When selecting material for microfluidic applications, ensuring chemical compatibility is crucial to maintaining system integrity and performance. Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) is favored for its excellent mechanical properties, chemical resistance, and thermal stability. It effectively withstands many acids, bases, salts, and organic solvents, making it suitable for demanding environments.
However, not all chemicals are compatible with UHMWPE, so understanding this compatibility is essential to prevent degradation and ensure safety. This guide includes a comprehensive table of chemical compatibility for UHMWPE, based on data from IDEX, to assist engineers and researchers in determining its suitability for various applications.
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 = Little to No Effect
- B = Slight Effect (Minor Discoloration or Corrosion)
- C = Moderate to 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.
UHMWPE: Chemical Compatibility Table
| Chemical Substance | Compatibility | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| # | ||
| 4-methyl-2-pentanol | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance; some discoloration may occur. |
| A | ||
| Acetaldehyde | A | Elevated temperatures reduce resistance. |
| Acetic acid, 10% | A | |
| Acetic acid, glacial | A | Some discoloration may occur. |
| Acetic anhydride | A | Elevated temperatures reduce resistance; Some discoloration may occur. |
| Acetone | A | |
| Acids, aromatic | A | |
| Acrylic acid | A | |
| Acrylonitrile | A | |
| Allyl alcohol, 96% | A | |
| Aluminum chloride | A | |
| Aluminum chloride | A | |
| Ammonia | A | |
| Ammonia, gaseous | A | |
| Ammonium salts | A | |
| Amyl acetate | A | |
| Aniline | A | |
| Anisole | B | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Antimony trichloride | A | |
| Aqua regia | C | |
| B | ||
| Beer | A | |
| Beeswax | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Benzaldehyde | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Benzene | B | |
| Benzenesulfonic acid | A | |
| Benzoic acid | A | |
| Benzoyl chloride | B | |
| Benzyl alcohol | A | |
| Borax | A | |
| Boric acid | A | |
| Brine, saturated | A | |
| Bromine, liquid | C | |
| Bromochloromethane | C | |
| Butanol | A | |
| Butoxyl (methoxy Butyl acetate) | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Butyl acetate | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Butylene glycol | A | |
| Butyric acid | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| C | ||
| Calcium carbonate, 10% | A | |
| Calcium chloride, 10% | A | |
| Calcium chloride, concentrated | A | |
| Calcium hypochlorite, bleach | A | |
| Calcium nitrate, 50% | A | |
| Camphor | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Carbon disulfide | B | Room temperature only. |
| Carbon tetrachloride | B | Elevated temperatures and prolonged exposure may reduce resistance. |
| Carbonic acid | A | |
| Castor oil | A | |
| Caustic potash | A | |
| Caustic soda | A | |
| Chloral hydrate | A | Some discoloration may occur. |
| Chlorine gas, dry | B | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Chlorine gas, moist | B | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Chlorine, liquid | C | |
| Chloroacetic acid (mono) | A | |
| Chlorobenzene | B | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Chloroethanol | A | Some discoloration may occur. |
| Chloroform | B | Elevated temperatures and prolonged exposure may reduce resistance. |
| Chlorosulfonic acid | C | |
| Chromic acid, 10% | A | |
| Chromic acid, 80% | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance; some discoloration may occur. |
| Citric acid, concentrated | A | |
| Coconut oil | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Common salt, aqueous, saturated | A | |
| Copper salts | A | |
| Corn oil | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Creosote | A | Some discoloration may occur. |
| Cresol | A | Some discoloration may occur. |
| Cyclohexane | A | |
| Cyclohexanol | A | |
| Cyclohexanone | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| D | ||
| Detergents, synthetic | A | |
| Dibutyl ether | A | Elevated temperatures and prolonged exposure may reduce resistance. |
| Dibutyl phthalate | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Dichloroacetic acid methyl ester | A | |
