HDPE Chemical Compatibility Chart & Checker
Check HDPE chemical compatibility with our free interactive tool. Search 46+ common chemicals and see compatibility ratings, temperature limits, and concentration data for HDPE containers.
HDPE Chemical Compatibility Ratings
- Excellent: Safe for long-term storage at recommended temperatures
- Good: Compatible with minor limitations
- Limited: Short-term contact only, not recommended for storage
- Not Recommended: May cause container degradation or failure
Common Chemical Categories
Our database covers acids (sulfuric, hydrochloric, nitric), bases (sodium hydroxide, ammonia), solvents (acetone, toluene, MEK), household chemicals (bleach, vinegar), industrial fluids (motor oil, hydraulic fluid), food products (vegetable oil, honey), and agricultural chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides).
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General guidance only. Ratings reflect typical HDPE performance at the stated concentration and temperature. Chemical compatibility varies with resin grade, exposure duration, concentration, temperature, and mixture composition. Verify against the chemical manufacturer's SDS and your own application requirements before selecting a container. Contact us at 954-594-2108 to discuss your specific chemical and duty cycle.
| Chemical Name | Category | Rating | Max Temp F | Concentration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sulfuric Acid | Acids | Excellent | 140 | Up to 70% | HDPE is highly resistant to sulfuric acid at moderate concentrations and temperatures. Widely used in chemical processing and battery manufacturing. |
| Hydrochloric Acid | Acids | Excellent | 140 | Up to 37% | HDPE provides excellent resistance to hydrochloric acid at all concentrations up to 37%. Standard choice for HCl storage. |
| Nitric Acid | Acids | Good | 120 | Up to 50% | HDPE performs well with nitric acid at moderate concentrations. At higher concentrations (above 50%) or elevated temperatures, resistance decreases. |
| Phosphoric Acid | Acids | Excellent | 140 | Up to 85% | Excellent resistance at all concentrations. Commonly stored in HDPE containers in agricultural and food processing applications. |
| Acetic Acid | Acids | Excellent | 120 | Up to 50% | HDPE is highly resistant to acetic acid (vinegar acid). Suitable for food-grade and industrial applications. |
| Citric Acid | Acids | Excellent | 140 | All concentrations | Excellent compatibility with HDPE at all concentrations and temperatures. Common in food and beverage processing. |
| Chromic Acid | Acids | Limited | 100 | Up to 40% | Limited resistance due to oxidizing nature. Use caution at elevated temperatures. Consider specialized containers for prolonged storage. |
| Hydrofluoric Acid | Acids | Good | 120 | Up to 48% | HDPE provides good resistance to hydrofluoric acid. One of the few plastics suitable for HF storage. |
| Sodium Hydroxide (Caustic Soda) | Bases | Excellent | 140 | Up to 50% | HDPE is the preferred container material for sodium hydroxide solutions. Excellent resistance at all common concentrations. |
| Potassium Hydroxide | Bases | Excellent | 140 | Up to 50% | Excellent resistance similar to sodium hydroxide. HDPE is the standard container material for KOH solutions. |
| Ammonia (Aqueous) | Bases | Excellent | 120 | Up to 30% | HDPE is highly resistant to ammonia solutions. Commonly used in agricultural and cleaning product storage. |
| Ammonium Hydroxide | Bases | Excellent | 120 | Up to 30% | Excellent compatibility with HDPE containers. Standard material choice for ammonium hydroxide storage. |
| Acetone | Solvents | Limited | 80 | 100% | HDPE has limited resistance to acetone. Short-term storage may be acceptable, but prolonged exposure can cause softening and swelling. |
| MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone) | Solvents | Not Recommended | 70 | 100% | MEK will attack and degrade HDPE over time. Not suitable for storage in HDPE containers. Use metal or compatible plastic alternatives. |
| Toluene | Solvents | Not Recommended | 70 | 100% | Toluene causes significant swelling and degradation of HDPE. Not recommended for HDPE storage. Use metal containers. |
| Xylene | Solvents | Not Recommended | 70 | 100% | Xylene is incompatible with HDPE, causing rapid degradation. Metal or fluorinated containers are recommended. |
| Methanol | Solvents | Good | 100 | 100% | HDPE provides good resistance to methanol at room temperature. Performance decreases at elevated temperatures. |
| Ethanol | Solvents | Excellent | 120 | Up to 95% | HDPE is highly resistant to ethanol at all common concentrations. Widely used for ethanol storage in industrial applications. |
| Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) | Solvents | Excellent | 120 | Up to 100% | Excellent resistance at all concentrations. HDPE is the standard container material for IPA in cleaning and pharmaceutical uses. |
