In this article:
An information chart to check the resistance of Polypropylene pipe to commonly used industry chemicals
We answer: What chemicals can Polypropylne pipe be used with?
Chemical Resistance Information for Polypropylene pipe
THESE CHARTS SHOW THE EXPECTED PERFORMANCE OF POLYPROPYLENE PIPE WHEN USED WITH THE LISTED CHEMICALS
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
We have compiled a list of hundreds of chemicals that are commonly used throughout multiple industries and have represented their compatibility with polypropylene pipe and fittings with results graded as A to D. The data for polypropylene pipe's expected compatibility with each chemical are shown in a handy reference chart.
For ease of use we have grouped some chemicals together:
Plating Chemicals
are presented together under the letter
P;
for example, Plating Solutions: Gold.
| Effect | Compatability | |
|---|---|---|
| A | Negligible effect | Excellent. Polypropylene should be suitable for all applications where these environmental conditions are encountered. |
| B | Limited absorption or attack | Good. Polypropylene should be suitable for most applications, but the customer should satisfy themselves beforehand, as to the suitability of polypropylene for the particular service conditions likely to be met. |
| C | Extensive absorption and/or rapid permeation | Poor. Polypropylene will probably be found suitable for applications where only intermittent contact occurs, or where the swelling produced would have no detrimental effect on the usefulness of the article in the application. However the customer should satisfy themselves beforehand as to the acceptability. |
| D | Extensive attack | The specimen dissolves or disintegrates. Polypropylene should not be used for any applications where these environmental conditions are present. |
† This symbol denotes that the chemical may produce cracking in the pipe, if the pipe is also under physical stress
All the compatibility data in the following charts are compiled from data supplied to Pipe Warehouse UK from manufacturers and other reputable sources. The effects of chemicals on polypropylene piping material is dependant on many factors, such as temperature, concentrations, pressure and abrasiveness, we have tried to cover as much as is possible but we cannot guarantee suitability for any application, this information should be considered a guide only and customers are urged to satisfy themselves as to the suitability for their particular application.
A
| Agent | Concentration | 20°C | 60°C | 100°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acetic acid, glacial | 97 | A | B (80°C) | - |
| Acetic acid | 50 | A | A (80°C) | - |
| Acetic acid | 40 | A | - | - |
| Acetic acid | 10 | A | A | - |
| Acetone | 100 | A | A | - |
| Acetophenone | 100 | B | B | - |
| Acriflavine (2% soln. in H2O) | 2 | A | A (80°C) | - |
| Acrylic emulsion | A | A | - | |
| Aluminium chloride | A | A | - | |
| Aluminium fluoride | A | A | - | |
| Aluminium sulphate | A | A | - | |
| Alums, all types | A | A | - | |
| Ammonia gas, dry | A | A | - | |
| Ammonia, aqueous | 30 | A | - | - |
| Ammonium carbonate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Ammonium chloride | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Ammonium fluoride | 20 | A | A | - |
| Ammonium hydroxide | 10 | A | A | - |
| Ammonium metaphosphate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Ammonium nitrate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Ammonium persulphate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Ammonium sulphate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Ammonium sulphide | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Ammonium thiocyanate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Amyl acetate | 100 | B | C | - |
| Amyl alcohol | 100 | A | B | - |
| Amyl chloride | 100 | C | C | - |
| Aniline | 100 | A | A | B |
| Anisole | 100 | B | B | - |
| Antimony chloride | A | A | - | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aqua regia | † | B | B | - |
| Aviation fuel (115/145 octane) | 100 | B | C | - |
| Aviation turbine fuel | 100 | B | C | - |
B
| Agent | Concentration | 20°C | 60°C | 100°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barium carbonate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Barium chloride | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Barium hydroxide | A | A | - | |
| Barium sulphate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Barium sulphide | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Beer | A | A | - | |
