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Acetic Acid Chemical Resistance

Resistance ratings for 24 plastics, elastomers and metals at 20 °C and 50 °C. Listed at 5 concentrations, because the rating depends on it.

At a glance

Based on the row for 90 %, 20 °C.

Rated A, very good resistance
PTFE, HDPE, PP, PVDF, PVC Rigid, SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium, LDPE, FEP, ECTFE/ETFE, PMP (12)
Rated B, good resistance
none (0)
Rated C, limited resistance
Polysulfone (1)
Rated D, not resistant
EPDM, Viton (FPM), NBR, Nylon (PA), Acetal (POM), Polycarbonate, PVC Flexible, Polystyrene, PETG, SAN (10)
No data in the source
Silicone
Rated lower at 50 °C than at 20 °C
PP (A → B), PVC Rigid (A → B), SS 316 (A → B), SS 304 (A → B), Aluminium (A → C), LDPE (A → B), Polysulfone (C → D), PMP (A → C)
Rating changes with concentration (20 °C)
EPDM: A (5 %), D (50 %); Viton (FPM): C (5 %), D (50 %); NBR: C (5 %), D (50 %); Acetal (POM): A (5 %), D (90 %); Polycarbonate: A (5 %), D (90 %); PVC Flexible: A (10 %), D (90 %); Polystyrene: A (5 %), D (90 %); Polysulfone: A (5 %), C (90 %); PETG: A (5 %), D (90 %); PMP: A (5 %), C (10 %); SAN: A (5 %), D (90 %)

Based on the row for 90 %, 20 °C.

Rating profile by material family

Acetic Acid: Rating profile by material familyThermoplastics: 5 A, 1 C, 7 D. Fluoropolymers: 4 A. Elastomers: 3 D, 1 no data. Metals: 3 A.Thermoplastics (13)Thermoplastics: 5 × A, very good resistance (HDPE, LDPE, PP, PVC Rigid, PMP)A 5Thermoplastics: 1 × C, limited resistance (Polysulfone)Thermoplastics: 7 × D, not resistant (PVC Flexible, Polystyrene, SAN, Polycarbonate, PETG, Acetal (POM), Nylon (PA))D 7Fluoropolymers (4)Fluoropolymers: 4 × A, very good resistance (PTFE, FEP, PVDF, ECTFE/ETFE)A 4Elastomers (4)Elastomers: 3 × D, not resistant (EPDM, Viton (FPM), NBR)D 3Elastomers: 1 × no data (Silicone)– 1Metals (3)Metals: 3 × A, very good resistance (SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium)A 3
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistantno data
Number of materials in each family with each rating at 20 °C.

Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °C

Acetic Acid: Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °CLDPE A → B; PP A → B; PVC Rigid A → B; PMP A → C; Polysulfone C → D; SS 316 A → B; SS 304 A → B; Aluminium A → C.ABCDLDPE: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CLDPEPP: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CPPPVC Rigid: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CPVC RigidPMP: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CPMPPolysulfone: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CPolysulfoneSS 316: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CSS 316SS 304: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CSS 304Aluminium: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CAluminium
20 °C50 °C
Materials whose rating differs between 20 °C and 50 °C. Materials not shown keep their rating or have no 50 °C value.

Substance

CAS number
64-19-7
Formula
C2H4O2
Hazard symbols in the source
C (corrosive) (pre-GHS European symbols; check the current safety data sheet)
Flammable
yes
Concentrations listed
5 %; 10 %; 50 %; 90 %; 100 %
Also listed as
Glacial Acetic Acid; Ethanoic acid; Methanecarboxylic acid
Name in the source (German)
Essigsäure

