Resistance to oil, grease, solvent and other chemicals
While rubber and plastic parts are resistant to a limited number of chemicals, parts made of polyurethane elastomers are used in a wide range of chemicals except for strong acids and bases.
In the table below, the performance of polyurethane elastomers is described in relation to various types of chemicals.
| A | Recommended – Little or no effect. |
B | Minor to moderate effect. | ||
| C | Moderate to severe effect. |
X | Not recommended. | ||
| Acetic Acid | C | Cyclohexane | B | Oleic Acid | B |
| Acetone | X | Ferric Chloride | A | Olive oil | A |
| Ammonia Hydroxide | A | FREON-12 ’54C’ | A | Oxygen – cold | A |
| Ammonium Nitrate | X | FREON-113 | B | Ozone | A |
| Ammonium Persulfate | X | Gasoline | A | Palmitic Acid | A |
| Animal Fats | A | Gelatin | A | Phosphoric Acid 20% | A |
| ASTM Oil#1 (70oC) | A | Glucose | A | Phosphoric Acid 45% | A |
| ASTM reference fuel | A | Glue | A | Potassium Chloride | A |
| Barium Chloride | A | Glycerin | A | Potassium Cupro Cyanide | A |
| Barium Hydroxide | A | Hydrochloric Acid (cold) 37% |
X | Potassium Cyanide | A |
| Barium Sulfate | A | Hydrochloric Acod (hot) 37% |
X | Potassium dichromate | A |
| Barium Sulfide | A | Hydrofluoric Acid conc. (cold) |
X | Potassium nitrate | A |
| Borax | A | Hydrofluoric Acid conc. (hot) |
X | Potassium sulphate | A |
| Boric Acid | A | Hydrogen Gas | A | Producer gas | A |
| Butane | A | Isopropyl Acetate | A | Radiation | A |
| Calcium Bisulphite | A | Kerosene | B | Soap solutions | A |
| Calcium Chloride | A | LPG | A | Sodium Chloride | A |
| Calcium Hydroxide | A | Magnesium Chloride | A | Sodium Hydroxide (20%) | B |
| Calcium Nitrate | A | Magnesium Hydroxide | A | Sodium phosphate | A |
| Calcium Sulfide | A | Mercury | A | Sodium sulfate | A |
| Carbon Dioxide | A | Mineral Oil | A | Sodium thiosulfate | A |
| Carbon Monoxide | A | Natural Gas | B | Stearic acid | A |
| Castor Oil | A | Nickel Sulfate | A | Sulphuric acid (dilute) | B |
| Catric Acid | A | Nitric Acid conc | X | Sulphuric acid (conc) | X |
| Copper Chloride | A | Nitric Acid Dilute | C | Sulphuric acid (20% oleum) |
X |
| Copper Cyanide | A | Nitric Acid red fuming | X | Tannic acid (10%) | A |
| Copper Sulphate | A | Nitrogen | A | Tartaric acid | A |
| Cottonseed Oil | A | Octadecane | A | Toluene | C |