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Chemical Resistance of Polycarbonate and ABS Enclosures

Chemical resistance of thermoplastic enclosures is determined by its ability to sustain mechanical integrity while being exposed to specific chemicals. Obviously, temperature, chemical concentration, level of mechanical stress, and duration of exposure are variables that can greatly influence the performance of an enclosure in a particular application.


What we have discovered in researching this topic for our customers is that 'chemical resistance' is a vague term, and chemicals can range from grease, fatty acids, and salt solutions through to concentrated mineral acids and chlorides. While there is an international rating system for ingress levels (IP) and impact resistance (IK) there is no clear chemical resistance rating. (The IEC60529 and NEMA 250 testing procedures provide some detail, as discussed in this article by Element https://www.element.com/nucleus/2016/10/06/20/26/electrotechnology-enclosure-testing-iec-60529-and-nema-250

EMF has researched the enclosure composites we sell to ensure that they are not only UV resistant, but also sufficiently resistant to the following chemicals:

  • Petrol, diesel, and petroleum derivatives 
  • Alcohols including: isopropyl, methyl, ethyl, butyl
  • Clorox (bleach)
  • Automotive oils and lubricants
  • Ammonium chloride
  • Chlorinated water filtration environments (exposure level dependent)
  • Most acidic solutions.

So, while 'chemical resistant' is often used as a marketing tool by enclosure manufacturers, emf would recommend that if an enclosure is installed in a particularly harsh environment, it is very important to carry out your own specific testing and research to ensure a durable and lasting solution. It is also good to keep in mind that some enclosures can have accessories that are not made of the same material. For example, cover screws, cable glands and windows can be made of different materials, therefore have different resistance levels.

All enclosures that emf imports are 100% made from polycarbonate composite, unless stated in the description. 

on Tuesday, 25 February 2020.