When selecting tubing for microfluidic applications, ensuring chemical compatibility is crucial to maintaining system integrity and performance. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tubing is widely used due to its exceptional chemical compatibility, thermal stability, and non-reactivity. It is highly resistant to most acids, alcohols, detergents, and solvents, making it ideal for use with reactive and corrosive chemicals.
Most chemicals are suitable for use with PTFE tubing, yet, understanding compatibility is essential for preventing degradation and ensuring safety. In this guide, we present a comprehensive table of chemical compatibility for PTFE tubing. This table, based on the chemical compatibility data provided by BOLA, is designed to help engineers, technicians, and researchers quickly determine whether PTFE is suitable for their specific applications, ensuring reliable and long-lasting performance in various chemical environments.
Refer to this table to make informed choices and maintain the efficiency and safety of your system.
💡 The chemical compatibility rating key is as follows:
- A = Excellent chemical compatibility
- B = Slight to Moderate Effect
- C = Severe Effect (Not Recommended)
🚨 The compatibility ratings provided in these tables are for general guidance only and may not be complete or accurate. They do not address potential contamination or changes in fluid properties due to tubing interaction. We do not guarantee the suitability of any material for specific purposes or the impact of tubing on fluid quality. For critical applications, conduct specific tests or seek expert advice.
PTFE Tubing: Chemical Compatibility Table
Chemical Substance | Compatibility |
---|---|
A | |
Accumulator acid | A |
Acetaldehyde | A |
Acetamide | A |
Acetic acid | A |
Acetic acid amide | A |
Acetic acid anhydride | A |
Acetic acid butyl ester | A |
Acetic acid chloride | A |
Acetic acid ethyl ester | A |
Acetic acid pentyl ester | A |
Acetic anhydride | A |
Acetone | A |
Acetonitrile | A |
Acetophenone | A |
Acetyl benzene | A |
Acetyl chloride | A |
Acetylene tetrachloride | A |
Acetylsalicylic acid | A |
Acetone-2 | A |
Acrylic acid butyl ester | A |
Acrylic acid ethylic ester | A |
Acrylonitrile | A |
Adipic acid | A |
Alcohol | A |
Alcohol denatured | A |
Alkyl acetone | A |
Alkyl alcohol | A |
Alkyl chloride | A |
Allylether acetate | A |
Alum | A |
Alumina | A |
Aluminium acetate | A |
Aluminium chloride | A |
Aluminium fluoride | A |
Aluminium hydroxide | A |
Aluminium hydroxidacetate | A |
Aluminium nitrate | A |
Aluminium oxide | A |
Aluminium sulfate | A |
Amino acid | A |
Aminoacetic acid | A |
Aminobenzene | A |
Amino methane | A |
Ammonia | A |
Ammonia solution | A |
Ammonium acetate | A |
Ammonium alum | A |
Ammonium aluminiumsulfate | A |
Ammonium carbonate | A |
Ammonium chloride | A |
Ammonium fluoride | A |
Ammonium hydroxide | A |
Ammonium nitrate | A |
Ammonium oxalate | A |
Ammonium peroxodisulfate | A |
Ammonium persulfate | A |
Ammonium phosphate | A |
Ammonium sulfate | A |
Ammonium sulfide | A |
Ammon nitrate | A |
Ammon salpeter | A |
Ammon sulfate | A |
Amyl acetate | A |
Amyl alcohol | A |
Aniline | A |
Anisole | A |
Anone | A |
Antichlor | A |
Antifreezing compound | A |
Antimonous chloride | A |
Antimony butter | A |
Antimony trichloride | A |
Aqua Regia | A |
Arsenic acid | A |
