Annex 2 - Chemical Resistance

Volume 2 Start Annex 1 First Response Annex 2 Chem. Resist. Annex 3 Case Histories Annex 4 Classification Annex 5 Body Protection Annex 6 Labelling Annex 7 Units Annex 8 References
 
Chemical resistance of materials
 

In actions against chemical accidents involving solvents or aggressive chemicals it is crucial to be aware, during the response operation, of the risk for deterioration of chemical protection clothing as well as response equipment and devices (booms, skimmers, containers, pumps, hoses, etc.).

Figure a2 - 1 and Figure a2 - 2 below can be used as a rough tool in assessing the chemical resistance of various materials to aggressive chemicals.

The letters at the top of the Figure a2 - 2 columns relate to chemicals and chemical groups (examples within brackets) in Figure a2 - 1
 

 

(examples within brackets)

 
 

(examples within brackets)

A

Chlorine
K

Chlorinated hydrocarbons

B

Sulphur dioxide

 

   (carbon tetrachloride)

C

Ammonia

L

Alcohols (isopropanol)

D

Oxidizing substances (hydrogen peroxide)

M

Ketones (acetone)

E

Salt solutions (sodium chloride solution)

N

Ethers (diethyl ether)

F

Alkalis, lye (sodium hydroxide solution)

O

Esters (ethyl acetate)

G

Inorganic acids (sulphuric acid)

P

Nitriles (acrylonitrile)

H

Organic acids (formic acid)

Q

Amines (triethanolamine)

I

Aliphatic hydrocarbons (n-hexane)

R

Amides (dimethylformamide)

J

Aromatic hydrocarbons (toluene)

S

Aldehydes (formaldehyde)

 

 

 

 

Figure a2 - 1

Source: Finnish Emergency Services College
 
 
N.B.

The chemicals in Figure a2 - 1 refer to pure substances. Their aggressive effects on materials may be considerably increased if they are contaminated or mixed with other substances. These effects may also be enhanced by increased temperature and concentration.

The properties and aggressive effects of substances in the same chemical group may differ from substance to substance. By this reason the information in Figure a2 - 1 and Figure a2 - 2 should be regarded as indicative. If possible the deleterious effects of a chemical to a material should be checked by consulting sources with information specific for the chemical and material in question.

Besides the chemical resistivity of materials also the mechanical durability should be considered. For example, a plastic container which is chemical durable against volatile liquids may not be suitable as a pressure vessel because it may not withstand the vapour pressure of the enclosed liquids, especially on certain occasions of elevated temperature e.g. when exposed to sunlight.

When using hoses, containers, etc. made of plastic or rubber appropriate safety precautions must always be taken to eliminate any charges of static electricity with grounded arrangements.
 
 

Materials

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

Polyethylene (HDPE, LDPE, PE-X)

0

2

2

2

2

2

1

1

2

0

1

2

0

0

2

0

2

0

2

Polypropylene (PP)

2

2

2

 

2

2

1

2

1

1

0

2

1

0

2

 

 

 

2

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)

1

0

2

2

2

2

1

1

1

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

2

0

2

Polytetra Fluoroethylene; Teflon (PTFE)

2

 

2

 

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

1

 

2

2

Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVAL)

 

 

0

0

 

0

0

0

2

2

2

0

0

2

2

0

2

0

0

Polystyrene (PS)

0

1

2

 

2

1

0

1

1

0

0

2

2

0

0

 

 

 

0

Polyvinylidene Fluoride; Kynar (PVDF)

 

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

1

2

2

 

0

 

2

Polycarbonate (PC)

1

0

0

 

2

0

0

0

2

0

0

2

0

0

0

 

0

 

2

Polymethyl Methacrylate; Plexiglas (PMMA)

1

2

2

 

2

1

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

 

1

 

2

Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS)

2

0

1

 

2

2

0

0

1

0

0

2

0

0

0

 

 

 

2

Perfluoroethylene Propylene (FEP)

2

 

2

 

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

1

 

2

2

Perfluoroalcoxy Alcane (PFA)

2

 

2

 

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

1

 

