Chemical Resistance in Plastic Manifolds

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Polymers' chemical resistance stands as a complex topic with true chemical resistance depending on other factors such as temperature, concentration, and exposure time. While this section pertains mostly to those specifically in Life Sciences, many concepts still carry over. We have a more general chemical compatibility chart for most popular plastic materials applicable to those in other industries. Explore our general chemical resistance chart here. Please note that actual suitability hinges largely on the application, i.e. how that chemical will interact with the product's core material.

We can offer starting suggestions about which material may be appropriate. However, the customer must independently determine suitability of the material for their application. We are happy to provide test coupons to help support testing protocols.

BUFFERS

Buffers are an aqueous solution consisting of a mixture of a weak acid and its conjugate base, or vice versa. Its pH changes very little when a small amount of strong acid or base is added to it. Buffer solutions are used as a means of keeping pH at a nearly constant value in a wide variety of chemical applications. Generally, those in the life sciences and research will use buffers for molecular, protein, nucleic acid, and cell biology applications. These include cell culture, electrophoresis, ELISA, and chromatography processes.

The coordinating chart here details which popular plastic materials can hold their own against these commonly used buffers. Use this as a reference point for further researching which material might suit your application best.

Need a downloadable and easier to manage copy? Get our Life Science Compatibility Chart here!

BUFFERS	WHAT'S IN IT:	COMMON APPLICATIONS:	ABS	Acrylic	CPVC	Delrin/Acetal	HDPE	Noryl	Nylon 66	PBT	PC	PEEK	PES	PET	Polysulfone	PP	PPS	PTFE	PVC	PVDF	Torlon	UHMW	Ultem
Tris-Buffered Saline (TBS)	Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (tris)-buffered saline	Used to dilute substances used in laboratory experiments. Often used in immuno-blotting for both membrane washing and antibody dilution
Tris-EDTA (TE)	2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)propane-1,3-diol;2-[2-[bis(carboxymethyl)amino]ethyl-(carboxymethyl)amino]acetic acid	Tris and EDTA are two major components which are used throughout the DNA extraction protocol. Tris and EDTA are applicable in lysis buffer preparation, elution buffer preparation and washing buffer preparation.
Tris-Acetate-EDTA Buffer
HEPES Buffered Saline (HBS)	(4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulfonic acid)	Widely used in cell culture, largely because it is better at maintaining physiological pH.
Trizma (Tris base)	Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane	Frequently used buffer in cell and molecular biology experiments. Used to increase permeability of cell membranes. It is a component of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
Denhardt’s Solution	0 mG Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), 50 mG Ficoll, and 50 mG Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP).	block non-specific binding sites in western, northern and Southern blot membranes
Bicine buffer
Phosphate Buffered Saline, PBS	PBS contains 3.2 mM Na2HPO4, 0.5 mM KH2PO4, 1.3 mM KCl, 137 mM NaCl, pH 7.4.	suitable for biochemistry or molecular biology applications requiring a chelator of divalent metal ions.
Dulbecco’s Phosphate Buffered Saline (DPBS)
Annexin V Binding Buffer
Sodium Citrate Solution	1M sodium citrate in H2O				A to 100% to 190F	A to 70F	A to 70F					A to 70F	A to 70F		A to 70F	A to 70F		A to 70F	AB to 140F	A to 140F			A to 70F
Sodium Acetate Solution		*Also see Sodium Acetate below	B at 70F	A to 140F	A to 225F no stress	A to 100% to 180F	A to 100% to 160F, no stress	A to 130F	AB to 100% to 80F	A to 130F	A to 70F	A to 100% to 70F	A to 70F	A to 100% to 80F	A to 100% to 200F	A to 100% to 225F no stress	A to 100% to 200F	A to 100% to 500F	A to 100% to 160F no stress	A to 100% to 275F	A to 60% to 70F	A to 100% to 140F	A solution to 70F

GENERAL BIOREAGENTS (ACID/BASE)

Many of these may be used in buffer solutions.