| Mineral Spirits | Solvents | Limited | 80 | 100% | HDPE has limited resistance to mineral spirits. Short-term storage only. May cause swelling with prolonged exposure. |
| Bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite) | Household | Excellent | 120 | Up to 12.5% | HDPE is the industry standard for bleach storage. Excellent resistance at all commercial concentrations. |
| Vinegar | Household | Excellent | 140 | Up to 10% | Excellent compatibility. HDPE is widely used for vinegar storage in food processing and household applications. |
| Dish Soap | Household | Excellent | 140 | All concentrations | Fully compatible with HDPE. No degradation concerns at any concentration or temperature within normal use. |
| Hydrogen Peroxide | Household | Good | 100 | Up to 35% | HDPE provides good resistance to hydrogen peroxide at moderate concentrations. Higher concentrations (above 50%) may require specialized containers. |
| Laundry Detergent | Household | Excellent | 140 | All concentrations | Fully compatible with HDPE containers. Standard packaging material for liquid detergents. |
| Motor Oil | Industrial | Excellent | 140 | 100% | HDPE is highly resistant to motor oil and petroleum lubricants. Standard container material for oil storage and distribution. |
| Hydraulic Fluid | Industrial | Good | 120 | 100% | HDPE provides good resistance to most hydraulic fluids. Verify compatibility with specific fluid formulations, especially synthetic types. |
| Antifreeze (Ethylene Glycol) | Industrial | Excellent | 140 | Up to 100% | Excellent compatibility with HDPE at all concentrations. HDPE is the standard container for antifreeze products. |
| Diesel Fuel | Industrial | Good | 100 | 100% | HDPE provides good short-to-medium term resistance to diesel fuel. For long-term storage, verify with specific HDPE grade. |
| Gasoline | Industrial | Limited | 80 | 100% | HDPE has limited resistance to gasoline. Aromatic components can cause swelling. Use approved fuel containers with proper HDPE formulations. |
| Kerosene | Industrial | Good | 100 | 100% | Good resistance for short-to-medium term storage. Similar to diesel fuel compatibility. |
| Brake Fluid | Industrial | Good | 100 | 100% | HDPE provides good resistance to glycol-based brake fluids. Verify compatibility with DOT 5 silicone-based formulations. |
| Vegetable Oil | Food | Excellent | 140 | 100% | Excellent compatibility. HDPE is FDA-compliant for food-grade vegetable oil storage. No leaching or degradation concerns. |
| Honey | Food | Excellent | 140 | 100% | Fully compatible with food-grade HDPE containers. Widely used in commercial honey packaging and bulk storage. |
| Molasses | Food | Excellent | 140 | 100% | Excellent compatibility with HDPE. Standard container material for bulk molasses in food processing and agricultural feed. |
| Soy Sauce | Food | Excellent | 140 | 100% | Fully compatible with food-grade HDPE containers. No interaction or degradation concerns. |
| Olive Oil | Food | Excellent | 140 | 100% | Excellent compatibility with HDPE. Suitable for food-grade bulk storage and distribution. |
| Corn Syrup | Food | Excellent | 140 | 100% | Fully compatible with food-grade HDPE. Standard packaging material in the food processing industry. |
| Fruit Juice Concentrates | Food | Excellent | 120 | All concentrations | Excellent compatibility with food-grade HDPE containers. pH levels in fruit juices do not affect HDPE integrity. |
| Fertilizer Solutions (Liquid) | Agricultural | Excellent | 140 | Various | HDPE is the standard container for liquid fertilizers including UAN, ammonium nitrate solutions, and mixed NPK formulations. |
| Pesticides (Water-Based) | Agricultural | Excellent | 120 | Various | HDPE is the industry standard for water-based pesticide storage. Always verify compatibility with specific active ingredients. |
| Herbicides (Water-Based) | Agricultural | Excellent | 120 | Various | HDPE provides excellent resistance to most water-based herbicide formulations including glyphosate-based products. |
| Pesticides (Solvent-Based) | Agricultural | Limited | 80 | Various | Solvent-based pesticide formulations may attack HDPE depending on the carrier solvent. Verify with specific product SDS. |
| Urea Solutions | Agricultural | Excellent | 140 | Up to 50% | HDPE provides excellent resistance to urea solutions. Standard container for DEF (Diesel Exhaust Fluid) and agricultural urea. |
| Formaldehyde | Industrial | Excellent | 120 | Up to 37% | HDPE is highly resistant to formaldehyde solutions (formalin). Standard container material in laboratory and industrial settings. |
| Brine (Sodium Chloride) | Industrial | Excellent | 140 | Saturated | Excellent resistance to salt solutions at all concentrations. HDPE is unaffected by sodium chloride solutions. |