Arsenic (V)-oxide hydrate | A |
Asphalt | A |
Aviation gasoline | A |
Azotic acid | A |
B | |
Barium carbonate | A |
Barium chloride | A |
Barium cyanide | A |
Barium hydroxide | A |
Barium sulfate | A |
Barium sulfide | A |
Baryta hydrate | A |
Battery acid | A |
Beer | A |
Benzaldehyde | A |
Benzoic acid | A |
Benzene | A |
Benzene diol-1,3 | A |
Benzyl acetate | A |
Benzyl alcohol | A |
Benzyl chloride | A |
Benzoic aldehyde | A |
Benzoyl chloride | A |
Benzylsulfonic acid | A |
Benzyl acetate | A |
Bisulfite SO2 | A |
Bitumen | A |
Bone glue | A |
Borax | A |
Boric acid | A |
Bornanone-2 | A |
Brake fluid | A |
Brine | A |
Bromine | A |
Bromomethane | A |
Butadiene-1,3 | A |
Butane | A |
Butane acid | A |
Butane diacid | A |
Butanol | A |
Butyl acetate | A |
Butyl alcohol | A |
Butyl glycolate | A |
Butyl ether | A |
Butyl phenol | A |
Butyric acid | A |
C | |
Calcium acetate | A |
Calcium bicarbonate | A |
Calcium carbonate | A |
Calcium chloride | A |
Calcium hydrogen carbonate | A |
Calcium hydroxide | A |
Calcium hypochloride | A |
Calcium nitrate | A |
Calcium oxide | A |
Calcium sulfate | A |
Calcium sulfide | A |
Camphor | A |
Camphora | A |
Camphoric oil | A |
Carbamide | A |
Carbolic acid | A |
Carbon disulfide | A |
Carbon tetrachloride | A |
Carbonic acid | A |
Caustic baryta | A |
Caustic potash | A |
Caustic potash solution | A |
Caustic soda | A |
Cellosolve® | A |
Cetyl alcohol | A |
Chalk | A |
Chlorine | A |
Chloral hydrate | A |
Chloric acid | A |
Chloroacetic acid | A |
Chlorobenzene | A |
Chloroethane | A |
Chloroethanol-2 | A |
Chloroethyl | A |
Chlorethylene | A |
Chloroform | A |
Chlorofluorocarbon (FFC) | A |
Chloromethane | A |
Chloropropene-3 | A |
Chlorosulfonic acid | A |
Chlorotoluene | A |
Chromium(VI) oxide | A |
Chromic acid | A |
Chromic anhydride | A |
Chromic sulfuric acid | A |
Chromium trioxide | A |
Citric acid | A |
Coal tar particles | A |
Cod liver oil | A |
Copper chloride | A |
Copper(I) cyanide | A |
Copper(II) nitrate | A |
Copper(II) sulfate | A |
Cresol | A |
Cumene | A |
Cyclohexane | A |
Cyclohexanol | A |
Cyclohexanone | A |
D | |
D-Glucose | A |
Decahydronaphthalene | A |
Decalin | A |
Decane | A |
Denatured alcohol | A |
Desiccator grease | A |
Dextrin | A |
Dextrose | A |
Diacetone | A |
Diacetone alcohol | A |
Diaminoethane | A |
Dibutyl ether | A |
Dichloroacetic acid | A |
Dichlorobenzene | A |
Dichloroethane | A |
Dichloromethane | A |
Diesel fuel | A |
Diethanolamine | A |
Diethyl ether | A |
Diethylamine | A |
Diethyle ketone | A |
Diethylene glycol | A |
Diethylene oxide | A |
Diglycol | A |
Dihydroxybenzene | A |
Dihydroxybenzene-1,3 | A |
Diisobuthyl ketone | A |
Dimethyl benzene | A |
Dimethyl ether | A |
Dimethyl formamide | A |
Dimethyl sulfoxide | A |
Dimethylamine | A |
Dioxane | A |
Diphenyl ether | A |
Diphenyl oxide | A |
Dipropylene glycol | A |
Disodium tetraborate | A |
Disulfide | A |
DMSO | A |
E | |
Eau de Javelle | A |
Ethanal | A |
Ethane diacid | A |
Ethane diamine-1,2 | A |
Ethane diol-1,2 | A |
Ethanol | A |
Ether | A |
Ethyl acetate | A |
Ethyl acrylate | A |
Ethyl alcohol | A |
Ethyl benzene | A |
Ethyl chloride | A |
Ethyl ether | A |
Ethylene chlorohydrine | A |
Ethylene glycol | A |
Ethylene glycol ethyl ether | A |
Ethylene methyl ketone | A |
Ethylene oxide | A |
Ethylenediamine | A |
F | |
Fatty acids | A |
Ferric chloride | A |
Ferric nitrate | A |
