Polymer Data File:
Chemical Resistance

Polystyrene - PS

Important Note:

Whilst we try to ensure that this table is as accurate as possible we cannot guarantee that the data contained in the tables is accurate for all blends and grades of PS. In all cases the supplier of the material should be contacted to determine the exact chemical resistance of the material.

PS

A B C D E F G H I L M N O P S T U V W Y Z

R = Resistant

LR = Limited Resistance

NR = Not Recommended

ND = No Data

Chemical

Resistance

20^oC 60^oC 100^oC

Acetaldehyde ND ND ND

Acetic acid (10%) R NR ND

Acetic acid (glac./anh.) NR NR ND

Acetic anhydride ND ND ND

Aceto-acetic ester ND ND ND

Acetone R ND ND

Other ketones NR NR ND

Acetonitrile ND ND ND

Acetylene ND ND ND

Acetyl salicylic acid R R ND

Acid fumes R R ND

Alcohols R R ND

Aliphatic esters NR NR ND

Alkyl chlorides NR NR ND

Alum R R ND

Aluminium chloride R R ND

Aluminium sulphate R R ND

Ammonia, anhydrous R ND ND

Ammonia, aqueous R R ND

Ammonium chloride R R ND

Amyl acetate NR NR ND

Aniline NR NR ND

Antimony trichloride ND ND ND

Aqua regia NR NR ND

Aromatic solvents NR NR ND

Ascorbic acid ND ND ND

Beer R R ND

Benzaldehyde ND ND ND

Benzene NR NR ND

Benzoic acid R NR ND

Benzoyl peroxide ND ND ND

Boric acid R ND ND

Brines, saturated R R ND

Bromide (K) solution R R ND

Bromine NR NR ND

Bromine liquid, tech. NR NR ND

Bromine water, saturated aqueous NR NR ND

Butyl acetate ND ND ND

Calcium chloride R R ND

Carbon disulphide R NR ND

Carbonic acid R R ND

Carbon tetrachloride NR NR ND

Caustic soda & potash R R ND

Cellulose paint ND ND ND

Chlorates of Na, K, Ba ND ND ND

Chlorine, dry NR NR ND

Chlorine, wet NR NR ND

Chlorides of Na, K, Ba R R ND

Chloroacetic acid ND ND ND

Chlorobenzene NR NR ND

Chloroform NR NR ND

Chlorosulphonic acid ND ND ND

Chromic acid (80%) NR NR ND

Citric acid R NR ND

Copper salts (most) R NR ND

Cresylic acids (50%) ND ND ND

Cyclohexane NR NR ND

Detergents, synthetic R R ND

Emulsifiers, concentrated ND ND ND

Esters ND ND ND

Ether NR NR ND

Fatty acids (>C₆) R R ND

Ferric chloride R R ND

Ferrous sulphate R R ND

Fluorinated refrigerants NR NR ND

Fluorine, dry NR NR ND

Flourine, wet NR NR ND

Fluorosilic acid ND ND ND

Formaldehyde (40%) NR NR ND

Formic acid ND ND ND

Fruit juices R NR ND

Gelatine ND ND ND

Glycerine R R ND

Glycols R R ND

Glycol, ethylene R R ND

Glycolic acid ND ND ND

Hexamethylene diamine ND ND ND

Hexamine ND ND ND

Hydrazine ND ND ND

Hydrobromic acid (50%) ND ND ND

Hydrochloric acid (10%) R NR ND

Hydrochloric acid (conc.) R NR ND

Hydrocyanic acid ND ND ND

Hydrofluoric acid (40%) NR NR ND

Hydrofluoric acid (75%) NR NR ND

