ABS Chemical Compatibility
What Chemicals are Compatible with ABS Plastic?
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is a thermoplastic polymer known for its strength, durability, and versatility. It is a hard plastic durable down to -40°C. It has a high resistance to temperature fluctuations. Suitable for a wide range of applications. It is tough and impact-resistant. ABS also has good heat resistance, dimensional stability, and chemical resistance to many acids and alkalis.
| Mechanical properties | |
| Property | Approximate Value |
| Tensile strength | 55-80 MN/m2 |
| Elongation at Break | 10-50% |
| Specific Heat | 1.25 - 1.70 kJ/kg°C |
| Glass Transition Temperature | 110°C |
| Long Term Service Temperature | <100°C |
| Water Absorption | 0.1 - 0.5 % (50% rh) |
| Transparency | Opaque |
A = Excellent
B = Good
C = Fair
D = Severe Effect / Do not use
| Chemical | Resistance @ 20°C/68°F |
Resistance @ 60°C/140°F |
| Acetaldehyde | D | D |
| Acetic acid (10%) | A | D |
| Acetic acid (glac./anh.) | D | D |
| Acetic anhydride | C | D |
| Aceto-acetic ester | D | D |
| Acetone | D | D |
| Other ketones | D | D |
| Acetonitrile | D | - |
| Acetyl salicylic acid | D | D |
| Acid fumes | D | D |
| Alcohols (General) | D | D |
| Aliphatic esters | D | D |
| Alkyl chlorides | D | D |
| Alum | A | A |
| Aluminum chloride | A | A |
| Aluminum hydroxide | B | - |
| Aluminum sulphate | A | A |
| Ammonia, anhydrous | A | D |
| Ammonia, aqueous | A | D |
| Ammonium chloride | A | A |
| Amyl acetate | D | D |
| Amyl alcohol | A | - |
| Amyl chloride | D | - |
| Aniline | D | D |
| Antifreeze | B | B |
| Antimony trichloride | A | A |
| Aqua regia | D | D |
| Aromatic solvents | D | D |
| Ascorbic acid | D | D |
| Benzaldehyde | B | - |
| Benzene | D | D |
| Benzyl alcohol | A | - |
| Benzoic acid | A | A |
| Benzoyl peroxide | A | - |
| Boric acid | A | A |
| Bromide (K) solution | A | A |
| Bromine | D | D |
| Bromine liquid, tech. | D | D |
| Bromine water, saturated aqueous | D | D |
| Butyl alcohol | A | - |
| Calcium chloride | A | A |
| Carbon disulphide | D | D |
| Carbonic acid | A | A |
| Carbon tetrachloride | D | D |
| Caustic soda & potash | A | A |
| Chlorates of Na, K, Ba | A | A |
| Chlorine, dry or wet | A | A |
| Chlorides of Na, K, Ba | A | A |
| Chloroacetic acid | D | D |
| Chlorobenzene | D | D |
| Chloroform | D | D |
| Chlorosulphonic acid | D | D |
| Chromic acid (80%) | A | D |
| Citric acid | A | A |
| Copper salts (most) | A | A |
| Cresylic acids (50%) | D | D |
| Cyclohexane | D | D |
| Detergents, synthetic | A | D |
| Esters | D | D |
| Ether | D | D |
| Ethyl Alcohol | B | - |
| Fatty acids (>C6) | A | A |
| Ferric chloride | A | A |
| Ferrous sulphate | A | A |
| Fluorinated refrigerants | D | D |
| Fluorine, dry | D | D |
| Flourine, wet | D | D |
| Fluorosilic acid | D | D |
| Formaldehyde (40%) | A | A |
| Formic acid | A | A |
| Glycerine | A | A |
| Glycols | D | D |
| Glycol, ethylene | A | A |
| Glycolic acid | D | D |
| Hexamine | D | D |
| Hydrobromic acid (50%) | A | D |
| Hydrochloric acid (10%) | A | A |
| Hydrochloric acid (conc.) | A | D |
| Hydrocyanic acid | A | A |
| Hydrofluoric acid (40%) | A | D |
| Hydrofluoric acid (75%) | D | D |
| Hydrogen peroxide (30%) | A | D |
| Hydrogen peroxide (30 - 90%) | D | D |
| Hypochlorites | A | A |
| Hypochlorites (Na 12-14%) | A | D |
| Isobutyl alcohol | B | - |
| Lactic acid (90%) | A | A |
| Lead acetate | A | A |
| Lime (CaO) | A | A |
| Maleic acid | A | A |
| Manganate, potassium (K) | A | A |
| Mercuric chloride | A | D |
| Mercury | A | A |
| Methanol | D | D |
| Methylene chloride | D | D |
| Milk products | A | D |
| Monoethanolamine | D | D |
| Naptha | A | D |
| Napthalene | D | D |
| Nickel salts | A | A |
| Nitrates of Na, K and NH3 | A | A |
| Nitric acid (<25%) | D | D |
| Nitric acid (50%) | D | D |
| Nitric acid (90%) | D | D |
| Nitric acid (fuming) | D | D |
| Nitrite (Na) | A | D |
| Nitrobenzene | D | D |
| Oils, diesel | D | - |
| Oils, lubricating + aromatic additives | D | D |
| Oils (animal, vegetable, mineral) | A | A |
| Oxalic acid | A | D |
| Ozone | D | D |
| Paraffin wax | A | A |
| Petroleum spirits | D | D |
| Phenol | D | D |
| Phosphoric acid (20%) | A | D |
| Phosphoric acid (95%) | A | D |
| Phthalic acid | B | - |
| Picric acid | A | - |
| Pyridine | D | D |
| Salicyl aldehyde | A | - |
| Silicic acid | A | A |
| Silicone fluids | D | - |
| Silver nitrate | A | A |
| Sodium carbonate | A | A |
| Sodium peroxide | A | - |
| Sodium silicate | A | D |
| Sodium sulfide | A | D |
| Stannic chloride | D | D |
| Starch | A | D |
| Sugar, syrups & jams | A | A |
| Sulphates (Na, K, Mg, Ca) | A | A |
| Sulphites | A | D |
| Sulphur | A | - |
| Sulphur dioxide, dry | A | D |
| Sulphur dioxide, wet | A | D |
| Sulphur dioxide (96%) | D | D |
| Sulphur trioxide | A | A |
| Sulphuric acid (<50%) | D | D |
| Sulphuric acid (70%) | D | D |
| Sulphuric acid (95%) | D | D |
| Sulphuric acid, fuming | D | D |
| Tallow | A | A |
| Tartaric acid | A | A |
| Trichlorethylene | D | D |
| Urea (30%) | A | A |
| Vinegar | A | A |
| Wetting agents (<5%) | A | A |
| Yeast | A | D |
| Zinc chloride | D | D |