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Polystyrene Chemical Resistance Chart

Polystyrene is a low-cost, rigid thermoplastic with limited chemical resistance. Primarily used for disposable lab items and low-demand chemical applications.

433 chemicals tested 20°C & 50°C data
229
Excellent (A)
38
Good (B)
41
Limited (C)
196
Not Recommended (D)

Resistance by chemical class

Most rows rated A or B
Alkalis 100 %; Salts and salt solutions 100 %; Organic acids 74 %
Fewest rows rated A or B
Halogenated hydrocarbons 0 %; Aromatic hydrocarbons 0 %; Esters and ethers 3 %
All rated rows, by rating
A 45 %, B 8 %, C 8 %, D 39 % (504)

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

Polystyrene: Resistance by chemical classMineral acids: A 37 %, B 15 %, C 12 %, D 37 %. Organic acids: A 56 %, B 18 %, C 9 %, D 18 %. Alkalis: A 47 %, B 53 %. Salts and salt solutions: A 94 %, B 6 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: A 65 %, B 6 %, C 6 %, D 24 %. Alcohols and glycols: A 44 %, B 19 %, C 22 %, D 14 %. Phenols: B 22 %, C 33 %, D 44 %. Ketones and aldehydes: A 5 %, C 5 %, D 90 %. Esters and ethers: B 3 %, C 3 %, D 95 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: A 47 %, D 53 %. Aromatic hydrocarbons: C 15 %, D 85 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: A 24 %, C 18 %, D 58 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: A 48 %, C 11 %, D 41 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: C 3 %, D 97 %. Foods and beverages: A 69 %, C 6 %, D 25 %.Mineral acids (41)Mineral acids: A 37 % (15)A 37 %Mineral acids: B 15 % (6)B 15 %Mineral acids: C 12 % (5)CMineral acids: D 37 % (15)D 37 %Organic acids (34)Organic acids: A 56 % (19)A 56 %Organic acids: B 18 % (6)B 18 %Organic acids: C 9 % (3)COrganic acids: D 18 % (6)D 18 %Alkalis (17)Alkalis: A 47 % (8)A 47 %Alkalis: B 53 % (9)B 53 %Salts and salt solutions (88)Salts and salt solutions: A 94 % (83)A 94 %Salts and salt solutions: B 6 % (5)BOxidising agents and halogens (34)Oxidising agents and halogens: A 65 % (22)A 65 %Oxidising agents and halogens: B 6 % (2)BOxidising agents and halogens: C 6 % (2)COxidising agents and halogens: D 24 % (8)D 24 %Alcohols and glycols (36)Alcohols and glycols: A 44 % (16)A 44 %Alcohols and glycols: B 19 % (7)B 19 %Alcohols and glycols: C 22 % (8)C 22 %Alcohols and glycols: D 14 % (5)D 14 %Phenols (9)Phenols: B 22 % (2)B 22 %Phenols: C 33 % (3)C 33 %Phenols: D 44 % (4)D 44 %Ketones and aldehydes (21)Ketones and aldehydes: A 5 % (1)AKetones and aldehydes: C 5 % (1)CKetones and aldehydes: D 90 % (19)D 90 %Esters and ethers (38)Esters and ethers: B 3 % (1)Esters and ethers: C 3 % (1)Esters and ethers: D 95 % (36)D 95 %Amines and nitrogen compounds (15)Amines and nitrogen compounds: A 47 % (7)A 47 %Amines and nitrogen compounds: D 53 % (8)D 53 %Aromatic hydrocarbons (13)Aromatic hydrocarbons: C 15 % (2)C 15 %Aromatic hydrocarbons: D 85 % (11)D 85 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (38)Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: A 24 % (9)A 24 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: C 18 % (7)C 18 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: D 58 % (22)D 58 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (27)Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: A 48 % (13)A 48 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: C 11 % (3)CVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: D 41 % (11)D 41 %Halogenated hydrocarbons (36)Halogenated hydrocarbons: C 3 % (1)Halogenated hydrocarbons: D 97 % (35)D 97 %Foods and beverages (32)Foods and beverages: A 69 % (22)A 69 %Foods and beverages: C 6 % (2)CFoods and beverages: D 25 % (8)D 25 %
