Chemical compatibility
For all those “nonstandard” pneumatic applications, where thermoplastic pipes come into contact with chemical agents, it is important to know how the pipe may be affected. The information in this chart is offered in good faith and believed to be accurate at the time of its preparation. This is the result of tests carried out by the raw material supplier according to standard methods so that the chart is offered without any warranty, expressed or implied, from our side. For gravity flow or non-pressure applications, where the pipe is not subject to continuous internal pressure or thermal stress, chemical immersion test data that are provided in this chart may provide suitable information. It’s important to take into consideration that there are multiple conditions that may affect the chemical resistance of each product.
Chemical resistance and product's applications
It’s important to take into consideration that there are multiple conditions that may affect the chemical resistance of each product:
- The chemical composition of the material: the chemical resistance of plastic hosing is related to the chemical resistance of the thermoplastic material in addition to additives and other ingredients in the final compound;
- Mixtures: the fact that the thermoplastic product is resistant to each one of the chemical agents of a mixture taken singularly, doesn’t mean that it’s resistant to their combination. When the possible combined effect of several chemicals is unknown, the material should be tested in the complete chemical mixture in question;
- Temperature: generally, the resistance decreases when temperature increases and this is why in the chart is indicated the maximum working temperature with the specific chemical where it differs from the standard for compressed air;
- Stress: generally, the applied mechanical stress (such as constant internal pressure, abrasion, or impacts) decreases the chemical resistance and increases the fail possibilities. In some cases even if a low rate of chemical attack is involved, if the application is pressurized, simple immersion data, like that represented in the following resistance tables, may not adequately characterize performance throughout the intended design life.
- The concentration of the chemical agent: generally, the resistance of a particular plastic to a specific chemical decreases with an increase in concentration of the chemical.