Scope note: this chart covers chemical resistance of common lab plastics used as containers, tubing, wash bottles, carboys, and general labware — the material question of “what can I safely store or dispense this chemical in.” It is a different decision from selecting wetted materials for process equipment such as pump seals, valve trim, and gasket elastomers, which is covered separately in the chemical compatibility chart for wetted materials of construction. It also does not cover glove selection (see the chemical-resistant glove selection guide) or chemical storage segregation rules. Use this page when you are specifying or purchasing plastic labware; use the wetted-materials chart when you are specifying process equipment.
How to read this chart
Chemical resistance ratings are a starting point for a specification decision, not a guarantee. Whether a plastic holds up against a given chemical depends on the chemical’s concentration, the temperature of contact, the duration of exposure, and the specific resin grade and wall thickness of the part. A rating of “good” at room temperature and typical reagent concentration can fail at elevated temperature or with a concentrated or glacial form of the same chemical. Manufacturers of lab plasticware (for example Thermo Fisher/Nalgene, Cole-Parmer, and VWR) publish their own detailed chemical resistance guides tested under specific conditions — when a decision is safety-critical or involves a chemical not covered here, confirm against the specific product manufacturer’s chart and, where available, the reagent’s safety data sheet (SDS) storage recommendations.
- Excellent — the plastic is a standard, widely used choice for this chemical category; negligible attack under normal lab conditions.
- Good — generally suitable, but resistance narrows at higher temperature, higher concentration, or long-term storage; check the specific grade before committing to long-term use.
- Limited — usable for brief or dilute exposure only (e.g., a quick rinse), not for storage; verify before specifying.
- Poor — documented incompatibility (swelling, softening, cracking, dissolution, permeation, or embrittlement) is common; avoid unless the manufacturer explicitly confirms suitability for your exact formulation.
Chemical resistance chart: common lab plastics by chemical category
| Chemical category | HDPE / LDPE | Polypropylene (PP) | PTFE / PFA / FEP | PVC | Polycarbonate (PC) | Polystyrene (PS) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dilute mineral acids (e.g., dilute HCl, dilute H₂SO₄) | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Limited | Limited |
| Concentrated strong acids (conc. H₂SO₄, conc. HNO₃) | Limited–Good | Limited–Good | Excellent | Limited | Poor | Poor |
| Hydrofluoric acid (HF), any concentration | Good–Excellent | Good–Excellent | Excellent | Poor | Poor | Poor |
| Strong bases (NaOH, KOH) | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Poor | Poor |
| Alcohols (methanol, ethanol, isopropanol) | Good–Excellent | Excellent | Excellent | Good | Limited | Poor |
| Ketones (acetone, MEK) | Limited | Good | Excellent | Poor | Poor | Poor |
| Chlorinated solvents (chloroform, DCM) | Poor | Poor–Limited | Excellent | Poor | Poor | Poor |
| Aromatic solvents (toluene, xylene, benzene) | Limited | Limited | Excellent | Poor | Poor | Poor |
| Strong oxidizers (conc. H₂O₂, chromic acid) | Limited | Limited–Good | Excellent | Limited | Poor | Poor |
| Esters (ethyl acetate) | Limited | Good | Excellent | Poor | Poor | Poor |
General guidance, not a substitute for a manufacturer chart or SDS review. “Limited” and “Poor” cells often still mean brief incidental contact is fine (a quick rinse) while storage or continuous exposure is not — the distinction matters for how you use the container, not just what it’s made of.
Notes on each plastic
HDPE and LDPE (polyethylene)
The default choice for general aqueous reagents, dilute acids and bases, and most alcohols. HDPE is more rigid and slightly more chemical- and temperature-resistant than LDPE; LDPE is more common for squeeze wash bottles. Neither holds up well to aromatic or chlorinated solvents, which can cause swelling and slow permeation over time — a polyethylene bottle can “sweat” volatile organics through the wall even when the cap seal looks intact.
