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PVC Rigid and Chloroacetic Acid: Chemical Resistance

Rigid (unplasticised) polyvinyl chloride

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
50 %A–
concentration not statedCD

Material comparison at 20 °C

Chloroacetic Acid: Material comparison at 20 °CPVC Rigid: C (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: CPVC-USAN: CAluminium: DNBR: DNylon (PA): DPETG: DAcetal (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

The resistance of PVC Rigid to Chloroacetic Acid is concentration-dependent. Across the 2 tested concentrations (50 %), the 20 °C rating ranges from A at lower concentrations to D at higher ones. This means engineers must verify which concentration their process actually involves before relying on a single rating. However, at 50 °C the resistance rating drops, indicating that temperature must be factored into the design. For heated applications, additional testing under actual service conditions is strongly recommended.

Application context

Chloroacetic Acid is commonly encountered in chemical processing and water treatment. PVC Rigid (Rigid (unplasticised) polyvinyl chloride) 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

PVC Rigid has limited resistance to Chloroacetic Acid and should only be used for short-term or intermittent contact at ambient temperature. The C rating means the material undergoes noticeable changes — swelling, loss of strength, or surface degradation — that make it unsuitable for permanent installations. For prolonged or continuous exposure, HDPE, LDPE, PMP offer significantly better resistance and are rated A.

Did you know?

The chemical resistance of PVC Rigid depends not only on the chemical concentration but also on exposure time, mechanical stress, and the presence of other chemicals in the mixture.

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 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.