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Tank Resin Selection Guide

This page contains general chemical resistance information for the purposes of comparison. For specific information on the chemical resistance of NALGENE Tanks, please refer to the chemical resistance section of this site.

Tanks are Manufactured in the Following Resins:

Here you go:

LLDPE (Linear Low-Density Polyethylene)
HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)
XLPE (Cross-Linked High-Density Polyethylene)
PP (Polypropylene)
PVDF (Polyvinylidene Fluoride)

LLDPE (Linear Low-Density Polyethylene)

Chemical Resistance General: Very Good
Stress-Crack(^1) Resistance: Very Good
Maximum Service Temperature: 140&176;F/60&176;C
Brittleness Temperature: -94&176;F(^2)/-70&176;C
Impact Resistance(^2): Good
Abrasion Resistance: Good
Rigidity: Fair
Easy to Clean: Very Good
Translucent: Yes
Outdoor Use: No
Can Be Welded (Hot Gas): Yes
Food Grade Acceptability: (Natural, Unpigmented): Yes(^3)
Color (Natural, Unpigmented): White
Advantages: lightweight; corrosion-resistant; no painting/maintenance; less expensive than stainless or fiberglass; inorganic chemicals and compounds
Applications: foodstuffs, liquids and beverages; organic and inorganic acids; plating; water treatment; brine storage; dispensing lab and photo chemicals
Do Not Use With: strong oxidizing agents, aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated-aliphatic hydrocarbons, liquified petroleum gas, solvents

HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)
Chemical Resistance General: Very Good
Stress-Crack(^1) Resistance: Good
Maximum Service Temperature: 150&176;F/65&176;C
Brittleness Temperature: -94&176;F(^2)/-70&176;C
Impact Resistance(^2): Good
Abrasion Resistance: Good
Rigidity: Good
Easy to Clean: Very Good
Translucent: Yes
Outdoor Use: See footnote (^5)
Can Be Welded (Hot Gas): Yes(^4)
Food Grade Acceptability: (Natural, Unpigmented): Yes(^3) (natural and black)
Color (Natural, Unpigmented): White
Advantages: hard, smooth finish; good temperature resistance; less expensive than stainless steel or fiberglass; storing caustics; metal finishing
Applications: storing organic and inorganic acids; water treatment; dispensing lab and photo chemicals; plating
Do Not Use With: strong oxidizing agents, aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated-aliphatic hydrocarbons, liquified petroleum gas, solvents

XLPE (Cross-Linked High-Density Polyethylene)
Chemical Resistance General: Very Good
Stress-Crack(^1) Resistance: Excellent
Maximum Service Temperature: 150&176;F/65&176;C
Brittleness Temperature: -180&176;F(^2)/-118&176;C
Impact Resistance(^2): Excellent
Abrasion Resistance: Good
Rigidity: Good
Easy to Clean: Very Good
Translucent: Yes
Outdoor Use: See footnote (^5)
Can Be Welded (Hot Gas): No
Food Grade Acceptability: (Natural, Unpigmented): No
Color (Natural, Unpigmented): Off White
Advantages: suitable for many corrosives not handled by FRP; storing corrosives, including sulfuric, hydrochloric, and hydrofluoric acids; storing sodium hypochlorite
Applications: storing organic and inorganic chemicals and compounds; chemical processing; storing boiler treatment chemicals; water and waste/water treatment
Do Not Use With: strong oxidizing agents, aromatic hydrocarbons, halogenated-aliphatic hydrocarbons, liquified petroleum gas, solvents