Polypropylene (PP)
Similar acid/base resistance to polyethylene but with a higher usable temperature (PP can typically be autoclaved; most PE cannot), which is why PP is the standard material for autoclavable labware, centrifuge tubes, and pipette tips. Reasonable resistance to many ketones and dilute oxidizers, but not to strong oxidizing acids at high concentration or most chlorinated/aromatic solvents.
PTFE, PFA, and FEP (fluoropolymers)
The broadest chemical resistance of any common lab plastic, including hydrofluoric acid, strong oxidizers, and most organic solvents — this is why HF is stored in fluoropolymer or HDPE/PP containers and never in glass, which HF etches and dissolves. The tradeoff is cost and lower mechanical toughness than HDPE/PP for the same wall thickness, so fluoropolymers are typically reserved for the specific reagents (HF, other highly reactive or high-purity chemicals) that need them, rather than used as a default.
PVC
Adequate for dilute aqueous acids and bases and common in tubing applications, but degraded by many solvents (ketones, chlorinated and aromatic hydrocarbons) and unsuitable for HF or concentrated oxidizing acids. Rigid PVC and flexible (plasticized) PVC behave differently — plasticizer can leach into some solvents, which is itself a compatibility failure mode distinct from the base resin degrading.
Polycarbonate (PC)
Valued for clarity and impact strength (autoclavable flasks, safety shields, some carboys) but chemically one of the weaker choices on this list — attacked by many solvents, strong bases, and some amines, which can cause crazing or stress cracking even without full dissolution. Do not assume a polycarbonate container is chemically resistant just because it is durable; those are separate properties.
Polystyrene (PS)
Common for disposable, single-use labware (petri dishes, cuvettes, some pipette bodies) exposed to aqueous solutions only. Polystyrene dissolves or softens in a wide range of organic solvents, including many that other plastics on this chart tolerate well, so it should be treated as single-use/aqueous-only rather than a general storage material.
Practical selection steps
- Identify the exact chemical, its concentration, and the expected temperature and duration of contact — not just the chemical family.
- Check the reagent’s SDS (Section 7, Handling and Storage) for any manufacturer-specified container material requirements.
- Cross-check the candidate plastic against a manufacturer chemical resistance chart for the specific product line, since resin formulation and wall thickness affect real-world performance.
- For anything containing hydrofluoric acid, choose fluoropolymer, HDPE, or PP — never glass.
- For long-term storage of solvents (ketones, chlorinated or aromatic hydrocarbons), default to fluoropolymer or verify the specific PP grade rather than assuming general-purpose PP or PE is adequate.
- Where the decision concerns process equipment (pumps, valves, seals, tubing runs) rather than a storage container, use the wetted-materials compatibility chart instead, since it also covers elastomers and metals not included here.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best plastic for storing hydrofluoric acid?
Fluoropolymers (PTFE, PFA, FEP) and, for many concentrations, HDPE or PP are the standard choices. Glass must never be used for HF because HF actively etches and dissolves silica-based glass.
Can acetone be stored in a plastic bottle?
Not reliably in PVC, polystyrene, or polycarbonate, which acetone attacks or dissolves. PTFE/PFA/FEP is excellent; polypropylene is generally good for short-to-moderate term storage, but always check the specific container manufacturer’s rating for extended storage.
Is PVC chemically resistant?
PVC has good resistance to dilute aqueous acids, bases, and many salts, which is why it is common in lab tubing and drainage lines, but it is a poor choice for ketones, chlorinated solvents, aromatic solvents, and hydrofluoric acid.
What plastic is compatible with concentrated sulfuric acid?
PTFE/PFA/FEP offers excellent resistance. HDPE and PP have limited-to-good resistance depending on concentration and temperature and are commonly used for moderate concentrations at room temperature; for fuming or very high concentrations, verify against a manufacturer chart before specifying.
Does chemical resistance depend on the container’s wall thickness?
Yes for permeation-driven failures (slow diffusion of a solvent through an intact wall) — a thicker wall slows permeation but does not change whether the resin itself is fundamentally compatible. For attack-driven failures (swelling, cracking, dissolution), wall thickness affects how long the container survives before failing, not whether it is a safe long-term choice.
