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Aqua Regia Chemical Resistance

Resistance ratings for 24 plastics, elastomers and metals at 20 °C and 50 °C.

At a glance

Ratings at 20 °C.

Rated A, very good resistance
PTFE, ECTFE/ETFE (2)
Rated B, good resistance
FEP (1)
Rated C, limited resistance
PVDF, PMP, SAN (3)
Rated D, not resistant
HDPE, PP, PVC Rigid, EPDM, Viton (FPM), NBR, SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium, LDPE, Nylon (PA), Acetal (POM), Polycarbonate, PVC Flexible, Polystyrene, Polysulfone, PETG (17)
No data in the source
Silicone
Rated lower at 50 °C than at 20 °C
SAN (C → D)

Rating profile by material family

Aqua Regia: Rating profile by material familyThermoplastics: 2 C, 11 D. Fluoropolymers: 2 A, 1 B, 1 C. Elastomers: 3 D, 1 no data. Metals: 3 D.Thermoplastics (13)Thermoplastics: 2 × C, limited resistance (PMP, SAN)C 2Thermoplastics: 11 × D, not resistant (HDPE, LDPE, PP, PVC Rigid, PVC Flexible, Polystyrene, Polycarbonate, PETG, Acetal (POM), Nylon (PA), Polysulfone)D 11Fluoropolymers (4)Fluoropolymers: 2 × A, very good resistance (PTFE, ECTFE/ETFE)A 2Fluoropolymers: 1 × B, good resistance (FEP)B 1Fluoropolymers: 1 × C, limited resistance (PVDF)C 1Elastomers (4)Elastomers: 3 × D, not resistant (EPDM, Viton (FPM), NBR)D 3Elastomers: 1 × no data (Silicone)– 1Metals (3)Metals: 3 × D, not resistant (SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium)D 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

Aqua Regia: Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °CSAN C → D.ABCDSAN: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CSAN
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
8007-56-5
Formula
HNO3 + HCl
Hazard symbols in the source
C (corrosive) (pre-GHS European symbols; check the current safety data sheet)
Name in the source (German)
Königswasser

Resistance table

Remark: Aqua regia = Salpeter- + Salzsäure

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEDD
LDPEDD
PPDD
PVC RigidDD
PVC FlexibleDD
PMPCC
PolystyreneDD
SANCD
PolycarbonateDD
PETGDD
Acetal (POM)DD
Nylon (PA)DD
PolysulfoneDD
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPB*–
PVDFC–
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMDD
Viton (FPM)DD
NBRDD
Metals
SS 316DD
SS 304DD
AluminiumDD

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

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

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.

Fluorine 77 %Bromine 74 %Oleum (Fuming Sulfuric Acid) 67 %Perchloroethylene (PCE) 67 %Chlorine 64 %Chlorine Gas 64 %