PP (Polypropylene)
Chemical Resistance General: Very Good
Stress-Crack(^1) Resistance: Excellent
Maximum Service Temperature: 220&176;F/104&176;C
Brittleness Temperature: 32&176;F(^2)/0&176;C
Impact Resistance(^2): Fair
Abrasion Resistance: Good
Rigidity: Good
Easy to Clean: Good
Translucent: No
Outdoor Use: No
Can Be Welded (Hot Gas): Yes
Food Grade Acceptability: (Natural, Unpigmented): Yes(^3)
Color (Natural, Unpigmented): Off White
Advantages: good resistance to many organic chemicals; less expensive than comparable stainless steel tanks
Applications: weldable PP fittings available; plating and pickling lines; etch tanks for processing silicon wafers
Do Not Use With: strong oxidizing agents, aromatic or chlorinated hydrocarbons, subfreezing temperatures

PVDF (Polyvinylidene Fluoride)
Chemical Resistance General: Excellent
Stress-Crack(^1) Resistance: Excellent
Maximum Service Temperature: 230&176;F/110&176;C
Brittleness Temperature: -40&176;F(^2)/-40&176;C
Impact Resistance(^2): Fair
Abrasion Resistance: Very Good
Rigidity: Excellent
Easy to Clean: Very Good
Translucent: Yes
Outdoor Use: No
Can Be Welded (Hot Gas): Yes
Food Grade Acceptability: (Natural, Unpigmented): Yes(^3)
Color (Natural, Unpigmented): Tan
Advantages: superior resistance to inorganic acids, strong oxidizing agents and halogenated compounds; high-purity, does not contaminate process fluids; PVDF Schedule 80 threaded fittings available; etch tanks for processing silicon wafers
Applications: ultra-pure water storage (not potable); precious metal recovery; storing and processing halogenated compounds (i.e. bromine); storing bleach and sulfuric acid for pulp and paper processing; industrial battery casing; insecticide manufacturing
Do Not Use With: ketones, esters, and hot concentrated caustics, nascent chlorine gas and concentrated caustic soda

(^1) Cross-linked, high-density polyethylene is recommended for use with stress-cracking agents.
(^2) Brittleness temperature per ASTM test D-746. The impact resistance of most rotomolded tanks declines at freezing temperatures. Cross-linked, high-density polyethylene tanks are well suited for cold storage.
(^3) The resins used in NALGENE linear low- and high-density polyethylene and polypropylene tanks comply with 21 CFR 177.1520. Polyethylene meets all food-grade requirements, however, this product is restricted to contacting food only of the types identified in 21 CFR 176.170 Table 1, under categories 1, IV-B, VII-B VIII, and under conditions of use B through H described in Table 2 of 21 CFR 176.170. Nalge rotomolded polypropylene complies with 21 CFR 177.1520(c) 3.1 Regulation. The resin used in PVDF tanks complies with Regulation 121.2593.
(^4) Welding is not done on bulk tanks.
(^5) Open-top tanks should be black for outdoor use. Bulk tanks are UV-stabilized and may be used outdoors.

Tanks with Fiberglass-Reinforced Polyester (FRP) Casings offer service to higher temperatures and with higher   specific gravity contents.
Both operating conditions and type of chemical can decrease maximum service temperatures.
Regardless of resin, black-pigmented tanks are strongly recommended for outdoor use.
Continuous service temperatures in ranges about ambient can affect tanks in at least two ways: 1) the useful    life of the tank may be shortened; and 2) the ability of the container to maintain its shape may decrease,     perhaps resulting in distortion.
Some fittings of these resins are food-grade acceptable.

Plastic tanks which are subject to chemical, physical and/or thermal exposure should be inspected on a routine basis for any signs of leaking, cracking, discoloration, bulging or other deviations from the "as new" condition. The frequency of inspection will be highly dependent upon actual use conditions, as well as the age of the tank. Specific guidelines must be determined by the user dependent upon actual use condition. Nalge Nunc International cannot provide specific guidelines due to the wide variety of applications and their effects on plastic tanks. Please consult the NALGENE Industrial Product Catalog or contact Nalge Nunc International for more information.

WARNING: All NALGENE tanks are designed for atmospheric storage of chemicals and should not be used for pressure, vacuum or direct burial applications.

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