| Dichloroacetic acid, 100% | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance; some discoloration may occur. |
| Dichloroacetic acid, 50% | A | |
| Dichlorobenzene (o-) | B | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Dichlorobenzene (p-) | B | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Dichloroethylene | C | |
| Diesel fuel oil | A | |
| Diethyl ether | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Diisobutyl ketone | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Dimethyl formamide | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Dimethyl sulfoxide | A | |
| Dimethylamine | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Dioxane | A | |
| E | ||
| Emulsifiers | A | |
| Epichlorhydrin | A | |
| Esters, aliphatic | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Ethanol, 96% | A | |
| Ether | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Ethyl acetate | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Ethylene chloride (dichloroethane) | B | |
| Ethylene glycol | A | |
| Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid | A | |
| F | ||
| Fatty acids (>C6) | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Ferric chloride | A | |
| Fluorine | C | |
| Fluorosilicic acid | A | |
| Formaldehyde, 40% aqueous | A | |
| Formic acid | A | |
| Fruit juices | A | |
| Fruit pulp | A | |
| Furfuryl alcohol | A | Some discoloration may occur. |
| G | ||
| Gasoline | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Gelatine | A | |
| Glycerine | A | |
| Glycol, concentrated | A | |
| Glycolic acid butyl ester | A | |
| Glycolic acid, 55% | A | |
| Glycolic acid, 70% | A | |
| H | ||
| Halothane | B | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Heating oil | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Hydraulic fluid | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Hydrazine hydrate | A | |
| Hydrobromic acid, 50% | A | |
| Hydrochloric acid gas, dry and Moist | A | |
| Hydrochloric acid, all concentrations | A | |
| Hydrocyanic acid | A | |
| Hydrofluoric acid, 10% | A | |
| Hydrofluoric acid, 40% and higher | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Hydrogen peroxide, 30% | A | |
| Hydrogen peroxide, 90% | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Hydrogen sulfide | A | |
| Hydrosulfite, 10% aqueous | A | |
| I | ||
| Isooctane | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Isopropanol | A | |
| Isopropyl ether | A | Elevated temperatures and prolonged exposure may reduce resistance. |
| J | ||
| Jams | A | |
| K | ||
| Kerosine | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Ketones | A | Elevated temperatures and prolonged exposure may reduce resistance. |
| L | ||
| Lactic acid | A | |
| Linseed oil | A | |
| M | ||
| Magnesium chloride | A | |
| Maleic acid | A | |
| Malic acid, 50% | A | |
| Menthol | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Mercuric chloride (corrosive sublimate) | A | |
| Mercury | A | |
| Methanol | A | |
| Methoxybutanol | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Methyl ethyl ketone | A | |
| Methyl glycol | A | |
| Methylcyclohexane | B | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Methylene chloride | B | |
| Milk | A | |
| Mineral oils | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Molasses | A | |
| Monochloroacetic acid | A | |
| Monochloroacetic acid ethyl ester | A | |
| Monochloroacetic acid methyl ester | A | |
| Morpholine | A | |
| Motor oils | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| N | ||
| Naphtha | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Naphthalene | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Nickel salts | A | |
| Nitric acid, 25% | A | |
| Nitric acid, 50% | B | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance; some discoloration may occur. |
| Nitrobenzene | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Nitrotoluene (o-) | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Nitrous Gases | A | |
| O | ||
| Oils, Etheral | B | |
| Oils, linseed and olive | A | |
| Oils, lubricating | A | |
| Oils, lubricating, detergent | A | |
| Oleic acid, 10% | A | |
| Oleic acid, concentrated | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Oleum | C | |
| Oxalic acid, 50% | A | |
