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Chlorine Chemical Resistance

Resistance ratings for 24 plastics, elastomers and metals at 20 °C and 50 °C. Listed at 2 concentrations, because the rating depends on it.

At a glance

Based on the row for 97 %, 20 °C.

Rated A, very good resistance
PTFE, PVDF, Viton (FPM), SS 316, SS 304, FEP (6)
Rated B, good resistance
none (0)
Rated C, limited resistance
Aluminium (1)
Rated D, not resistant
HDPE, PP, PVC Rigid, EPDM, NBR, LDPE, Nylon (PA), Acetal (POM), Polycarbonate, PVC Flexible, Polystyrene, Polysulfone, PETG, PMP, SAN (15)
No data in the source
ECTFE/ETFE, Silicone
Rating changes with concentration (20 °C)
HDPE: C (10 % wet), D (97 %); PVDF: A (97 %), B (10 % wet); PVC Rigid: A (10 % wet), D (97 %); EPDM: B (10 % wet), D (97 %); Viton (FPM): A (97 %), C (10 % wet); SS 316: A (97 %), D (10 % wet); SS 304: A (97 %), D (10 % wet); Aluminium: C (97 %), D (10 % wet); LDPE: C (10 % wet), D (97 %); Polycarbonate: B (10 % wet), D (97 %); PMP: B (10 % wet), D (97 %)

Based on the row for 97 %, 20 °C.

Rating profile by material family

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

No material with a rating at both temperatures changes grade between 20 °C and 50 °C.

Substance

CAS number
7782-50-5
Formula
Cl2
Hazard symbols in the source
T (toxic) (pre-GHS European symbols; check the current safety data sheet)
Concentrations listed
10 % wet; 97 %
Name in the source (German)
Chlor

Rating by concentration

Chlorine: Rating by concentrationHDPE: 10 % wet C→D, 97 % D. LDPE: 10 % wet C→D, 97 % D. PP: 10 % wet D, 97 % D. PVC Rigid: 10 % wet A→B, 97 % D. PVC Flexible: 10 % wet –, 97 % D. PMP: 10 % wet B→D, 97 % D. Polystyrene: 10 % wet D, 97 % D. SAN: 10 % wet D, 97 % D. Polycarbonate: 10 % wet B→C, 97 % D. PETG: 10 % wet D, 97 % D. Acetal (POM): 10 % wet D, 97 % D. Nylon (PA): 10 % wet D, 97 % D. Polysulfone: 10 % wet D, 97 % D. PTFE: 10 % wet A, 97 % A. FEP: 10 % wet A, 97 % A. PVDF: 10 % wet B*, 97 % A. ECTFE/ETFE: 10 % wet A, 97 % –. EPDM: 10 % wet B, 97 % D. Viton (FPM): 10 % wet C, 97 % A. NBR: 10 % wet D, 97 % D. SS 316: 10 % wet D, 97 % A. SS 304: 10 % wet D, 97 % A. Aluminium: 10 % wet D, 97 % C*.10 % wet97 %THERMOPLASTICSHDPEHDPE, 10 % wet: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CC→DHDPE, 97 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDLDPELDPE, 10 % wet: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CC→DLDPE, 97 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPPPP, 10 % wet: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPP, 97 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPVC RigidPVC Rigid, 10 % wet: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPVC Rigid, 97 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPVC FlexiblePVC Flexible, 10 % wet: no data–PVC Flexible, 97 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPMPPMP, 10 % wet: B at 20 °C, D at 50 °CB→DPMP, 97 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolystyrenePolystyrene, 10 % wet: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolystyrene, 97 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDSANSAN, 10 % wet: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDSAN, 97 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolycarbonatePolycarbonate, 10 % wet: B at 20 °C, C at 50 °CB→CPolycarbonate, 97 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPETGPETG, 10 % wet: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPETG, 97 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDAcetal (POM)Acetal (POM), 10 % wet: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDAcetal (POM), 97 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDNylon (PA)Nylon (PA), 10 % wet: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDNylon (PA), 97 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolysulfonePolysulfone, 10 % wet: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolysulfone, 97 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDFLUOROPOLYMERSPTFEPTFE, 10 % wet: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPTFE, 97 %: A at 20 °CAFEPFEP, 10 % wet: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEP, 97 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDFPVDF, 10 % wet: B at 20 °C (estimate)B*PVDF, 97 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAECTFE/ETFEECTFE/ETFE, 10 % wet: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAECTFE/ETFE, 97 %: no data–ELASTOMERSEPDMEPDM, 10 % wet: B at 20 °CBEPDM, 97 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDViton (FPM)Viton (FPM), 10 % wet: C at 20 °CCViton (FPM), 97 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CANBRNBR, 10 % wet: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDNBR, 97 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDMETALSSS 316SS 316, 10 % wet: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDSS 316, 97 %: A at 20 °CASS 304SS 304, 10 % wet: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDSS 304, 97 %: A at 20 °CAAluminiumAluminium, 10 % wet: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDAluminium, 97 %: C at 20 °C (estimate)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
Material10 % wet97 %
Thermoplastics
HDPECD
LDPECD
PPDD
PVC RigidAD
PVC Flexible–D
PMPBD
PolystyreneDD
SANDD
PolycarbonateBD
PETGDD
Acetal (POM)DD
Nylon (PA)DD
PolysulfoneDD
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFB*A
ECTFE/ETFEA–
Elastomers
EPDMBD
Viton (FPM)CA
NBRDD
Silicone––
Metals
SS 316DA
SS 304DA
AluminiumDC*

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Resistance table: Chlorine, 10 % wet

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPECD
LDPECD
PPDD
PVC RigidAB
PMPBD
PolystyreneDD
SANDD
PolycarbonateBC
PETGDD
Acetal (POM)DD
Nylon (PA)DD
PolysulfoneDD
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFB*–
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMB–
Viton (FPM)C–
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: PVC Flexible, Silicone

Resistance table: Chlorine, 97 %

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEDD
LDPEDD
PPDD
PVC RigidDD
PVC FlexibleDD
PMPDD
PolystyreneDD
SANDD
PolycarbonateDD
PETGDD
Acetal (POM)DD
Nylon (PA)DD
PolysulfoneDD
Fluoropolymers
PTFEA–
FEPAA
PVDFAA
Elastomers
EPDMDD
Viton (FPM)AA
NBRDD
Metals
SS 316A–
SS 304A–
AluminiumC*–

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: 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 Chlorine at high concentrations?

The materials with an A rating (resistant) for Chlorine at 20 °C are: PTFE, PVDF, Viton (FPM), SS 316, SS 304, FEP. These can generally be used in direct contact.

Which materials should be avoided with Chlorine?

Materials rated D (not resistant) for Chlorine are: HDPE, PP, PVC Rigid, EPDM, NBR, LDPE, Nylon (PA), Acetal (POM). These should not be used in contact with Chlorine.

Does temperature affect chemical resistance to Chlorine?

For Chlorine, all tested materials maintain the same rating at both 20 °C and 50 °C.

Is PTFE safe for Chlorine?

PTFE is rated A for Chlorine 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 Chlorine?

Yes. Chlorine is tested at 2 concentrations (10 % wet, 97 %). 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.

Chlorine Gas 100 %Oleum (Fuming Sulfuric Acid) 90 %Carbon Tetrachloride 86 %Carbon Disulfide 86 %Trichloroethylene (TCE) 86 %Chloroform 82 %