Ferric sulfate | A |
Fertilizer | A |
Fixing baths | A |
Fluorhydric acid | A |
Fluorine | A |
Fluosilicic acid | A |
Formaldehyde | A |
Formic acid | A |
Formic acid amide | A |
Formalin | A |
Formamide | A |
Fruit juice | A |
Fuel oil | A |
Furfural | A |
Furfurol | A |
Furfuryl aldehyde | A |
G | |
Gasoline, aromatic | A |
Gasoline, leaded | A |
Gasoline, test | A |
Gasoline, unleaded | A |
Gelatine | A |
Glacial acetic acid | A |
Glauber’s salt | A |
Glue | A |
Glycerin | A |
Glycine | A |
Glycocoll | A |
Glycol | A |
Glycolic acid | A |
Grape sugar | A |
Grease and oil | A |
Gypsum | A |
H | |
Heptane | A |
Hexadecanol | A |
Hexafluorosilicic acid | A |
Hexane | A |
Hexane diacid | A |
Hexane triol-1,2,6 | A |
Hexanol | A |
Hexyl alcohol | A |
Hydrazine hydrate | A |
Hydrobromic acid | A |
Hydrochloric acid | A |
Hydrocyanic acid | A |
Hydrofluorocarbons | A |
Hydrofluoric acid | A |
Hydrogen peroxide | A |
Hydrogen sulfide | A |
Hydrogen sulfite | A |
Hydroquinone | A |
Hydrosulfide | A |
Hydroxybenzoic acid | A |
Hydroxyacetic acid | A |
Hydroxypropionic acid-2 | A |
I | |
Iodine | A |
Iodine tincture | A |
Isobutyl acetate | A |
Isobutyl alcohol | A |
Isooctane | A |
Isopropanol | A |
Isopropyl acetate | A |
Isopropyl alcohol | A |
Isopropyl benzene | A |
Isopropyl ether | A |
Isovaleron | A |
J | |
Javelle water | A |
K | |
Kerosene | A |
Kerosine | A |
L | |
Lactic acid | A |
Lanoline | A |
Lead(II) acetate | A |
Lead sugar | A |
Lead tetraethyl | A |
Lime | A |
Linseed oil | A |
Lubricating oil | A |
M | |
Machinery oil | A |
Magnesium carbonate | A |
Magnesium chloride | A |
Magnesium hydroxide | A |
Magnesium nitrate | A |
Magnesium sulfate | A |
Maleic acid | A |
Marble lime hydrate | A |
MEK | A |
Menthol | A |
Mercury | A |
Mercury(II)-chloride | A |
Mercury(II)-cyanide | A |
Mercury(II)-nitrate | A |
Methacrylic ester | A |
Methanal | A |
Methanol | A |
Methoxyethanol | A |
Methoxybenzene | A |
Methoxybutanol | A |
Methyl acetate | A |
Methyl alcohol | A |
Methyl amine | A |
Methyl benzene | A |
Methyl bromide | A |
Methyl butyl ketone | A |
Methyl cellosolve | A |
Methyl chloride | A |
Methyl cyanide | A |
Methyl ether | A |
Methyl ethyl ether | A |
Methyl ethyl ketone | A |
Methyl ethyl ketone-2 | A |
Methyl glycol | A |
Methyl isobutyl ketone | A |
Methyl methacrylate | A |
Methyl phenylketone | A |
Methylenchlorid | A |
Methyl pentanone | A |
Milk | A |
Mineral oil | A |
Mineral oil, non-aromatic | A |
Monochloroacetic acid | A |
Montanic wax | A |
N | |
Naphta | A |
Nickel chloride | A |
Nickel sulfate | A |
Nitrate of sodium | A |
Nitril triethanol | A |
Nitrobenzene | A |
Nitrogen monoxide | A |
Nitromethane | A |
Nitrous acid | A |
Nitrous oxide | A |
Nonyl alcohol | A |
O | |
Octadecan acid | A |
Octane | A |
Oil, essential | A |
Oleic acid | A |
Oleum | A |
Oleum Jecoris | A |
Oxalic acid | A |
Oxalic acid diammonium salt | A |
Oxidiethanol | A |
Oxirane | A |
Oxolane | A |
Ozocerite | A |
Ozone | A |
P | |
Palmitic acid | A |
Paraffins | A |
Pentanol | A |
Pentanol-1 | A |
Pentanone-3 | A |
Pentyl acetate | A |
Perchloric acid | B |
Perchloroethylene | A |
Perfume | A |
Peroxide of hydrogen | A |
Petroleum | A |
Petroleum ether | A |
Phenol | A |
Phenyl ether | A |
Phenylamine | A |
Phenylethanon-1 | A |
Phenylmethanol | A |
Phosphoric acid | A |
Phosphorous chloride | A |
Phosphorus trichloride | A |