| Ozone | B | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| P | ||
| Paraffin, liquid | A | |
| Perchloric acid, 20% | A | |
| Perchloric acid, 50% | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Perchloric acid, 70% | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance; some discoloration may occur. |
| Petrol | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Petrol/benzene mixture | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Petroleum ether | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Phenol | A | Some discoloration may occur. |
| Phenyl sulfonate (sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate) | A | |
| Phosphates | A | |
| Phosphoric acid, 10% | A | |
| Phosphoric acid, 25% | A | |
| Phosphoric acid, 50% | A | |
| Phosphoric acid, 95% | A | Some discoloration may occur. |
| Phosphorus oxychloride | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Phosphorus pentoxide | A | |
| Phosphorus trichloride | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Photographic developers | A | |
| Phthalic acid, 50% | A | |
| Polyglycols | A | |
| Potassium bichromate, 40% | A | |
| Potassium chloride | A | |
| Potassium cyanide, aqueous, saturated | A | |
| Potassium permanganate | A | Some discoloration may occur. |
| Propionic acid, 100% | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Propionic acid, 50% | A | |
| Propylene glycol | A | |
| Pseudocumene | B | |
| Pyridine | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| S | ||
| Sea water | A | |
| Silicic acid | A | |
| Silicone oil | A | |
| Silver nitrate | A | |
| Sodium benzoate | A | |
| Sodium borate | A | |
| Sodium carbonate, 10% | A | |
| Sodium chloride, 10% | A | |
| Sodium chlorite Bleach | B | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Sodium chlorite, 50% | A | |
| Sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate | A | |
| Sodium hydroxide, 30% aqueous | A | |
| Sodium hydroxide, 60% aqueous | A | |
| Sodium hypochlorite, all concentrations | A | |
| Sodium nitrate | A | |
| Sodium peroxide, 10% | A | Room temperature only. |
| Sodium peroxide, saturated | B | Room temperature only. |
| Sodium silicate | A | |
| Sodium sulfide | A | |
| Sodium thiosulfate | A | |
| Spermaceti | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Spindle oil | A | Elevated temperatures and prolonged exposure may reduce resistance. |
| Starch | A | |
| Stearic acid | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Succinic acid, 50% | A | |
| Sugar Syrup | A | |
| Sulfates | A | |
| Sulfur | A | |
| Sulfur dioxide, dry | A | |
| Sulfur dioxide, moist | A | |
| Sulfur trioxide | C | |
| Sulfuric acid, 10% | A | |
| Sulfuric acid, 50% | A | |
| Sulfuric acid, 75% | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Sulfuric acid, 98% | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance; some discoloration may occur. |
| Sulfurous acid | A | |
| Sulfuryl chloride | C | Room temperature only. |
| Synthetic detergents | A | |
| T | ||
| Tallow | A | |
| Tannic acid, 10% | A | |
| Tartaric acid | A | |
| Tetrabromoethane | B | Elevated temperatures and prolonged exposure may reduce resistance. |
| Tetrachloroethane | A | Elevated temperatures and prolonged exposure may reduce resistance. |
| Tetrahydrofuran (THF) | A | Elevated temperatures and prolonged exposure may reduce resistance. |
| Thionyl chloride | C | Room temperature only. |
| Thiophene | B | |
| Toluene | B | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Transformer oil | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Tri-B-chloroethyl phosphate | A | |
| Tributyl phosphate | A | |
| Trichloroacetic acid, 100% | A | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Trichloroacetic acid, 50% | A | |
| Trichloroethylene | A | Elevated temperatures and prolonged exposure may reduce resistance. |
| Tricresyl phosphate | A | |
| Triethanolamine | A | Some discoloration may occur. |
| Turpentine oil | A | Elevated temperatures and prolonged exposure may reduce resistance. |
| U | ||
| Urea, 33% | A | |
| W | ||
| Water, distilled | A | |
| Water, sea | A | |
| White spirit | A | Elevated temperatures and prolonged exposure may reduce resistance. |
| X | ||
| Xylene (p-) | B | Elevated temperatures may reduce resistance. |
| Y | ||
| Yeast | A | |
| Z | ||
| Zinc chloride | A |
