Historically Hansen solubility parameters (HSP) have been used in industries such as paints and coatings where understanding and controlling solvent–polymer interactions was vital. Over the years their use has been extended widely to applications such as:
* Environmental stress cracking of polymers
* Controlled dispersion of pigments, such as carbon black
* Understanding of solubility/dispersion properties of carbon nanotubes, Buckyballs, and quantum dots
* Adhesion to polymers
* Permeation of solvents and chemicals through plastics to understand issues such as glove safety, food packaging barrier properties and skin permeation
* Diffusion of solvents into polymers via understanding of surface concentration based on RED number
* Cytotoxicity via interaction with DNA
* Artificial noses (where response depends on polymer solubility of the test odor)
* Safer, cheaper, and faster solvent blends where an undesirable solvent can be rationally replaced by a mix of more desirable solvents whose combined HSP equals the HSP of the original solvent.