When selecting chips (i.e., lab-on-a-chip, organ-on-a-chip) or microplates (i.e., spheroids or hanging drop microplates) for microfluidic applications, ensuring chemical resistance is crucial for maintaining system integrity and performance. PS (Polystyrene) is a popular choice due to its optically clear nature, lightweight properties, and shatter-resistant characteristics. It is commonly used in medical, pharmaceutical, and food processing applications because of its excellent resistance to water, alcohols, and a variety of chemicals.
However, like all materials, PS has its limitations, and not every chemical is compatible with it. Therefore, understanding resistance is essential for preventing degradation and ensuring safety. In this guide, we present a comprehensive table of chemical resistance for PS chips and microplates. This table, based on the chemical resistance data (at 20°C) provided by Reichelt Chemietechnik, is designed to help engineers, technicians, and researchers quickly determine whether PS chips or microplates are 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 resistance rating key is as follows:
- resistant = no effect to slight effect
- limited resistance = moderate effect
🚨 The resistance 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.
PS Chips and Microplates: Chemical Resistance Table
| Substance/Media | Chemical Resistance |
|---|---|
| A | |
| Acetamide | resistant |
| Acetic acid, 10% | resistant |
| Acetic acid, 5% | resistant |
| Acetic acid, 50% | limited resistance |
| Acetylsalicylic acid | resistant |
| Adipic acid | resistant |
| Adipic acid, aqueous | resistant |
| Alanine | resistant |
| Allyl alcohol | resistant |
| Allyl alcohol (2-propen-1-ol) | resistant |
| Almond oil | limited resistance |
| Aluminum chloride | resistant |
| Aluminum hydroxide | limited resistance |
| Aluminum nitrate | resistant |
| Aluminum oxide | resistant |
| Aluminum potassium sulfate, diluted | resistant |
| Aluminum potassium sulfate, saturated | resistant |
| Aluminum sulfate | resistant |
| Amino acids | resistant |
| Ammonium acetate | resistant |
| Ammonium carbonate, 50% | resistant |
| Ammonium chloride, aqueous | resistant |
| Ammonium dihydrogen phosphate | resistant |
| Ammonium fluoride (Fluorammon) | resistant |
| Ammonium glycolate | resistant |
| Ammonium heptamolybdate | resistant |
| Ammonium hydroxide | resistant |
| Ammonium hydroxide, 30% | limited resistance |
| Ammonium hydroxide, 5% | resistant |
| Ammonium iron(II) sulfate | resistant |
| Ammonium nitrate, 10% | resistant |
| Ammonium nitrate, saturated | resistant |
| Ammonium oxalate | resistant |
| Ammonium sulfate (fertilizer) | resistant |
| Ammonium sulfate, 10% | resistant |
| Ammonium sulfate, saturated | resistant |
| Ammonium thiocyanate | resistant |
| Amyl alcohol (pentanol, pentyl alcohol) | limited resistance |
| Antifreezes (glycol-based) | resistant |
| Apple juice | resistant |
| Aqua regia | limited resistance |
| Arsenic acid | resistant |
| Arsenic acid, aqueous | resistant |
| B | |
| Barium bromide | resistant |
| Barium carbonate | resistant |
| Barium chloride | resistant |
| Barium chloride, saturated | resistant |
| Battery acid | resistant |
| Beef tallow | resistant |
| Beer | resistant |
| Benzoic acid, saturated | resistant |
| Bleaching powder | resistant |
| Blue vitriol (copper sulfate) | resistant |
| Bone oil | resistant |
| Boric acid, 10% | resistant |
| Brake fluid, ATE blue (glycol based) | limited resistance |
| Butanol (butyl alcohol) | resistant |
| Butanol (butyl alcohol), secondary | resistant |
| Butanol (butyl alcohol), tertiary | resistant |
| Butanol-1 (butyl alcohol) | limited resistance |
| Butter | resistant |
| Butyl alcohol (butanol) | resistant |
| Butyl alcohol (butanol), secondary | resistant |
| Butyl alcohol (butanol), tertiary | resistant |
| C | |
| Cadmium bromide | resistant |
| Calcium bromide | resistant |
| Calcium carbonate (chalk) | resistant |
| Calcium chloride | resistant |
| Calcium chloride, aqueous | resistant |
| Calcium hydroxide (milk of lime) | resistant |
| Calcium hydroxide (milk of lime), aqueous | resistant |
| Calcium hydroxide (milk of lime), concentrated | resistant |
| Calcium hypochlorite | resistant |
| Calcium hypochlorite, aqueous | resistant |
| Calcium hypochlorite, saturated | resistant |
