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PETG and Chloroacetic Acid: Chemical Resistance

Polyethylene terephthalate glycol (co-polyester)

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
50 %DD
concentration not statedDD

Material comparison at 20 °C

Chloroacetic Acid: Material comparison at 20 °CPETG: D (highlighted); ECTFE/ETFE: A; FEP: A; HDPE: A; LDPE: A; PMP: A.ECTFE/ETFE: AFEP: AHDPE: ALDPE: APMP: APP: APTFE: APolystyrene: BEPDM: CViton (FPM): CPolycarbonate: CPVC Rigid: CSAN: CAluminium: DNBR: DNylon (PA): DPETG: DPETGAcetal (POM): DPolysulfone: DPVC Flexible: DPVDF: DSS 304: DSS 316: DSilicone: –
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

PETG maintains a consistent rating of D across all 2 tested concentrations (50 %) of Chloroacetic Acid at 20 °C. The fact that the rating does not change with concentration within the tested range simplifies material selection, though the boundary conditions beyond this range remain untested. 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

Chloroacetic Acid is commonly encountered in chemical processing and water treatment. PETG (Polyethylene terephthalate glycol (co-polyester)) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. Because Chloroacetic Acid is classified as corrosive, the choice of containment material is especially critical to prevent leaks, equipment damage, and safety hazards.

Practical recommendation

PETG is not recommended for use with Chloroacetic Acid. The D rating indicates that the material will suffer rapid and severe degradation, which may include cracking, dissolution, severe swelling, or complete structural failure. Using this combination risks equipment damage, leaks, and potential safety incidents. Consider using HDPE, LDPE, PMP instead, which are rated A for this chemical and offer reliable long-term performance.

Did you know?

Temperature is often the deciding factor when selecting materials for Chloroacetic Acid: even materials rated A at 20 °C may lose performance at elevated temperatures.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Based on the row for concentration not stated, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP A, LDPE A, Polystyrene B, PMP A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A

About PETG

PETG is a co-polyester for clear containers. Strong acids and alkalis and most organic solvents attack it.

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.