Hydrogen peroxide (30%) R NR ND

Hydrogen peroxide (30 - 90%) ND ND ND

Hydrogen sulphide NR NR ND

Hypochlorites R R ND

Hypochlorites (Na 12-14%) R R ND

Iso-butyl-acetate ND ND ND

Lactic acid (90%) NR NR ND

Lead acetate R ND ND

Lead perchlorate ND ND ND

Lime (CaO) R NR ND

Maleic acid R R ND

Manganate, potassium (K) ND ND ND

Meat juices R ND ND

Mercuric chloride R R ND

Mercury R R ND

Methanol R NR ND

Methylene chloride ND ND ND

Milk products R NR ND

Moist air R R ND

Molasses ND ND ND

Monoethanolamine ND ND ND

Naptha NR NR ND

Napthalene R NR ND

Nickel salts R R ND

Nitrates of Na, K and NH₃ R R ND

Nitric acid (<25%) NR NR ND

Nitric acid (50%) NR NR ND

Nitric acid (90%) NR NR ND

Nitric acid (fuming) NR NR ND

Nitrite (Na) R ND ND

Nitrobenzene ND ND ND

Oils, diesel NR NR ND

Oils, essential NR NR ND

Oils, lubricating + aromatic additives NR NR ND

Oils, mineral NR NR ND

Oils, vegetable and animal R NR ND

Oxalic acid R R ND

Ozone NR NR ND

Paraffin wax R NR ND

Perchloric acid NR NR ND

Petroleum spirits NR NR ND

Phenol R NR ND

Phosphoric acid (20%) R ND ND

Phosphoric acid (50%) R R ND

Phosphoric acid (95%) ND ND ND

Phosphorous chlorides ND ND ND

Phosphorous pentoxide ND ND ND

Phthalic acid ND ND ND

Picric acid ND ND ND

Pyridine NR NR ND

Salicyl aldehyde ND ND ND

Sea water R R ND

Silicic acid R R ND

Silicone fluids ND ND ND

Silver nitrate R R ND

Sodium carbonate R NR ND

Sodium peroxide ND ND ND

Sodium silicate ND ND ND

Sodium sulphide ND ND ND

Stannic chloride R R ND

Starch R R ND

Sugar, syrups & jams R R ND

Sulphamic acid ND ND ND

Sulphates (Na, K, Mg,Ca) R R

Chemical	Resistance
Chemical	20^oC	60^oC	100^oC
Acetaldehyde	ND	ND	ND
Acetic acid (10%)	R	NR	ND
Acetic acid (glac./anh.)	NR	NR	ND
Acetic anhydride	ND	ND	ND
Aceto-acetic ester	ND	ND	ND
Acetone	R	ND	ND
Other ketones	NR	NR	ND
Acetonitrile	ND	ND	ND
Acetylene	ND	ND	ND
Acetyl salicylic acid	R	R	ND
Acid fumes	R	R	ND
Alcohols	R	R	ND
Aliphatic esters	NR	NR	ND
Alkyl chlorides	NR	NR	ND
Alum	R	R	ND
Aluminium chloride	R	R	ND
Aluminium sulphate	R	R	ND
Ammonia, anhydrous	R	ND	ND
Ammonia, aqueous	R	R	ND
Ammonium chloride	R	R	ND
Amyl acetate	NR	NR	ND
Aniline	NR	NR	ND
Antimony trichloride	ND	ND	ND
Aqua regia	NR	NR	ND
Aromatic solvents	NR	NR	ND
Ascorbic acid	ND	ND	ND
Beer	R	R	ND
Benzaldehyde	ND	ND	ND
Benzene	NR	NR	ND
Benzoic acid	R	NR	ND
Benzoyl peroxide	ND	ND	ND
Boric acid	R	ND	ND
Brines, saturated	R	R	ND
Bromide (K) solution	R	R	ND
Bromine	NR	NR	ND
Bromine liquid, tech.	NR	NR	ND
Bromine water, saturated aqueous	NR	NR	ND
Butyl acetate	ND	ND	ND
Calcium chloride	R	R	ND
Carbon disulphide	R	NR	ND
Carbonic acid	R	R	ND
Carbon tetrachloride	NR	NR	ND
Caustic soda & potash	R	R	ND
Cellulose paint	ND	ND	ND
