IBC Tote Chemical Compatibility: What You Can (and Cannot) Store

How to read a compatibility chart

Chemical compatibility charts rate combinations of material and chemical as A (excellent / no or negligible effect), B (good / minor effect, suitable for many applications), C (fair / moderate effect, use with caution) or D (not recommended / severe effect). These ratings assume standard concentrations and temperatures — a chemical rated B at 70°F may drop to D at 140°F.

Most published charts use 23°C (73°F) as the baseline and note temperature sensitivity separately. Always check the temperature column, not just the chemical column, especially if your product is stored warm or if the tote will sit in direct sun.

HDPE: what it handles well (A and B ratings)

High-density polyethylene has broad chemical resistance that makes it the default material for bulk liquid containers. Well-established A-rated categories include most dilute acids (hydrochloric, sulfuric up to moderate concentrations, acetic), most dilute bases (sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide at typical detergent concentrations), salt solutions, alcohols (ethanol, isopropanol, methanol at many concentrations), water-based products and food ingredients.

• A-rated: dilute hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid (to ~70%)
• A-rated: sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) up to 50%
• A-rated: ethanol, isopropanol, methanol
• A-rated: salt solutions, glycols, detergents, food acids
• B-rated: concentrated acetic acid, some lubricating oils

What HDPE cannot handle (C and D ratings)

Strong oxidizers are the most important category to keep out of HDPE totes. Concentrated hydrogen peroxide (above about 30%), chlorine gas, and strong oxidizing acids at high concentration can degrade HDPE significantly. Aromatic hydrocarbons — toluene, xylene, benzene — swell and permeate HDPE. Chlorinated solvents like methylene chloride are similarly incompatible.

Fuels are a nuanced case. Aliphatic hydrocarbons (mineral spirits, kerosene) are borderline — some HDPE formulations handle them, others do not, and permeation can occur over long storage periods even when leakage is not visible. Consult the specific manufacturer rating, not a generic HDPE chart.

• D-rated: concentrated hydrogen peroxide (>30%), fuming nitric acid
• D-rated: toluene, xylene, benzene, chlorinated solvents
• C/D-rated: petrol, diesel (permeation risk; check manufacturer)
• C-rated: concentrated sulfuric acid above ~70%, some ketones

Why temperature changes the rating

Polymer chains in HDPE become more mobile at elevated temperatures, allowing chemicals to penetrate the material more easily. A product stored safely at room temperature may cause swelling, softening or permeation at 50°C (122°F). Summer sun on a dark tote can raise interior temperature well above ambient air temperature.

The practical rule: if your product will be stored warm, or if the tote sits outdoors in summer heat, apply the next-higher temperature column on your compatibility chart as a safety margin. Shade outdoor totes or insulate them if the stored liquid is temperature-sensitive.

EPDM vs. Viton seals: the other half of compatibility

A tote is compatible with a chemical only if both the bottle and the seals are compatible. The two most common seal materials are EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) and Viton (FKM, fluoroelastomer). They have almost opposite compatibility profiles in important areas.

EPDM is excellent for water, steam, dilute acids and bases, food products and most water-based chemicals. It is the default food-grade seal and works for most agricultural and food industry applications. Viton is required for fuels, aromatic solvents, chlorinated compounds and many aggressive chemicals where EPDM would swell or degrade. Using an EPDM seal with a Viton-compatible chemical leads to valve leaks that can appear within days of filling.

• EPDM: water, steam, food products, dilute acids and bases — good choice
• EPDM: fuels, solvents, aromatics — NOT compatible
• Viton: fuels, oils, solvents, chlorinated chemicals — good choice
• Viton: steam, hot water, some ketones — NOT compatible

New bottle vs. reconditioned for chemical service

For aggressive chemicals with marginal HDPE compatibility, a brand-new bottle (rebottled tote) offers an additional safety margin: the wall has zero prior absorption or micro-permeation from other chemicals. A reconditioned bottle used for one compatible chemical, then reassigned to a different marginally compatible chemical, carries the risk that trace absorbed material from the first use affects compatibility with the second.

For food and water use, prior-contents documentation governs. For aggressive chemical service, ask about rebottled units when your product sits in the B or C range on the compatibility chart — the incremental cost of a fresh bottle is small compared to the risk of a leak or contamination event.