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 505 chemicals
Chemical Concentration 20°C 50°C CAS
Carbon Dioxide Exhaust Gases
Abgase, kohlendioxidhaltig
low concentrationA*–—
Acetaldehyde
Acetaldehyd
40 %DD75-07-0
Acetaldehyde
Acetaldehyd
technical gradeDD75-07-0
Acetamide
Acetamid
saturatedAA60-35-5
Acetone
Aceton
—DD67-64-1
Acetonitrile
Acetonitril
—DD75-05-8
Acetophenone
Acetophenon
—–D98-86-2
Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin)
Acetylsalicylsäure
100 %A–50-78-2
Acrylonitrile
Acrylnitril
—DD107-13-1
Adipic Acid
Adipinsäure
saturatedAA124-04-9
Battery Acid
Akkusäure
38 %AA7664-93-9
Alanine
Alanin
—AA56-41-7
Allyl Acetate
Allylacetat
100 %DD591-87-7
Allyl Alcohol
Allylalkohol
96 %BD107-18-6
Aluminum Chloride
Aluminiumchlorid
10 %AA7784-13-6
Aluminum Hydroxide
Aluminiumhydroxid
—BB21645-51-2
Aluminum Nitrate
Aluminiumnitrat
aqueousA–13473-90-0
Aluminum Oxide
Aluminiumoxid
solidAA1344-28-1
Aluminum Sulfate
Aluminiumsulfat
10 %A–10043-01-3
Formic Acid
Ameisensäure
3 %AB64-18-6
Formic Acid
Ameisensäure
50 %CC64-18-6
Formic Acid
Ameisensäure
98-100 %CD64-18-6
Ammonium Acetate
Ammoniumacetat
saturatedAA631-61-8
Ammonium Carbonate
Ammoniumcarbonat
50 %AA10361-29-2
Ammonium Chloride
Ammoniumchlorid
aqueousAA12125-02-9
Ammonium Dihydrogen Phosphate
Ammoniumdihydrogenphosphat
any concentrationAA7722-76-1
Ammonium Iron(II) Sulfate
Ammoniumeisen-(II)-sulfat
—AA7783-85-9
Ammonium Glycolate
Ammoniumglycolat
—AA35249-89-9
Ammonium Heptamolybdate
Ammoniumheptamolybdat
—AA12054-85-2
Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution)
Ammoniumhydroxid
5 %AC1336-21-6
Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution)
Ammoniumhydroxid
30 %BC1336-21-6
Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution)
Ammoniumhydroxid
—BC1336-21-6
Ammonium Nitrate
Ammoniumnitrat
10 %AA6484-52-2
Ammonium Nitrate
Ammoniumnitrat
saturatedA–6484-52-2
Ammonium Oxalate
Ammoniumoxalat
—AA14258-49-2
Ammonium Sulfate
Ammoniumsulfat
10 %AA7783-20-2
Ammonium Sulfate
Ammoniumsulfat
saturatedA–7783-20-2
Ammonium Thiocyanate
Ammoniumthiocyanat
—AC1762-95-4
Amyl Acetate
Amylacetat, n-
—DD628-63-7
Amyl Alcohol (1-Pentanol)
Amylalkohol, n-
—AC71-41-0
Amyl Chloride
Amylchlorid
—DD543-59-9
Pineapple Juice
Ananassaft
—A–—
Aniline
Anilin
—DD62-53-3
Anisole
Anisol
100 %DD100-66-3
Apple Juice
Apfelsaft
—A–—
Orange Juice
Apfelsinensaft
—A–—
Orange Peel Oil
Apfelsinenschalenöl
—DD8028-48-6
Arsenic Acid
Arsensäure
aqueousAA22538-92-7
Arsenic Acid
Arsensäure
—AA22538-92-7
Valerian Drops
Baldriantropfen
—DD—

* = 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.

Polystyrene Properties

Full Name Polystyrene (PS)
Max Temperature 70°C (158°F)
Transparency Clear (GPPS)
Key Property Very low cost

Common Applications

Disposable Lab

Petri dishes, cuvettes, pipette tips

Packaging

Chemical sample containers

Insulation

EPS foam insulation for cold chain

Not Recommended For

Polystyrene may degrade when exposed to:

  • Most organic solvents
  • Acetone, MEK, toluene
  • Essential oils
  • Concentrated acids

Tip: PS has poor solvent resistance. For reusable chemical equipment, use PP, HDPE, or PETG.

Compare Materials

SAN
Better resistance
PP
Much better
PETG
Better + clear
HDPE
Chemical tank