Chlorates of Na, K, Ba	ND	ND	ND
Chlorine, dry	NR	NR	ND
Chlorine, wet	NR	NR	ND
Chlorides of Na, K, Ba	R	R	ND
Chloroacetic acid	ND	ND	ND
Chlorobenzene	NR	NR	ND
Chloroform	NR	NR	ND
Chlorosulphonic acid	ND	ND	ND
Chromic acid (80%)	NR	NR	ND
Citric acid	R	NR	ND
Copper salts (most)	R	NR	ND
Cresylic acids (50%)	ND	ND	ND
Cyclohexane	NR	NR	ND
Detergents, synthetic	R	R	ND
Emulsifiers, concentrated	ND	ND	ND
Esters	ND	ND	ND
Ether	NR	NR	ND
Fatty acids (>C₆)	R	R	ND
Ferric chloride	R	R	ND
Ferrous sulphate	R	R	ND
Fluorinated refrigerants	NR	NR	ND
Fluorine, dry	NR	NR	ND
Flourine, wet	NR	NR	ND
Fluorosilic acid	ND	ND	ND
Formaldehyde (40%)	NR	NR	ND
Formic acid	ND	ND	ND
Fruit juices	R	NR	ND
Gelatine	ND	ND	ND
Glycerine	R	R	ND
Glycols	R	R	ND
Glycol, ethylene	R	R	ND
Glycolic acid	ND	ND	ND
Hexamethylene diamine	ND	ND	ND
Hexamine	ND	ND	ND
Hydrazine	ND	ND	ND
Hydrobromic acid (50%)	ND	ND	ND
Hydrochloric acid (10%)	R	NR	ND
Hydrochloric acid (conc.)	R	NR	ND
Hydrocyanic acid	ND	ND	ND
Hydrofluoric acid (40%)	NR	NR	ND
Hydrofluoric acid (75%)	NR	NR	ND
Hydrogen peroxide (30%)	R	NR	ND
Hydrogen peroxide (30 - 90%)	ND	ND	ND
Hydrogen sulphide	NR	NR	ND
Hypochlorites	R	R	ND
Hypochlorites (Na 12-14%)	R	R	ND
Iso-butyl-acetate	ND	ND	ND
Lactic acid (90%)	NR	NR	ND
Lead acetate	R	ND	ND
Lead perchlorate	ND	ND	ND
Lime (CaO)	R	NR	ND
Maleic acid	R	R	ND
Manganate, potassium (K)	ND	ND	ND
Meat juices	R	ND	ND
Mercuric chloride	R	R	ND
Mercury	R	R	ND
Methanol	R	NR	ND
Methylene chloride	ND	ND	ND
Milk products	R	NR	ND
Moist air	R	R	ND
Molasses	ND	ND	ND
Monoethanolamine	ND	ND	ND
Naptha	NR	NR	ND
Napthalene	R	NR	ND
Nickel salts	R	R	ND
Nitrates of Na, K and NH₃	R	R	ND
Nitric acid (<25%)	NR	NR	ND
Nitric acid (50%)	NR	NR	ND
Nitric acid (90%)	NR	NR	ND
Nitric acid (fuming)	NR	NR	ND
Nitrite (Na)	R	ND	ND
Nitrobenzene	ND	ND	ND
Oils, diesel	NR	NR	ND
Oils, essential	NR	NR	ND
Oils, lubricating + aromatic additives	NR	NR	ND
Oils, mineral	NR	NR	ND
Oils, vegetable and animal	R	NR	ND
Oxalic acid	R	R	ND
Ozone	NR	NR	ND
Paraffin wax	R	NR	ND
Perchloric acid	NR	NR	ND
Petroleum spirits	NR	NR	ND
Phenol	R	NR	ND
Phosphoric acid (20%)	R	ND	ND
Phosphoric acid (50%)	R	R	ND
Phosphoric acid (95%)	ND	ND	ND
Phosphorous chlorides	ND	ND	ND
Phosphorous pentoxide	ND	ND	ND
Phthalic acid	ND	ND	ND
Picric acid	ND	ND	ND
Pyridine	NR	NR	ND
Salicyl aldehyde	ND	ND	ND
Sea water	R	R	ND
Silicic acid	R	R	ND
Silicone fluids	ND	ND	ND
Silver nitrate	R	R	ND
Sodium carbonate	R	NR	ND
Sodium peroxide	ND	ND	ND
Sodium silicate	ND	ND	ND
Sodium sulphide	ND	ND	ND
Stannic chloride	R	R	ND
Starch	R	R	ND
Sugar, syrups & jams	R	R	ND
Sulphamic acid	ND	ND	ND
Sulphates (Na, K, Mg,Ca)	R	R

Polymer Data File: Chemical Resistance

Polystyrene - PS

Polymer Data File:
Chemical Resistance