General Bioreagents (Acid/Base)		What's in it:	COMMON APPLICATIONS:	ABS	Acrylic	COP	CPVC	Delrin/Acetal	HDPE	Noryl	Nylon 66	PBT	PC	PEEK	PES	PET	Polysulfone	PP	PPS	PTFE	PVC	PVDF	Torlon	UHMW	Ultem
	DMSO	Dimethyl Sulfoxide	Used in polymerase chain reaction (PCR), amplification of cDNA libraries, DNA sequencing, column-loading buffers for poly(A)+ RNA selection, buffers for the transformation of competent E. coli, transfection protocols		NR at 70F	A	NR at 70F	NR at 70F	A to 122F	A to 200F	A to 70F	C at 70F	NR at 70F	B to 212F	NR at 70F		NR at 70F	A to 125 F	A to 200F	A to 500 F	NR at 70F	NR 100% at 70F			SWELLS
	Ethanol Solution		Used in the purification and precipitation of biomolecules, in staining and restaining specimens in histology, in dehydrating tissues before embedding, and in disinfection.	AB to 70F no stress	NR to 100% to 70F C to 70% to 70F A to 50% to 70F	A	A to 225F no stress	A to 100% to 140F	A to 100% to 160F no stress	A to 100% to 80F	A to 100% to 70F	A to 140F	A to 90% to 90F AB to 100% to 70F B to 100% to 120F	A to 100%to 212F	AB to 70F	A to 100% to 70F	B to 100% to 120F	A to 100% to 225F	A to 100% to 300F	A to 100% at 500F	A to 100% 270F	A to 100% to 176F	A to 70F	A to 100% to 170F	A to 70F
	Sodium hypochlorite	"liquid bleach"	Inhibits microbial growth	NR to 70F	A to 100% to 140F		A to 15% to 140F	NR to 5% to 70F	A to 100% to 160F	AB to 100% to 200F	NR to 5% to 70F	A to 10% to 70F	AB to 100% to 70F	AB to 100% to 212F	B to 100% to 70F	A to 5% to 70F NR to 100% to 70F	A to 100% to 200F	C to 14% to 70F	NR to 100% to 70F	A to 100% to 500F	A to 12.5% to 140F	A to 17% to 280F	A to 15% to 70F	A to 100% to 170F	NR to 5% to 70F
	Hydrogen peroxide		Inhibits microbial growth	NR at 100% at 70F A to 10% to 70F	A to 63% to 100F	A	NR to 100% at 70F	NR at 70F	AB to 100% to 70F	NR at 100% to 70F	NR at 70F	A to 90%to 130F B at 100% at 70F	A to 100% to 125F	A to 100% to 212F	A to 100% to 70F	A to 90% to 80F	A to 100% 10 70F	NR at 100% at 70F	NR to 50-100% at 70F	A to 100% to 500F	AB to 100% to 100F	A to 100% to 200F		A to 100% to 70F	A to 90% to 70F
	Sodium Acetate	sodium salt of acetic acid	Sodium acetate is used as the carbon source for culturing bacteria. Sodium acetate is also useful for increasing yields of DNA isolation by ethanol precipitation.	B at 70F	A to 140F		A to 225F no stress	A to 100% to 180F	A to 100% to 160F, no stress	A to 130F	AB to 100% to 80F	A to 130F	A to 70F	A to 100% to 70F	A to 70F	A to 100% to 80F	A to 100% to 200F	A to 100% to 225F no stress	A to 100% to 200F	A to 100% to 500F	A to 100% to 160F no stress	A to 100% to 275F	A to 60% to 70F	A to 100% to 140F	A solution to 70F
	Imidazole		Imidazole can be used to elute tagged proteins bound to nickel ions attached to the surface of beads in the chromatography column. Used in buffer solutions.
	Urea Solution	Carbamide	commonly used for sample preparation prior to
commonly used for sample preparation prior to	B at 70F		A	A to 100% to 225F no stress	A to 100% to 70F	A to 100% to 160F	A to 150F	A to 100% to 70F	NR at 70F	NR at 70F	A to 212F		AC at 70F	C at 70F	A to 100% to 225F no stress	A to 100% to 200F	A to 100% to 500F	A to 100% to 160F no stress	A to 100% to 250F		A to 70F
	10M Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)		Used for many applications including adjusting the pH of various solutions.	AB to 100% to 70F	NR at 70F		A to 100% to 150F	NR at 70F	A to 100% to 140F	A to 100% to 185F	A to 100% to 70F	NR at 70F	NR at 70F	A to 100% to 70F	A to 54% to 70F	NR at 70F	A to 50F to 125F	A to 100% to 125F	A to 100% to 70F	A to 100% to 480F	A to 100% to 140F	NR at 70F	NR at 70F	A to 100% to 170F	NR at 70F
	Potassium Salt				A to 140F		A to 225F no stress	A to 70F	A to 140F	A to 150F	A to 70F	A to 70F	A to 70F	A to 212F	A to 70F	A to 70F	A to 200F	A to 100% to 150F	A to 200F	A to 500F	A to 100% to 160F	A to 100% to 275F		A to 70F	A to 70F
	Potassium Chloride			A to 100% to 70F	A to 100F to 140F		A to 100% to 225F	A to 100% to 180F	A to 100% to 160F no stress	A to 100% to 150F	A to 100% to 70F	A to 100% to 80F	A to 100% to 70F	A to 100% to 212F		A to 80F	A to 200F	A to 100% to 225F	A to 100% to 200F	A to 100% to 500F	A to 100% to 160F	A to 100% to 275F	A to 90% to 70F	A to 70F
	Potassium Phosphate
	Sodium Chloride			A to 100% to 70F	A to 100% 140F	A	A to 100% to 225F no stress	A to 100% to 70F	A 100% to 160F	A to 100% to 200F	A to 100% to 70F	A to 100% to 80F	A to 100% to 120F	A to 100% to 212F	A to 70F	A to 100% to 70F	A to 100% to 200F	A to 100% to 225F	A to 100% to 200F	A to 100% to 500F	A to 100% to 160F	A to 100% to 275F	A to 100% to 70F	A to 170F	A to 70F
	Zinc Chloride		Used in water treatment, dry cell batteries,	A to 100% to 70F	A to 100% to 70F		A to 225F no stress	NR to 100% to 70F	A to 100% to 180F	A to 70F	NR to 100% to 70F	A to 100% to 80F	A to 140F	A to 100% to 212F		A to 80F	A to 300% to 200F	A to 100% to 225F no stress	A to 100% to 200F	A to 100% to 500F	A to 100% to 160F no stress	A to 100% to 275F		A to 170F	A to 10% to 70F
	HCL		Used as a standard and as a strong acid for pH maintenance	BC to 100% to 70F	NR at 70F	A	NR to 75-100% 176F	NR to 100% at 70F	A to 100% to 140F	aA to 100% to 180F	NR to 100% to 70F	NR to 100% to 70F	NR at 70F	A to 100% to 212F	A to 60% to 140F	NR to 100% at 70F	A to 100% to 70F	A to 100% to 70F	NR at 70F	A to 100% to 500F	NR at 100% to 70F	A to 50% to 175F	AB to 37% to 200F	A to 100% to 140F	A to 100% to 70F
	Disodium Phosphate Solution		Buffer component				A to 235F no stress	A to 140F	A to 160F									A to 225F no stress		A to 500F	A to 140F	AB to 100% to 280F
	Methanol					A
	Octanol
	Propanol					A
	Monosodium Phosphate Solution (1M)		Buffer component