Phthalate | A |
Phthalate ester | A |
Pikric acid | A |
Potash | A |
Potassium acetate | A |
Potassium aluminium sulfate | A |
Potassium bicarbonate | A |
Potassium bichromate | A |
Potassium bromide | A |
Potassium carbonate | A |
Potassium chlorate | A |
Potassium chloride | A |
Potassium chromate | A |
Potassium cyanide | A |
Potassium dichromate | A |
Potassium ferricyanide | A |
Potassium ferrocyanide | A |
Potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) | A |
Potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) | A |
Potassium hydroxide | A |
Potassium hypochlorite | A |
Potassium iodide | A |
Potassium nitrate | A |
Potassium perchlorate | A |
Potassium permanganate | A |
Potassium persulfate | A |
Propane | A |
Propanediol-1,2 | A |
Propanoic acid | A |
Propanol | A |
Propan-2-ol | A |
Propantriol | A |
Propen-2-ol-1 | A |
Propyl alcohol | A |
Propylene glycol | A |
Propylene oxide | A |
Prussiate of potash, red | A |
Prussiate of potash, yellow | A |
Pyridine | A |
Q | |
Quinol | A |
R | |
Resorcinol | A |
S | |
Salicylic acid | A |
Salmiac | A |
Salt, red | A |
Selenite | A |
Silicic acid | A |
Silicone oils | A |
Silver acetate | A |
Silver cyanide | A |
Silver nitrate | A |
Soda ash | A |
Soda lye | A |
Sodium acetate | A |
Sodium benzoate | A |
Sodium bicarbonate | A |
Sodium bisulfate | A |
Sodium bisulfite | A |
Sodium bromide | A |
Sodium carbonate | A |
Sodium chromate | A |
Sodium chlorate | A |
Sodium chloride | A |
Sodium chlorite | A |
Sodium cyanide | A |
Sodium dithionite | A |
Sodium fluoride | A |
Sodium hydrogen carbonate | A |
Sodium hydrogen sulfate | A |
Sodium hydrogen sulfite | A |
Sodium hydroxide | A |
Sodium hyposulfite | A |
Sodium nitrate | A |
Sodium nitrite | A |
Sodium perborate Tetrahydrate | A |
Sodium perchlorate | A |
Sodium peroxide | A |
Sodium peroxodisulfate | A |
Sodium persulfate | A |
Sodium phosphate | A |
Sodium silicate | A |
Sodium sulfate Decahydrate | A |
Sodium sulfide | A |
Sodium sulfite | A |
Sodium superoxide | A |
Sodium tetraborate Decahydrate | A |
Sodium thiosulfate | A |
Soft soap | A |
Stearic acid | A |
Styrene | A |
Styrolene | A |
Sublimate | A |
Succinic acid | A |
Sulfuric acid | A |
Sulfuric acid fuming | A |
Sulfur dioxide | A |
T | |
Table salt | A |
Tallow | A |
Tannic acid | A |
Tannins | A |
Tartaric acid | A |
Tensides, non alkaline | A |
Tetrachloroethane | A |
Tetrachloroethylene | A |
Tetrachloromethane | A |
Tetraethyl lead | A |
Tetrahydrofuran | A |
Tetrahydronaphtalene | A |
Tetralin | A |
Tetramethylene oxide | A |
Thionyl chloride | A |
Thinner (Solvol) | A |
Toluol | A |
Transformer oil | A |
Trichlorobenzene | A |
Trichloroacetic acid | A |
Trichloroethylene | A |
Trichloromethane | A |
Triethanolamine | A |
Triethylene glycol | A |
Trifluorotrichloroethane | A |
Triglycerides | A |
Triglycol | A |
Trimethylpentane-2,2,4 | A |
Trinitrophenol-2,4,6 | A |
Turpentine | A |
Turpentine substitute | A |
U | |
Urea | A |
Uric acid | A |
Urine | A |
V | |
Vaseline | A |
Vinyl acetate | A |
Vinegar | A |
Vinyl chloride | A |
Vinylbenzene | A |
Vinyl cyanide | A |
Vinylidene chloride | A |
W | |
Washing agents | A |
Washing-up liquid | A |
Water | A |
Water demineralized | A |
Water glass | A |
Wine spirit | A |
Woll fat | A |
Woll wax | A |
X | |
Xylol | A |
Y | |
Yeasts | A |
Z | |
Zinc carbonate | A |
Zinc chloride | A |
Zinc nitrate | A |