| Benzene | 100 | B | C | C |
| Benzioc acid | A | A | - | |
| Benzyl alcohol | A | A (80°C) | - | |
| Bismuth carbonate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Borax | A | A | - | |
| Boric acid | A | A | - | |
| Brine | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Bromine liquid | 100 | D | - | - |
| Bromine water | † | C | - | - |
| Butyl acetate | 100 | - | C | C |
| Butyl alcohol | 100 | A | - | - |
C
| Agent | Concentration | 20°C | 60°C | 100°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calcium carbonate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Calcium chlorate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Calcium chloride | 50 | A | A | - |
| Calcium hydroxide | A | A | - | |
| Calcium nitrate | A | A | - | |
| Calcium phosphate | 50 | A | - | - |
| Calcium sulphate | A | A | - | |
| Calcium sulphite | A | A | - | |
| Carbon dioxide, dry | A | A | - | |
| Carbon dioxide, wet | A | A | - | |
| Carbon disulphide | 100 | B | C | - |
| Carbon monoxide | A | A | - | |
| Carbon tetrachloride | 100 | C | C | C |
| Carbonic acid | A | A | - | |
| Castor oil | A | - | - | |
| Cetyl alcohol | 100 | A | - | - |
| Chlorine gas | 100 | D | D | - |
| Chlorine gas, wet | - | D | - | |
| Chlorobenzene | 100 | C | C | - |
| Chloroform | 100 | C | D | D |
| Chlorosulphonic acid | 100 | D | D | D |
| Chrome alum | A | A | - | |
| Chromic/sulphuric acid | D | D | - | |
| Chromic acid | 80 † | A | - | - |
| Chromic acid | 50 † | A | A | - |
| Chromic acid | 10 † | A | A | - |
| Cider | A | A | - | |
| Citric acid | 10 | A | A | - |
| Copper chloride | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Copper cyanide | Saturated | A | A | - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper nitrate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Copper fluoride | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Copper sulphate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Cotton seed oil | A | A | - | |
| Cuprous chloride | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Cyclohexanol | 100 | A | B | - |
| Cyclohexanone | 100 | B | C | - |
D
| Agent | Concentration | 20°C | 60°C | 100°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Decalin | 100 | C | C | C |
| Detergents | 2 | A | A | A |
| Developers (photographic) | A | A | - | |
| Dibutyl phthalate | 100 | A | B | D |
| Dichloroethylene | 100 | C | - | - |
| Diethanolamine | 100 | A | A | - |
| Di-iso-octyl phthalate | 100 | A | A | - |
E
| Agent | Concentration | 20°C | 60°C | 100°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emulsifiers | A | A | - | |
| Ethyl acetate | 100 | B | B | - |
| Ethyl alcohol | 96 | A | A | A (80°C) |
| Ethylene glycol | A | A | - | |
| Ethanolamine | 100 | A | A | - |
| Ethyl ether | 100 | B | - | - |
| Ethyl chloride | 100 | C | C | - |
| Ethylene dichloride | 100 | B | - | - |
| Ethylene oxide | 100 | B (10°C) | - | - |
F
| Agent | Concentration | 20°C | 60°C | 100°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fatty acids (C6) | 100 | A | A | - |
| Ferric chloride | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Ferric nitrate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Ferric sulphate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Ferrous chloride | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Ferrous sulphate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Fluosilicic acid | A | A | - | |
| Formaldehyde | 40 | A | A | - |
| Formic acid | 100 | A | - | - |
| Formic acid | 10 | A | A | - |
| Fructose | A | A | - | |
| Fruit juices | A | A | - | |
| Furfural | 100 | C | C | - |
G
| Agent | Concentration | 20°C | 60°C | 100°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | 100 | B | C | C |
| Gas liquor | C | - | - | |
| Gear box oil | 100 | A | B | - |
| Gelatine | A | A | - | |
| Glucose | 20 | A | A | - |
| Glycerine | 100 | A | A | A |
| Glycol | A | A | - |
H
| Agent | Concentration | 20°C | 60°C | 100°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hexane | 100 | C | C | - |
| Hydrobromic acid | 50 † | A | A | - |
| Hydrochloric acid | 30 † | A | B | D |
| Hydrochloric acid | 20 | A | A (80°C) | - |
| Hydrochloric acid | 10 | A | A (80°C) | B |
| Hydrochloric acid | 2 | A | A | A |
| 50-50 HCL-HNO3 | † | B | D (80°C) | - |
| Hydrofluoric acid | 40 | A | - | - |
| Hydrofluoric acid | 60† | A | A (40°C) | - |
| Hydrogen peroxide | 30 | A | - | D |
| Hydrogen peroxide | 10 | A | B | - |
| Hydrogen peroxide | 3 | A | - | - |