STERILIZATION COMPATIBILITY

There are a few different ways to sterilize a plastic manifold including Autoclave, Dry Heat, Ethylene Oxide (EtO), Gamma Irradiation, and Electron Beam sterilization. To give a brief overview of each method:

AUTOCLAVE/STEAM STERILIZATION

Uses steam under pressure to sterilize components and parts. This process generates or injects steam into a pressure chamber between 250-300°F (121-148°C) at 15 psi.

DRY HEAT

Uses hot air to sterilize at significantly higher temperatures than autoclaving. This process makes it difficult to ensure the entire part reaches the necessary temperature for plastics with low thermal conductivity.

ETHYLENE OXIDE (ETO)

Uses a gaseous form of the sterilant to disrupt microbial DNA and their protein synthesis. Most use this process for plastics that cannot tolerate heat or radiation — commonly in single-use medical devices. This process often requires careful handling as the gas is flammable and poisonous.Because of the challenges associated with this method, it is more common for high volume sterilizations.

GAMMA IRRADIATION

Uses ionizing radiation to disrupt microbial DNA by exposing manifolds to gamma rays, typically from Cobalt-60.

ELECTRON BEAM STERILIZATION

Uses high-energy electrons to disrupt microbial DNA reproduction. It generates a higher dose rate than gamma irradiation, which means it has a lower exposure time and less degradation. However, this sterilization process has significantly lower penetrating power than gamma, making material density important.

We only state these as a brief primer. We strongly urge you to seek information from credible and reliable experts to get more in-depth understanding of each process. This also serves to give more foundational knowledge on which plastics can handle the sterilization process your product needs to withstand.

Here is a chart that we put together that shows which materials can handle which sterilization processes. We only mean for you to use this as a reference.

STERILIZATION COMPATIBILITY	Autoclave	Dry Heat	Ethylene Oxide (EtO)	Gamma Irradiation	Electron Beam
ABS	Poor	Poor	Good	Good	Good
Acetal	Good	Good	Good	Poor	Poor
Acrylic ^1,2	Poor	Poor	Good	Good	Good
Celazole
CPVC
CTFE
ECTFE	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good
ETFE	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good
HDPE
Noryl
Nylatron
Nylon	Fair	Fair	Good	Fair	Fair
PBT	Fair	Fair	Good	Good	Good
Peek	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good
PES		Good	Good	Good
PET	Poor	Poor	Good	Good	Good
Polycarbonate ^1,2	Fair	Fair	Good	Good	Good
Polysulfone	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good
PP¹	Good	Fair	Good	Fair	Fair
PPS	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good
PVC ^1,2	Poor	Poor	Good	Fair	Fair
PVDF		Poor	Good	Good
Teflon® ¹	Fair	Fair	Good	Poor	Poor
Torlon
UHMW	Poor	Poor	Good	Good	Good
Ultem®	Fair	Fair	Good	Good	Good

1: Radiation stable grades need to be used for radiation sterilization.

2: Require corrective tint to compensate for discoloration. Data courtesy of Industrial Specialties Mfg.

Two Ways to Master Plastic Manifold Design

Whether you need the complete deep dive or a quick reference for your next project, we’ve got you covered. Choose the guide that fits your workflow best:

Download the Full 145-Page Design Guide (Complete Resource)Get the 45-Page Quick Reference Guide (Fast Insights)

PLASTIC MATERIALS & CHEMICAL RESISTANCE

Download the Complete 145-Page Guide

BUFFERS

GENERAL BIOREAGENTS (ACID/BASE)

STERILIZATION COMPATIBILITY