As with most chemical reactions, the rate of attack depends on time and temperature. At standard room temperatures, there is no noticeable loss of properties after many years of contact with water. Contact with water at 140°F (60°C) and intermittent contact at temperatures up to 212°F (100°C) may have little effect on properties. Severe conditions, such as those in steam autoclaves, however, may alter the clarity and toughness of the polymer faster. Therefore, the use of polycarbonate in such applications is limited and dependent on the autoclave cycle time and temperature.

  Because the primary effect of hydrolysis is reduction of molecular weight, selection of a low melt flow rate (high molecular weight) CALIBRE^* polycarbonate resin will assure the greatest possible retention of resin properties. This is why proper drying of polycarbonate resins is critical in obtaining the best performance from the polymer. For specific information on drying, refer to the "Processing Guidelines" section.

Chemical Resistance Ratings of CALIBRE Polycarbonate Resins at 73℉(23℃),50% RH

General Reagents	Acids, dilute	Acids, concentrated	Alkalis	Organic solvents Alcohols	Organic solvents Chlorinated hydrocarbons	Organic solvents Aromatic hydrocarbons	Organic solvents Aliphatic hydrocarbons	Cooking oils
Resistance Rating	Good	Fair-Good	Poor-Fair	Good	Poor	Poor	Poor-Fair	Good

General Reagents	Lubricating oils	photo- chemicals	Detergents	Ester	Ketones	Phenols	Salts Acidic	Salts Basic	Salts Neutral
Resistance Rating	Good	Good	Good	Poor	Poor	Good	Good	Fair	Fair

Specific Reagents	Zinc Stearate	Ethylene glycol	Methanol, ethanol	Acetone	Motor oil	Gasoline	Brake fluid	Methylene chloride	Trichloroethane
Resistance Rating	Poor	Good	Good	Poor	Good	Fair	Poor	Poor	Poor

  The information provided in the previous table is a brief general guide to the chemical resistance of CALIBRE resins. Testing was conducted using ASTM D 543 and other similar methods in which product specimens with low internal stresses are weighed and tested for tensile strength, then immersed in the reagent for a period of 180 days. Upon removal, any change in weight and/or tensile strength are recorded, with resistance ratings defined as follow:

Good - Little or no reduction in physical properties; change in weight under 1 percent and change in tensile strength under 5 percent.

Fair - Some reduction in physical properties occurs after long exposure, with either a change in weight of more than 1 percent or a change in tensile strength of more than 5 percent.

Poor - Significant changes in physical properties after short exposure to the substance, with both a change in weight of more than 1 percent and a change in tensile strength of more than 5 percent. Use of CALIBRE polycarbonate resins is not recommended in these applications.

NOTE : Ratings listed are only indications and should not be interpreted as absolute proof of resistance of any part against a certain reagent. Testing of the actual parts under actual conditions of exposure is recommended to provide a more accurate indication of performance.