CHEMICAL RESISTANCE
Resistance to ageing
Long-term evaluation of a high density URETEK material indicates a design life of at least 33 years. Ongoing testing is indicating an extended design life well beyond this period. This is also typical of other studies provided both independently and by major raw materials suppliers indicating long-term stability and durability even in unfavourable environments.
Chemical Resistance of URETEK Material*
The resistance of the expanded URETEK polymer to chemical agents has been evaluated as a function of loss of volume following prolonged exposure, and evaluated in the following categories:
- Excellent resistance (loss of volume < 3%)
- Good resistance (between 3% and 6%)
- Fair resistance (between 6% and 15%)
- Poor resistance (between 15% and 25%)
- Not recommended: Only concentrated nitric acid and concentrated sulphuric acid destroy the material upon contact.
| Acetone | Poor |
| Benzene | Excellent |
| Brine (Saturated) | Good |
| Carbon Tetrachloride | Excellent |
| Ethyl Alcohol | Good |
| Kerosene | Good |
| Linseed Oil | Good |
| Methyl Alcohol | Good |
| Methylene Chloride | Fair |
| Methyl Ethyl Ketone | Poor |
| Motor Oil | Excellent |
| Perchloroethylene | Excellent |
| Regular Gasoline | Good |
| Toluene | Excellent |
| Turpentine | Excellent |
| Water | Excellent |
Acids and Bases
| Ammonium Hydroxide (10%) | Good |
| Hydrochloric Acid (10%) | Good |
| Nitric Acid (Concentrated) | Not recommended |
| Sodium Hydroxide (Concentrated) | Excellent |
| Sodium Hydroxide (10%) | Excellent |
| Sulphuric Acid (Concentrated) | Not recommended |
| Sulphuric Acid (10%) | Good |
Resistance to ageing
The durability of Uretek material has been subjected to long-term testing at independent laboratories – including the University of Hanover - and by the raw material suppliers who are engaged in ongoing development of polymer resins.
The Uretek material performed well under demanding test conditions, which demonstrated a minimum life of 30 years at surface levels. Underground, the material is engineered to last up to 100 years.