2

2

Polychlorotrifluorethylene (PCTFE)

0

 

 

 

2

2

2

2

2

2

0

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ethylene Chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE)

0

 

 

 

2

2

2

2

2

2

0

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ethylenetetrafluorethylene (ETFE)

 

 

 

 

2

2

2

2

2

2

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Polyamide; Nylon (PA)

0

0

2

 

2

2

0

0

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

 

 

 

2

Polyacetal (POM)

0

0

2

 

2

2

0

0

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

 

 

 

2

Polyethylene Terephtalate (PETP)

 

 

 

 

2

2

0

0

2

2

 

 

 

2

2

 

 

 

2

Polyphenylene Oxide (PPO)

2

2

2

 

2

2

2

2

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

 

 

 

2

Polyphenylene Sulphide (PPS)

1

2

2

 

2

2

0

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

 

 

 

2

Styrene-Acrylonitrile (SAN)

0

1

2

 

2

1

0

1

1

0

0

2

2

0

0

 

 

 

0

Polysulphone (PSU)

1

1

2

 

2

2

1

2

1

0

1

0

1

1

0

 

 

 

2

Phenol-Formaldehyde (PF)

0

2

2

 

2

2

0

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

 

 

 

2

Epoxy (EP)

0

2

2

 

2

2

0

1

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

 

 

 

2

Unsatisfied polyester; reinforced plastic

2

2

2

1

2

0

1

1

2

0

0

2

0

0

0

0

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Natural rubber (NR)

0

1

1

0

2

2

1

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

Isoprene; synthetic natural rubber (IR)

0

1

1

0

2

2

1

0

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

0

0

Chloroprene; neoprene (CR)

0

1

1

1

2

2

2

2

2

0

0

0

2

0

1

2

2

2

2

Nitrile rubber NBR)

0

0

2

0

2

2

0

1

2

0

1

2

0

0

0

0

2

2

2

Styrene-Butadiene rubber (SBR)

0

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

0

0

0

2

2

0

0

0

1

1

2

Butyl rubber (IIR)

0

2

2

0

2

2

1

2

0

0

0

2

2

1

2

0

2

1

2

Chlorobutyl rubber (CIIR)

 

 

 

 

 

2

 

 

 

0

0

 

2

1

2

 

0

 

 

Fluorine rubber; Viton (FEP or FKM)

2

2

2

2

2

1

2

0

2

2

2

2

0

0

0

0

0

0

2

Chlorosulphonated polyethylene; Hypalon (CSM)

0

2

2

0

2

2

2

1

2

0

0

2

0

1

1

1

2

1

2

Ethylene-Propylene rubber (EPDM)

0

1

2

1

2

2

2

1

0

0

0

2

2

0

2

0

2

2

2

Silicon rubber (VMQ,PVMQ,FMQ,FVMQ,etc)

0

1

2

2

2

0

0

2

0

0

0

2

2

0

0

 

2

1

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ordinary steel (carbon steel; e.g. Fe 37)

2

2

0

0

0

1

0

0

 

2

2

0

2

2

2

2

0

0

 

Ordinary cast iron

2

2

0

0

0

1

0

0

 

2

2

 

2

2

2

2

0

0

 

Silicon cast iron

2

2

0

0

0

1

2

1

 

2

2

 

2

2

2

2

 

0

 

Stainless steel (e.g. AISI 304)

2

2

2

2

2

2

0

0

 

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

 

Acid resistant steel (e.g. AISI 316)

2

2

2

2

2

2

1

1

 

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

 

Aluminium

0

 

2

2

0

0

0

1

2

2

2

0

2

2

2

0

0

0

 

Brass (Cu-Zn)

0

2

0

0

2

2

1

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

0

0

0

2

Tin bronze (Cu-Sn)

0

2

0

0

2

2

1

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

0

0

0

2

Aluminium bronze (Cu-Al)

0

2

0

0

2

2

1

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

0

0

0

2

Red brass (Cu-Sn-Zn/Pb)

0

1

0

0

1

1

1

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

2

0

0

0

2

Titanium

0

2

2

 

2

1

2

2

2

2

2

2

2