Toluene (methylbenzene, C7H8, CAS 108-88-3) is a clear, highly flammable aromatic solvent with a sweet odor, a specific gravity of about 0.87, a boiling point of 231°F (111°C) and a flash point near 40°F (4°C). It is used in paints, coatings, adhesives and thinners, gasoline blending, and to make benzene, xylenes and TDI for polyurethanes. Aromatic solvents swell many plastics and elastomers. Use the compatibility ratings to choose the right tank resin, fittings and gaskets.
Nylon is the most economical tank material for Toluene, rated Excellent. PVDF (Kynar®) is also rated Good or better. Avoid HDPE tanks; HDPE, PVC and CPVC fittings; Buna-N and EPDM gaskets. Rated Fair (contact us before use): polypropylene tanks and polypropylene fittings.
How Toluene works with the plastics used to make our storage tanks.
| Material | Rating |
|---|---|
| HDPE | |
| Polypropylene | |
| Nylon | |
| PVDF (Kynar®) |
How Toluene works with the plastics used for tank fittings.
| Material | Rating |
|---|---|
| HDPE | |
| PVC | |
| CPVC | |
| Polypropylene | |
| PVDF |
How Toluene works with gasket and O-ring materials.
| Material | Rating |
|---|---|
| Buna-N | |
| EPDM | |
| Viton® |
Talk to a tank specialist