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PVC Rigid and Acetylene: Chemical Resistance

Rigid (unplasticised) polyvinyl chloride

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
100 %B–

Material comparison at 20 °C

Acetylene: Material comparison at 20 °CPVC Rigid: B (highlighted); Aluminium: A; ECTFE/ETFE: A; EPDM: A; FEP: A; Viton (FPM): A.Aluminium: AECTFE/ETFE: AEPDM: AFEP: AViton (FPM): AHDPE: ALDPE: ANBR: ANylon (PA): APolycarbonate: APETG: AAcetal (POM): APP: APTFE: APVDF: ASS 304: ASS 316: APVC Rigid: BPVC-USAN: CPVC Flexible: DPMP: –Polystyrene: –Polysulfone: –Silicone: –
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistantno data
Each bar is one material. Taller bars indicate better resistance. The highlighted bar is the current material.

Resistance overview

PVC Rigid shows good but limited resistance (B) to Acetylene at 100 % at 20 °C. The material can be used in contact with this chemical, but minor effects such as slight swelling or a small reduction in mechanical properties may occur over extended exposure periods. Regular inspection of components in service is advisable. The rating remains stable between 20 °C and 50 °C, which means this material can also handle moderately elevated process temperatures without additional risk.

Application context

Acetylene is commonly encountered in coatings and paints and chemical synthesis. PVC Rigid (Rigid (unplasticised) polyvinyl chloride) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. Since Acetylene is flammable, material selection must also consider the risk of static charge buildup and the need for proper grounding in storage and transfer systems.

Practical recommendation

PVC Rigid is suitable for use with Acetylene under normal conditions, but some minor effects on the material are expected over time. Periodic monitoring for swelling, softening, or weight change is recommended, especially for long-service components. For safety-critical or long-life applications, consider HDPE, LDPE, Nylon (PA) instead, which are rated A for this chemical.

Did you know?

Chemical resistance testing according to DIN and ISO standards typically evaluates weight change, dimensional change, and retention of tensile strength after immersion.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Based on the row for 100 %, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP A, LDPE A, Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) A, Polycarbonate A, PETG A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A
Elastomers
EPDM A, Viton (FPM) A, NBR A
Metals
SS 316 A, SS 304 A, Aluminium A

About PVC Rigid

Rigid PVC resists acids, alkalis and salt solutions well. Ketones, esters, aromatic and chlorinated solvents dissolve or swell it. Service temperature is limited to about 60 °C.

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.

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.