| Calcium nitrate, 50% | resistant |
| Calcium oxide | resistant |
| Calcium phosphate | resistant |
| Calcium phosphate, aqueous | resistant |
| Calcium sulfate (gypsum) | resistant |
| Camphor | resistant |
| Camphor oil | resistant |
| Camphor oil (camphor) | resistant |
| Carbazole | resistant |
| Carbon dioxide | resistant |
| Castor oil | resistant |
| Caustic potash (potassium hydroxide, potash lye) | limited resistance |
| Caustic soda (sodium hydroxide, soda lye), 50% | resistant |
| Chalk (calcium carbonate) | resistant |
| Chloroacetic acid (ethyl chloroacetate) | resistant |
| Chloroacetic acid ethyl ester (ethyl chloroacetate) | resistant |
| Chromic acid, 10% | resistant |
| Chromic acid, 20% | resistant |
| Chromic acid, 50% | limited resistance |
| Chromosulfuric acid | limited resistance |
| Cinnamon | limited resistance |
| Citric acid, 10% | resistant |
| Citric acid, 50% | resistant |
| Citric acid, saturated | resistant |
| Coal gas, without benzene | resistant |
| Cocoa | resistant |
| Coconut oil (hardened) | resistant |
| Cod liver oil | resistant |
| Common salt (sodium chloride) | resistant |
| Copper sulfate (blue vitriol) | resistant |
| Copper(II) nitrate, saturated | resistant |
| Corn germ oil | resistant |
| Crude oil | limited resistance |
| Curry | limited resistance |
| Cyclohexanol (hexalin, anol) | limited resistance |
| D | |
| Decanol | limited resistance |
| Dextrin | resistant |
| Dichloroacetic acid | limited resistance |
| Diesel oil | limited resistance |
| Diethanolamine (DEA) | resistant |
| Diethylamine | limited resistance |
| Diethylene glycol | limited resistance |
| Dihydroxysuccinic acid (tartaric acid) | resistant |
| Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) | resistant |
| Dipropylene glycol | resistant |
| Dodecanol (lauryl alcohol) | resistant |
| E | |
| Epsom salts (magnesium sulfate) | resistant |
| Ethanol (ethyl alcohol, spirit), 100% | limited resistance |
| Ethanol (ethyl alcohol, spirit), 40% | resistant |
| Ethanol (ethyl alcohol, spirit), 50% | resistant |
| Ethanol (ethyl alcohol, spirit), 96% | limited resistance |
| Ethanol, 50% | resistant |
| Ethanol, 96% | limited resistance |
| Ethyl alcohol (ethanol, spirit) | limited resistance |
| Ethyl chloroacetate (chloroacetic acid ethyl ester) | resistant |
| Ethyl cyanoacetate | resistant |
| Ethyl lactate | limited resistance |
| Ethylene glycol (glycol, 1,2-ethanediol) | resistant |
| Ethylhexanol (isooctyl alcohol, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol) | limited resistance |
| F | |
| Ferric chloride (iron(III) chloride) | resistant |
| Ferrous chloride (iron(II) chloride) | resistant |
| Firewaters (ethyl alcohol, spirit) | limited resistance |
| Flaxseed oil (linseed oil) | resistant |
| Fluorammon (ammonium fluoride) | resistant |
| Fluoric acid (hydrofluoric acid), 4% | resistant |
| Fluoric acid (hydrofluoric acid), 40% | resistant |
| Fluorides | resistant |
| Formaldehyde (formalin, methanal), 10% | limited resistance |
| Formamide | resistant |
| Formic acid, 3% | resistant |
| Formic acid, 50% | limited resistance |
| Formic acid, 98-100% | limited resistance |
| Fructose | resistant |
| Fruit juices | resistant |
| Fuel oil, mineral oil-based | limited resistance |
| G | |
| Gelatine | resistant |
| Glucose (grape sugar) | resistant |
| Glycerine (glycerol) | resistant |
| Glycol (ethylene glycol) | resistant |
| Grape sugar (glucose) | resistant |
| Gypsum (calcium sulfate) | resistant |
| H | |
| Hexalin (cyclohexanol) | limited resistance |
| Hexamethylenetetramine | resistant |
| Hexane | limited resistance |
| Hexanetriol | resistant |
| Hydrobromic acid | limited resistance |
| Hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid), 1-5% | resistant |
| Hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid), 10% | resistant |
| Hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid), 20% | resistant |
| Hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid), 35% | limited resistance |
| Hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid), 37% | limited resistance |
| Hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid), concentrated | limited resistance |
| Hydrochloric acid (spirits of salt) | limited resistance |
| Hydrocyanic acid (hydrogen cyanide) | resistant |
