Characteristics of 1-49

Polymers
TABLE 1.12 Effects of Corrosive Environments on Plastics
Environment

Plastic Aliphatic Aromatic Chlorin Esters and Weak Str Strong Stron
ated on g
g
Solvents Solvents Solvents Ketones Bases Ba Acids Oxid
ses ants
Ac A B A B A B A B A A A B E E E E
eta E
l E
B C E E E E E E A C B E D E E
Ac
ryli
c A E D E E E E E A C A C B E D
Acrylonitrile–
butadiene–
styrene (ABS)
Cellulose acetate A B A C A D E E A C C E C E C E
Cellulose A C D E D E E E B D C E C E C E
acetate
butyrate
Cellulose A C D E D E E E A B C E C E C E
acetate
propionate
Epoxy A B A B A C B C A A B C B C D D
(glass fiber
filled)
Furan A A A A A A A A B B B B A A E E
(asbestos
filled)
Melamine A A A A A A A B B C B C B C B C
Phenolic A A A A A A C C A C D E A A D E
(asbestos
filled)
Polyamide A A A A A B A A A B B C E E E E
Polyben A A A A A A A A A A A B A B A C
zimidazol
e
Polycarbonate A A A A E E E E A E E E A A A A
Poly(chloro A A A A C D A A A A A A A A A A
trifluoro
ethylene)
Polyester A B A C B D C C B C C E B B B C
(glass
fiber
filled)
q 2006 by Taylor & Francis Group,
LLC
 Polyethylene C E C E D E D E A A A A A A A A
Polypropylene A D B D B D A C A A A A A C A D
Polysulfone A A D D E E C D A A A A A A A A

(continued)

C
h
a
r
a
ct
er
is
ti
cs
of
P

1-
61

q 2006 by Taylor & Francis Group,

LLC
TABLE 1.12 (Continued) 1-
6
Environment

Plastic Aliphatic Aromatic Chlorin Esters Weak Str Str Stron

ated and on on g
g g
Solvents Solvents Solvents Keton Bases Ba Ac Oxid
es ses ids ants
Polysty D E D E E E D E A E A E D E D E
rene A
Poly(te
A A A A A A A A A A A A A A A
tra
fluoroethyle
ne)
Polyurethane A D C D D E B C A A C D A D A D
Poly(vinyl A E D E E E D E A E A E A E B E
chloride)
Silicone B C D D D E B D A B D E C D D E
Urea A C A C A C A B B C B C D E B C

Code: AZno effect or inert; BZslight effect; CZmild effect; DZsoftening or swelling; EZsevere deterioration. The effects were measured at 258C (first letter in each column) and at 908C
(second letter in each column).

Pl
a
st
ic
s
T
ec
h
n
ol
o
g
y
H
q 2006 by Taylor & Francis Group,
LLC
by hot acids or alkalies, and hydrolysis may occur. When these functional groups are present as pendant groups on
the polymer chain, the reaction will be similar. However, the tendency for such attack is reduced when alkyl groups
are present on the carbon atom attached to the functional group. Thus, poly(methyl methacrylate) but not
poly(methyl acrylate) is resistant to acid or alkaline hydrolysis. Atoms or groups with strong carbon bonds, such as
fluorine, chlorine, and ether groups, are resistant to attack by aqueous acids and alkalies. The chemical resistance of
various plastics is summarized inTable 1.12.