ENGINEERING TECH TIPS | 2 MAY 2025
Chemical Exposure & Resitance
Tech Tips from Our Engineers at Bamberger Amco Polymers
One of the most common causes of plastic part failure is exposure to chemicals. Several key factors, including physical shape and application environment, affect how chemicals will interact with your part.
This guide is meant to serve as a starting point, helping you plan for chemical resistance early in the product design process.
Factors that can Influence Chemical Compatibility
- Exposure Time
- Temperature
- UV Exposure
- External Loads and Stresses
- Processing and Molded Stress
- Material Crystallinity (Amorphous vs. Crystalline)
- Material Additives and Loading Level
- Concentrations of Chemicals or Solvents
Negative Chemical Interactions
Softening of polymers, resulting in a loss of tensile strength and other physical properties.
Cracking and/or crazing can make your part's surface appear foggy or white, with small fractures throughout. Elongation of the material can make it more brittle.
Common Types of Chemicals
The Importance of Testing
We recommend testing your individual parts and materials in conditions that match their end-use environment as closely as possible.
Thanks for checking out this tech tip! We hope it helps you optimize your processes and applications.
If you need personalized advice, our technical team is ready to help!