Rating by concentration

Acetic Acid: Rating by concentrationHDPE: 5 % A, 10 % A, 50 % A, 90 % A, 100 % –. LDPE: 5 % A→C, 10 % A, 50 % A, 90 % A→B, 100 % –. PP: 5 % A, 10 % A, 50 % A, 90 % A→B, 100 % A→C. PVC Rigid: 5 % A, 10 % A→C, 50 % A→B, 90 % A→B, 100 % –. PVC Flexible: 5 % C, 10 % A, 50 % –, 90 % D, 100 % –. PMP: 5 % A, 10 % C, 50 % A, 90 % A→C, 100 % C*. Polystyrene: 5 % A, 10 % A, 50 % B, 90 % D, 100 % –. SAN: 5 % A, 10 % A→C, 50 % –, 90 % D, 100 % –. Polycarbonate: 5 % A→B, 10 % A→B, 50 % A→B, 90 % D, 100 % D. PETG: 5 % A, 10 % A, 50 % –, 90 % D, 100 % D. Acetal (POM): 5 % A→C, 10 % A→D, 50 % C→D, 90 % D, 100 % D. Nylon (PA): 5 % D, 10 % D, 50 % D, 90 % D, 100 % D. Polysulfone: 5 % A, 10 % A, 50 % B, 90 % C→D, 100 % –. PTFE: 5 % A, 10 % A, 50 % A, 90 % A, 100 % A. FEP: 5 % A, 10 % A, 50 % A, 90 % A, 100 % A. PVDF: 5 % A, 10 % A, 50 % A, 90 % A, 100 % A. ECTFE/ETFE: 5 % A, 10 % A, 50 % A→B, 90 % A, 100 % –. EPDM: 5 % A, 10 % B*, 50 % D, 90 % D, 100 % D. Viton (FPM): 5 % C, 10 % C*, 50 % D, 90 % D, 100 % D. NBR: 5 % C, 10 % C, 50 % D, 90 % D, 100 % D. SS 316: 5 % A, 10 % A, 50 % A, 90 % A→B, 100 % A→B. SS 304: 5 % A→B, 10 % A, 50 % A, 90 % A→B, 100 % A→B. Aluminium: 5 % A→C, 10 % A→C, 50 % A→C, 90 % A→C, 100 % A→C.5 %10 %50 %90 %100 %THERMOPLASTICSHDPEHDPE, 5 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAHDPE, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAHDPE, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAHDPE, 90 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAHDPE, 100 %: no data–LDPELDPE, 5 %: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CLDPE, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CALDPE, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CALDPE, 90 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BLDPE, 100 %: no data–PPPP, 5 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPP, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPP, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPP, 90 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPP, 100 %: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CPVC RigidPVC Rigid, 5 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVC Rigid, 10 %: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CPVC Rigid, 50 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPVC Rigid, 90 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPVC Rigid, 100 %: no data–PVC FlexiblePVC Flexible, 5 %: C at 20 °CCPVC Flexible, 10 %: A at 20 °CAPVC Flexible, 50 %: no data–PVC Flexible, 90 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPVC Flexible, 100 %: no data–PMPPMP, 5 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPMP, 10 %: C at 20 °CCPMP, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPMP, 90 %: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CPMP, 100 %: C at 20 °C (estimate)C*PolystyrenePolystyrene, 5 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPolystyrene, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPolystyrene, 50 %: B at 20 °C, B at 50 °CBPolystyrene, 90 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolystyrene, 100 %: no data–SANSAN, 5 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASAN, 10 %: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CSAN, 50 %: no data–SAN, 90 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDSAN, 100 %: no data–PolycarbonatePolycarbonate, 5 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPolycarbonate, 10 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPolycarbonate, 50 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPolycarbonate, 90 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolycarbonate, 100 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPETGPETG, 5 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPETG, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPETG, 50 %: no data–PETG, 90 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPETG, 100 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDAcetal (POM)Acetal (POM), 5 %: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CAcetal (POM), 10 %: A at 20 °C, D at 50 °CA→DAcetal (POM), 50 %: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CC→DAcetal (POM), 90 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDAcetal (POM), 100 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDNylon (PA)Nylon (PA), 5 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDNylon (PA), 10 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDNylon (PA), 50 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDNylon (PA), 90 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDNylon (PA), 100 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolysulfonePolysulfone, 5 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPolysulfone, 10 %: A at 20 °CAPolysulfone, 50 %: B at 20 °C, B at 50 °CBPolysulfone, 90 %: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CC→DPolysulfone, 100 %: no data–FLUOROPOLYMERSPTFEPTFE, 5 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPTFE, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPTFE, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPTFE, 90 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPTFE, 100 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEPFEP, 5 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEP, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEP, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEP, 90 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEP, 100 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDFPVDF, 5 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDF, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDF, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDF, 90 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDF, 100 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAECTFE/ETFEECTFE/ETFE, 5 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAECTFE/ETFE, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAECTFE/ETFE, 50 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BECTFE/ETFE, 90 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAECTFE/ETFE, 100 %: no data–ELASTOMERSEPDMEPDM, 5 %: A at 20 °CAEPDM, 10 %: B at 20 °C (estimate)B*EPDM, 50 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDEPDM, 90 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDEPDM, 100 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDViton (FPM)Viton (FPM), 5 %: C at 20 °C, C at 50 °CCViton (FPM), 10 %: C at 20 °C (estimate)C*Viton (FPM), 50 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDViton (FPM), 90 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDViton (FPM), 100 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDNBRNBR, 5 %: C at 20 °C, C at 50 °CCNBR, 10 %: C at 20 °C, C at 50 °CCNBR, 50 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDNBR, 90 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDNBR, 100 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDMETALSSS 316SS 316, 5 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 316, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 316, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 316, 90 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BSS 316, 100 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BSS 304SS 304, 5 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BSS 304, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 304, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 304, 90 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BSS 304, 100 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BAluminiumAluminium, 5 %: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CAluminium, 10 %: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CAluminium, 50 %: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CAluminium, 90 %: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CAluminium, 100 %: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→C
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistantno data
Each cell shows the rating at 20 °C. Where the rating at 50 °C differs, it follows the arrow. * marks an estimate in the source.
Show as a table
Material5 %10 %50 %90 %100 %
Thermoplastics
HDPEAAAA–
LDPEAAAA–
PPAAAAA
PVC RigidAAAA–
PVC FlexibleCA–D–
PMPACAAC*
PolystyreneAABD–
SANAA–D–
PolycarbonateAAADD
PETGAA–DD
Acetal (POM)AACDD
Nylon (PA)DDDDD
PolysulfoneAABC–
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAAAAA
FEPAAAAA
PVDFAAAAA
ECTFE/ETFEAAAA–
Elastomers
EPDMAB*DDD
Viton (FPM)CC*DDD
NBRCCDDD
Silicone–––––
Metals
SS 316AAAAA
SS 304AAAAA
AluminiumAAAAA

