Acid resistance of Polyethelene

[bsodmike]

Hi,

Would be interested to know why HCL cannot eat through LDPE for example.

Thanks, Mike.

 

[alxm]

It's hard to prove a negative. Why does it withstand acids? Because they don't react with it; because there's no reaction that's energetically or kinetically possible.

You could look at other plastics that aren't acid resistant, and find out how they react with acid and why that doesn't apply to PE. Or you could suggest some specific reaction between acids and PE that might occur, and ask for an explanation why it doesn't, but I don't really know how to answer your question as stated.

 

[bsodmike]

Well, PE is $$C_2H_4$$, repeating 'n' units. I guess, you're right in terms of there being no possible reaction with HCL...