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HDPE handles a remarkably wide range of chemistries: most aqueous solutions, most foods, most dilute acids and bases, alcohol, soap, fertilizer mix, glycol, mineral oils, sodium chloride brines. It does not handle: aromatic solvents (xylene, toluene), chlorinated solvents (TCE, perc), strong oxidizers (concentrated bleach above ~10%, fuming nitric), high temperatures (sustained above 140°F).
| Chemistry | HDPE | 304L stainless | 316L stainless | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (potable) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Default everywhere |
| Water (non-potable) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Grade C HDPE fine |
| Brine ≤ 5% NaCl | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Brine 5–25% NaCl | ✓ | caution | ✓ | 304L pits over time |
| Salt brine (de-icing) | ✓ | caution | ✓ | 316L recommended |
| Sodium hydroxide ≤ 50% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Hydrochloric acid ≤ 10% | ✓ | ✗ | caution | HDPE actually shines here |
| Sulfuric acid ≤ 60% | ✓ | caution | ✓ | |
| Nitric acid ≤ 30% | caution | ✓ | ✓ | Concentrated nitric attacks HDPE |
| Citric acid (any %) | ✓ | caution | ✓ | 304L pits |
| Phosphoric acid | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Acetic acid ≤ 50% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Ethanol / IPA | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Permeation negligible |
| Methanol | caution | ✓ | ✓ | Slow permeation through HDPE |
| Glycerin | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Mineral oil | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Diesel / gasoline | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | HDPE permeates; use UN-rated steel |
| Xylene / toluene | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | Attacks HDPE |
| Chlorinated solvents (TCE, perc) | ✗ | caution | ✓ | Don't use HDPE |
| Hydrogen peroxide ≤ 35% | ✓ | caution | ✓ | Vent properly |
| Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) ≤ 10% | ✓ | caution | caution | Stress-cracks HDPE long-term |
| Ammonia ≤ 30% | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Liquid fertilizer (UAN, urea) | ✓ | caution | ✓ | HDPE is the standard |
| Honey, syrup, molasses | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Grade A HDPE perfect |
| Wine / cider / beer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Grade A only |
| Vinegar (≤ 10% acetic) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Soaps / detergents | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Glycol (PG, EG) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Standard brewery use |
| Concrete admixture | ✓ | caution | ✓ | High pH attacks steel |
| Liquid CO₂ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | Wrong container entirely |
Even when HDPE “tolerates” a chemistry chemically, molecules can slowly permeate the polymer over months. For volatile organics (alcohol, methanol, light aromatics) you may lose 0.5–2% of contents to permeation in a year of storage. Stainless eliminates this.
HDPE under sustained stress (a top-loaded stack, a cracked weld pulling on the bottle, a tote that's been hot-filled) plus certain chemistries (detergents, bleach, surfactants) can develop environmental stress cracking (ESC). The bottle looks fine until it doesn't. If you're using HDPE for surfactant or bleach storage long-term, inspect quarterly and rotate stock.
Email us the chemistry name, concentration, temperature, and contact time. We've washed several thousand previous-contents categories and can usually pattern-match from history. The wrong tote choice costs more than the right one.
HDPE handles a remarkable range of chemistries but not all of them. Below the breakdown of what it tolerates, what it doesn't, and when to step up to stainless.
Most aqueous chemistries up to 140°F. Dilute acids and bases. Glycols. Alcohols. Surfactants. Food syrups (corn syrup, glycerin, fruit purees, honey at moderate temperature). Mild oils (mineral oil, soybean oil). Salts (sodium chloride brines, fertilizer solutions). Aliphatic petroleum products at moderate temperature.
Aromatic solvents (xylene, toluene, ethylbenzene) — permeate. Chlorinated solvents (TCE, methylene chloride, perchloroethylene) — permeate and degrade. Strong oxidizers (concentrated nitric acid, concentrated sulfuric, chlorine gas) — degrade. Anything above 140°F sustained — softens. Pressurized service of any kind — balloons and fails.