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Resistance table: Acetic Acid, 5 %

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAC
PPAA
PVC RigidAA
PVC FlexibleC–
PMPAA
PolystyreneAA
SANAA
PolycarbonateAB
PETGAA
Acetal (POM)AC
Nylon (PA)DD
PolysulfoneAA
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMA–
Viton (FPM)CC
NBRCC
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AB
AluminiumAC

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: Silicone

Resistance table: Acetic Acid, 10 %

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC RigidAC
PVC FlexibleA–
PMPC–
PolystyreneAA
SANAC
PolycarbonateAB
PETGAA
Acetal (POM)AD
Nylon (PA)DD
PolysulfoneA–
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMB*–
Viton (FPM)C*–
NBRCC
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumAC

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: Silicone

Resistance table: Acetic Acid, 50 %

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC RigidAB
PMPAA
PolystyreneBB
PolycarbonateAB
Acetal (POM)CD
Nylon (PA)DD
PolysulfoneBB
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFEAB
Elastomers
EPDMDD
Viton (FPM)DD
NBRDD
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumAC

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: PVC Flexible, SAN, PETG, Silicone

Resistance table: Acetic Acid, 90 %

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAB
PPAB
PVC RigidAB
PVC FlexibleDD
PMPAC
PolystyreneDD
SANDD
PolycarbonateDD
PETGDD
Acetal (POM)DD
Nylon (PA)DD
PolysulfoneCD
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMDD
Viton (FPM)DD
NBRDD
Metals
SS 316AB
SS 304AB
AluminiumAC

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: Silicone

Resistance table: Acetic Acid, 100 %

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
PPAC
PMPC*–
PolycarbonateDD
PETGDD
Acetal (POM)DD
Nylon (PA)DD
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
Elastomers
EPDMDD
Viton (FPM)DD
NBRDD
Metals
SS 316AB
SS 304AB
AluminiumAC

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: HDPE, LDPE, PVC Rigid, PVC Flexible, Polystyrene, SAN, Polysulfone, ECTFE/ETFE, Silicone

Rating scale

A rating marked * is an estimate in the source, not a test result. An estimate is given as one value without a temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which materials resist Acetic Acid at high concentrations?

The materials with an A rating (resistant) for Acetic Acid at 20 °C are: PTFE, HDPE, PP, PVDF, PVC Rigid, SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium. These can generally be used in direct contact.

Which materials should be avoided with Acetic Acid?

Materials rated D (not resistant) for Acetic Acid are: EPDM, Viton (FPM), NBR, Nylon (PA), Acetal (POM), Polycarbonate, PVC Flexible, Polystyrene. These should not be used in contact with Acetic Acid.

Does temperature affect chemical resistance to Acetic Acid?

Yes. 8 of 23 tested materials show a worse rating at 50 °C than at 20 °C for Acetic Acid. Materials affected include: PP, PVC Rigid, SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium, LDPE.

Is PTFE safe for Acetic Acid?

PTFE is rated A for Acetic Acid at 20 °C. A rating of A means resistant, B means limited resistance, C means partly resistant, and D means not resistant.

Does concentration affect chemical resistance to Acetic Acid?

Yes. Acetic Acid is tested at 5 concentrations (5 %, 10 %, 50 %, 90 %, 100 %). Some materials change their rating depending on the concentration.

About this data

The ratings come from the chemical resistance list published by Bürkle GmbH, which compiled them from raw-material manufacturers’ data. They describe laboratory tests on the raw material at 20 °C and 50 °C.

A finished part also sees pressure, mechanical stress, welds and mixtures that a laboratory test does not. Treat the rating as a first filter and test under your own conditions before relying on it.

Chemicals with a similar resistance profile

Same 20 °C rating on the share of materials shown.

Hydrazine 81 %Phenol 78 %Maleic Acid 78 %Benzaldehyde 74 %Propionic Acid 74 %Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA) 74 %