–0.97 g/cm³

Common Applications

Chemical Tanks

Storage tanks for acids, bases, and many solvents

Piping Systems

Chemical transfer piping and fittings

Containers

Bottles, drums, and containers for chemical storage

Not Recommended For

HDPE may degrade when exposed to:

  • Strong oxidizers (nitric acid >50%)
  • Chlorinated solvents
  • Aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene)
  • Temperatures above 80°C

Tip: For higher temperatures or more aggressive solvents, consider PVDF or PTFE.

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