| Hydrofluorosilicic acid (silicic acid) | resistant |
| Hydrogen | resistant |
| Hydrogen peroxide, 3% | resistant |
| Hydrogen peroxide, 30% | resistant |
| Hydrogen peroxide, 90% | resistant |
| Hydrogen sulfide | limited resistance |
| Hydroiodic acid | resistant |
| I | |
| Iodine tincture | limited resistance |
| Iodine-potassium iodide solution | limited resistance |
| Iodoform (triiodomethane) | limited resistance |
| Iron nitrate, saturated | resistant |
| Iron(II) chloride, aqueous (ferrous chloride) | resistant |
| Iron(II) sulfate | resistant |
| Iron(II) sulfate, saturated | resistant |
| Iron(III) chloride (ferric chloride) | resistant |
| Isoamyl alcohol | resistant |
| Isobutanol (isobutyl alcohol) | resistant |
| Isobutyl alcohol (isobutanol) | resistant |
| Isooctane | limited resistance |
| Isooctyl alcohol (ethylhexanol) | limited resistance |
| Isopropanol (2-propanol) | limited resistance |
| J | |
| Jam | resistant |
| Javel water (sodium hypochlorite, bleaching solution) | resistant |
| L | |
| Lactic acid | resistant |
| Lactic acid, 3% | resistant |
| Lactic acid, 80% | resistant |
| Lactose | resistant |
| Lanolin (wool grease) | resistant |
| Laurel | resistant |
| Lauryl alcohol (dodecanol) | resistant |
| Lead stearate | resistant |
| Lead sulfate | resistant |
| Lead(II) acetate, aqueous | resistant |
| Lead(II) nitrate | resistant |
| Lemon juice | resistant |
| Linseed oil (flaxseed oil) | resistant |
| Lysol | limited resistance |
| M | |
| Magnesium bromide | resistant |
| Magnesium carbonate | resistant |
| Magnesium chloride, aqueous | resistant |
| Magnesium hydroxide | resistant |
| Magnesium nitrate | resistant |
| Magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) | resistant |
| Margarine | resistant |
| Mercury | resistant |
| Mercury (II) chloride | resistant |
| Mercury chloride | resistant |
| Mercury nitrate | resistant |
| Methanol (methyl alcohol, wood alcohol) | limited resistance |
| Methyl alcohol (methanol, wood alcohol) | limited resistance |
| Milk | resistant |
| Milk of lime (calcium hydroxide) | resistant |
| Mineral oils | resistant |
| Mustard | resistant |
| N | |
| Naphtha | limited resistance |
| Naphthalene (in alcohol) | limited resistance |
| Naphthalene (rock oil) | limited resistance |
| Nickel nitrate | resistant |
| Nickel sulfate, saturated | resistant |
| Nicotine | resistant |
| Nitric acid, 1-10% | resistant |
| O | |
| Oils and fats, vegetable | limited resistance |
| Oleic acid | resistant |
| Olive oil | resistant |
| Orange juice | resistant |
| Oxalic acid (ethanedioic acid) | resistant |
| Oxygen | resistant |
| Ozone | limited resistance |
| P | |
| Palm kernel oil | resistant |
| Palmitic acid | resistant |
| Paraffin (alkane) | resistant |
| Peanut oil | resistant |
| Pectin | resistant |
| Pectin, aqueous | resistant |
| Pentane | limited resistance |
| Pentanol (pentyl alcohol, amyl alcohol) | limited resistance |
| Pentyl alcohol (pentanol, amyl alcohol) | limited resistance |
| Peracetic acid | resistant |
| Perchloric acid, 70% | resistant |
| Phosphoric acid, 1-5% | resistant |
| Phosphoric acid, 30% | resistant |
| Phosphoric acid, 85% | resistant |
| Phthalic acid (benzene-o-dicarboxylic acid) | resistant |
| Pineapple juice | resistant |
| Potassium bromate, saturated | resistant |
| Potassium bromide | resistant |
| Potassium carbonate | resistant |
| Potassium carbonate (potash) | resistant |
| Potassium chlorate, aqueous | resistant |
| Potassium chlorate, saturated | resistant |
| Potassium chloride (sylvine) | resistant |
| Potassium chromate, yellow, saturated | resistant |
| Potassium dichromate, saturated | resistant |
| Potassium ferricyanide | resistant |
| Potassium hydrogen sulfate | resistant |
| Potassium hydroxide (caustic potash, potash lye) | limited resistance |
| Potassium hydroxide (caustic potash, potash lye), 1% | resistant |
| Potassium hydroxide (caustic potash, potash lye), 30% | resistant |
| Potassium hydroxide (caustic potash, potash lye), 50% | resistant |
| Potassium hypochlorite | limited resistance |
| Potassium iodide, saturated | resistant |
| Potassium nitrate (saltpeter), 50% | resistant |
| Potassium permanganate | resistant |
| Potassium persulfate | resistant |
| Potassium sulfide | resistant |
| Propanediol (propylene glycol) | resistant |