| Hydrogen chloride gas, dry | 100 | A | A | - |
| Hydrogen sulphide | A | A | - | |
| Hydroquinone | A | A | - |
I
| Agent | Concentration | 20°C | 60°C | 100°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inks | A | A | - | |
| Iodine tincture | A | - | - | |
| Isopropyl alcohol | 100 | A | A | - |
| Iso-octane | 100 | C | C | - |
J
K
| Agent | Concentration | 20°C | 60°C | 100°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ketones | A | - | - |
L
| Agent | Concentration | 20°C | 60°C | 100°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lactic acid | 20 | A | A | - |
| Lanolin | 100 | A | A | - |
| Lead acetate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Linseed oil | 100 | A | A | - |
| Lubricating oil | 100 | A | B | - |
M
| Agent | Concentration | 20°C | 60°C | 100°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magenta dye (aqueous | 2 | A | A | - |
| Magnesium carbonte | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Magnesium chloride | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Magnesium hydroxide | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Magnesium nitrate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Magnesium sulphate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Magnesium sulphite | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Meat juices | A | A | - | |
| Mercuric chloride | 40 | A | A | - |
| Mercuric cyanide | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Mercury | 100 | A | A | - |
| Mercurous nitrate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Methyl ethyl ketone | 100 | B | C | - |
| Methyl alcohol | 100 | A | A | - |
| Methylene chloride | 100 | C | - | - |
| Milk and its products | A | A | A | |
| Mineral oil | 100 | A | B | - |
| Molasses | 100 | A | A | - |
| Motor oil | 100 | A | B | - |
N
| Agent | Concentration | 20°C | 60°C | 100°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naphthalene | 100 | A | A | A |
| Nickel chloride | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Nickel nitrate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Nickel sulphate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Nitric acid | Fuming | D | D | D |
| Nitric acid | 70 † | C | D | - |
| Nitric acid | 60 † | B | D (80°C) | - |
| Nitric acid | 10 | A | A | A |
| 50-50 HNO3 -HCL | † | B | D (80°C) | - |
| 50-50 HNO3 -H2SO4 | † | C | D (80°C) | - |
| Nitrobenzene | 100 | A | A | - |
O
| Agent | Concentration | 20°C | 60°C | 100°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oleic acid | A | B | - | |
| Oleum | D | D | D | |
| Olive Oil | 100 | A | A | - |
| Oxalic acid, aqueous | 50 | A | B | - |
P
| Agent | Concentration | 20°C | 60°C | 100°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paraffin | 100 | A | B | - |
| Paraffin wax | 100 | A | A | - |
| Petrol | 100 | B | C | - |
| Phenol | 100 | A | A | - |
| Phosphoric acid | 95 | A | A | - |
| Plating solutions Brass | A | A | - | |
| Plating solutions Cadmium | A | A | - | |
| Plating solutions | A | A | - | |
| Plating solutions Copper | A | A | - | |
| Plating solutions Gold | A | A | - | |
| Plating solutions Indium | A | A | - | |
| Plating solutions Lead | A | A | - | |
| Plating solutions Nickel | A | A | - | |
| Plating solutions Rhodium | A | A | - | |
| Plating solutions Silver | A | A | - | |
| Plating solutions Tin | A | A | - | |
| Plating solutions Zinc | A | A | - | |
| Petroleum ether ( BP 100- | 100 | C | C | - |
| Potassium bicarbonate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Potassium borate | † | A | A | - |
| Potassium bromate | 10 | A | A | - |
| Potassium bromide | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Potassium carbonate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Potassium chlorate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Potassium chloride | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Potassium chromate | 40 | A | A | - |
| Potassium cyanide | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Potassium dichromate | 40 | A | A | - |
| Potassium ferri/ferrocyanide | A | A | - |
| Potassium fluoride | A | A | - | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Potassium hydroxide | 50 | A | A | - |
| Potassium hydroxide | 10 | A | A | A |
| Potassium nitrate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Potassium perborate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Potassium perchlorate | 10 | A | A | - |
| Potassium permanganate | 20 | A | A | - |
| Potassium sulphate | A | A | - | |
| Potassium sulphide | A | A | - | |
| Potassium sulphite | A | A | - | |
| Propyl alcohol | 100 | A | A | - |
| Pyridine | 100 | A | - | - |
R
S
| Agent | Concentration | 20°C | 60°C | 100°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silicone oil | 100 | B | B | - |
| Soap soln. (concentrated) | A | A | - | |
| Sodium acetate | A | A | - | |
| Sodium bicarbonate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Sodium bisulphate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Sodium bisulphite | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Sodium borate | A | A | - | |
| Sodium bromide oil solution | A | A | - | |
| Sodium carbonate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Sodium chlorate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Sodium chloride | Saturated | A | A | A |
| Sodium chlorite | 2 | A | A | - |
| Sodium chlorite | 5 | A | A | - |
| Sodium chlorite | 10 | A | A | - |
| Sodium chlorite | 20 | A | A | - |
| Sodium cyanide | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Sodium dichromate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Sodium ferricyanide | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Sodium ferrocyanide | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Sodium fluoride | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Sodium hydroxide | 50 | A | A | - |
| Sodium hydroxide | 10 | A | A | A |
| Sodium hypochlorite | 20 † | B | B | B |
| Sodium nitrate | A | A | - | |
| Sodium nitrite | A | A | - | |
| Sodium silicate | A | A | - | |
| Sodium sulphate | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Sodium sulphide | 25 | A | A | - |
| Sodium sulphite | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Stannous chloride | Saturated | A | A | - |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stannic chloride | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Starch | A | A | - | |
| Sulphates of calcium & | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Sulphites of potassium & | A | A | - | |
| Sulphur | A | A | - | |
| Sulphuric acid | 98 † | C | C | D |
| Sulphuric acid | 60 | A | B(80°C) | - |
| Sulphuric acid | 50 | A | B | - |
| Sulphuric acid | 10 | A | A | A |
| 50-50 H2SO4 / HNO3 | † | C | D(80°C) | - |
| Sugars and syrups | A | A | - | |
| Sulphamic acid | A | A(80°C) | - |
T
| Agent | 20°C | 60°C | 100°C | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tallow | A | A | - | |
| Tannic acid | 10 | A | A | - |
| Tartaric acid | A | A | - | |
| Tetrahydrofuran | 100 | C | C | C |
| Tetralin | 100 | C | C | C |
| Toluene | 100 | C | C | - |
| Tranformer oil | 100 | A | C | - |
| Trichloracetic acid | 10 | A | A | - |
| Trichloroethylene | 100 | C | C | C |
| Triethanolamine | 100 | A | A(80°C) | - |
| Turpentine | 100 | C | C | C |
U
| Agent | Concentration | 20°C | 60°C | 100°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urea | A | A | - | |
| Urine | A | A | - |
V
| Agent | Concentration | 20°C | 60°C | 100°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vaseline * | A | A | - | |
| Vinegar | A | A | - |
W
| Agent | Concentration | 20°C | 60°C | 100°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water, distilled, soft, hard & | A | A | A | |
| Whisky | A | A | A | |
| White paraffin | 100 | A | B(80°C) | - |
| White spirit | 100 | B | C | - |
| Wines | A | A | - |
X
| Agent | Concentration | 20°C | 60°C | 100°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xylene | 100 | C | C | C |
Z
| Agent | Concentration | 20°C | 60°C | 100°C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zinc choride | Saturated | A | A | - |
| Zinc oxide | A | A | - | |
| Zinc sulphate | Saturated | A | A | - |
This chart shows the expected performance of PVC pipe when used to convey the listed chemicals. This information is provided as a preliminary guide and does not constitute actual advice. There are other factors that need to be taken into account asides from chemical resistance when choosing piping material and the customer should always satisfy themselves as to the suitability of material for each and every application.
Summary:
• All chemicals in which the pipe material will come into contact needs to be considered when choosing a pipe material.
• Other properties that may affect the suitability of PVC pipe need to be considered with each individual application.
All information provided in this article is intended as a preliminary guide only. This chart does not constitute actual advice and
Pipe Warehouse UK is not responsible for any issues arising from the use or reliance on the information contained in this article.