| Propanol (propyl alcohol) | limited resistance |
| Propionic acid (methyl acetic acid) | limited resistance |
| Propyl alcohol (propanol) | limited resistance |
| Propylene glycol (propanediol) | resistant |
| Prussic acid (hydrocyanic acid) | resistant |
| Pyrogallol (pyrogallic acid) | limited resistance |
| R | |
| Resorcinol (1,3-dihydroxybenzene) | resistant |
| Resorcinol, 5% | resistant |
| S | |
| Salicylic acid (o-Hydroxybenzoic acid) | resistant |
| Salicylic acid, powder | resistant |
| Salicylic acid, saturated | resistant |
| Salt water (sea water) | resistant |
| Sea water (salt water) | resistant |
| Silicic acid (hydrofluorosilicic acid) | resistant |
| Silicone grease | limited resistance |
| Silicone oil | limited resistance |
| Silver acetate | limited resistance |
| Silver nitrate (lunar caustic) | limited resistance |
| Soda (sodium carbonate) | resistant |
| Sodium acetate | resistant |
| Sodium benzoate | resistant |
| Sodium bisulfate | resistant |
| Sodium borate, saturated | resistant |
| Sodium bromate | resistant |
| Sodium bromide | resistant |
| Sodium carbonate (soda) | resistant |
| Sodium chlorate | resistant |
| Sodium chloride (common salt) | resistant |
| Sodium chromate | resistant |
| Sodium dichromate | resistant |
| Sodium fluoride | resistant |
| Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda, soda lye) | resistant |
| Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda, soda lye), 1% | resistant |
| Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda, soda lye), 30% | resistant |
| Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda, soda lye), 45% | resistant |
| Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda, soda lye), 50% | resistant |
| Sodium hydroxide (caustic soda, soda lye), 60% | resistant |
| Sodium hypochlorite (bleaching solution, Javel water) | resistant |
| Sodium hypochlorite (bleaching solution, Javel water), 12.5% | resistant |
| Sodium hypochlorite (bleaching solution, Javel water), 15% | resistant |
| Sodium hypochlorite (bleaching solution, Javel water), diluted | resistant |
| Sodium hypochlorite (bleaching solution, Javel water), saturated | resistant |
| Sodium nitrate (Chile saltpeter), saturated | resistant |
| Sodium nitrite, saturated | resistant |
| Sodium perborate, saturated | resistant |
| Sodium phosphate, saturated | resistant |
| Sodium silicate | resistant |
| Sodium sulfate (Glauber's salt), saturated | resistant |
| Sodium sulfide, saturated | resistant |
| Sodium sulfite | resistant |
| Spirit (ethyl alcohol, ethanol) | limited resistance |
| Stauffer grease | resistant |
| Stearic acid (zinc salt) | resistant |
| Strychnine | resistant |
| Succinic acid, saturated | resistant |
| Sugar beet juice | resistant |
| Sugar sirup | resistant |
| Sulfur | resistant |
| Sulfur dioxide, wet | limited resistance |
| Sulfuric acid, 1-6% | resistant |
| Sulfuric acid, 20% | resistant |
| Sulfuric acid, 40% | resistant |
| Sulfuric acid, 60% | resistant |
| Sulfuric acid, 80% | limited resistance |
| T | |
| Tannic acid (tannin) | resistant |
| Tannin (tannic acid) | resistant |
| Tar | resistant |
| Tartaric acid (dihydroxysuccinic acid) | resistant |
| Thymol | limited resistance |
| Transformer oil (mineral oil-based) | resistant |
| Trichloroacetic acid | limited resistance |
| Triethanolamine (triethylolamide) | resistant |
| Triethylene glycol | resistant |
| Triglycol | resistant |
| Tripropylene glycol (TPG) | resistant |
| U | |
| Undecyl alcohol | resistant |
| Urea | resistant |
| Urine | limited resistance |
| V | |
| Vaseline | resistant |
| Vaseline oil | resistant |
| Vinegar | resistant |
| W | |
| Walnut oil | limited resistance |
| Water glass (potassium silicate) | resistant |
| Water glass (sodium silicate) | resistant |
| Water, distilled | resistant |
| Waxes | resistant |
| Wine, brandy | resistant |
| Wood alcohol (methanol, methyl alcohol) | limited resistance |
| Wool grease (lanolin) | resistant |
| Z | |
| Zinc carbonate | resistant |
| Zinc chloride | resistant |
| Zinc chloride, 10% | resistant |
| Zinc nitrate | resistant |
| Zinc ointment | resistant |
| Zinc oxide | resistant |
| Zinc phosphate | resistant |
| Zinc salt (stearic acid) | resistant |
| Zinc stearate | resistant |
| Zinc sulfate | resistant |
| Zinc sulfate, 10% | resistant |
