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Citric Acid Chemical Resistance

Resistance ratings for 24 plastics, elastomers and metals at 20 °C and 50 °C. Listed at 3 concentrations, because the rating depends on it.

At a glance

Based on the row for 10 %, 20 °C.

Rated A, very good resistance
PTFE, HDPE, PP, PVDF, PVC Rigid, EPDM, Viton (FPM), NBR, SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium, LDPE, FEP, ECTFE/ETFE, Nylon (PA), Polycarbonate, PVC Flexible, Polystyrene, Polysulfone, PETG, PMP, SAN (22)
Rated B, good resistance
Acetal (POM) (1)
Rated C, limited resistance
none (0)
Rated D, not resistant
none (0)
No data in the source
Silicone
Rated lower at 50 °C than at 20 °C
PVC Rigid (A → C), Acetal (POM) (B → D), Polycarbonate (A → B), Polystyrene (A → B), PETG (A → C)
Rating changes with concentration (20 °C)
Nylon (PA): A (10 %), C (50 %)

Based on the row for 10 %, 20 °C.

Rating profile by material family

Citric Acid: Rating profile by material familyThermoplastics: 12 A, 1 B. Fluoropolymers: 4 A. Elastomers: 3 A, 1 no data. Metals: 3 A.Thermoplastics (13)Thermoplastics: 12 × A, very good resistance (HDPE, LDPE, PP, PVC Rigid, PVC Flexible, PMP, Polystyrene, SAN, Polycarbonate, PETG, Nylon (PA), Polysulfone)A 12Thermoplastics: 1 × B, good resistance (Acetal (POM))Fluoropolymers (4)Fluoropolymers: 4 × A, very good resistance (PTFE, FEP, PVDF, ECTFE/ETFE)A 4Elastomers (4)Elastomers: 3 × A, very good resistance (EPDM, Viton (FPM), NBR)A 3Elastomers: 1 × no data (Silicone)– 1Metals (3)Metals: 3 × A, very good resistance (SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium)A 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

Citric Acid: Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °CPVC Rigid A → C; Polystyrene A → B; Polycarbonate A → B; PETG A → C; Acetal (POM) B → D.ABCDPVC Rigid: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CPVC RigidPolystyrene: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CPolystyrenePolycarbonate: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CPolycarbonatePETG: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CPETGAcetal (POM): B at 20 °C, D at 50 °CAcetal (POM)
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
77-92-9
Formula
C6H8O7
Hazard symbols in the source
Xi (irritant) (pre-GHS European symbols; check the current safety data sheet)
Concentrations listed
10 %; 50 %; saturated
Name in the source (German)
Zitronensäure

Rating by concentration

Citric Acid: Rating by concentrationHDPE: 10 % A, 50 % A, saturated A. LDPE: 10 % A, 50 % A, saturated A. PP: 10 % A, 50 % A, saturated A. PVC Rigid: 10 % A→C, 50 % –, saturated A. PVC Flexible: 10 % A, 50 % –, saturated A. PMP: 10 % A, 50 % A, saturated A. Polystyrene: 10 % A→B, 50 % A, saturated A. SAN: 10 % A, 50 % –, saturated –. Polycarbonate: 10 % A→B, 50 % A, saturated A. PETG: 10 % A→C, 50 % –, saturated –. Acetal (POM): 10 % B→D, 50 % B, saturated B. Nylon (PA): 10 % A, 50 % C, saturated C. Polysulfone: 10 % A, 50 % –, saturated –. PTFE: 10 % A, 50 % A, saturated A. FEP: 10 % A, 50 % A, saturated A. PVDF: 10 % A, 50 % A, saturated A. ECTFE/ETFE: 10 % A, 50 % –, saturated –. EPDM: 10 % A, 50 % A, saturated A. Viton (FPM): 10 % A, 50 % A*, saturated A*. NBR: 10 % A, 50 % A, saturated A. SS 316: 10 % A, 50 % A→B, saturated A→B. SS 304: 10 % A, 50 % A→C, saturated A→C. Aluminium: 10 % A, 50 % A, saturated A.10 %50 %saturatedTHERMOPLASTICSHDPEHDPE, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAHDPE, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAHDPE, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CALDPELDPE, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CALDPE, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CALDPE, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPPPP, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPP, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPP, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVC RigidPVC Rigid, 10 %: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CPVC Rigid, 50 %: no data–PVC Rigid, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVC FlexiblePVC Flexible, 10 %: A at 20 °CAPVC Flexible, 50 %: no data–PVC Flexible, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPMPPMP, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPMP, 50 %: A at 20 °CAPMP, saturated: A at 20 °CAPolystyrenePolystyrene, 10 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPolystyrene, 50 %: A at 20 °CAPolystyrene, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASANSAN, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASAN, 50 %: no data–SAN, saturated: no data–PolycarbonatePolycarbonate, 10 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPolycarbonate, 50 %: A at 20 °CAPolycarbonate, saturated: A at 20 °CAPETGPETG, 10 %: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CPETG, 50 %: no data–PETG, saturated: no data–Acetal (POM)Acetal (POM), 10 %: B at 20 °C, D at 50 °CB→DAcetal (POM), 50 %: B at 20 °CBAcetal (POM), saturated: B at 20 °CBNylon (PA)Nylon (PA), 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CANylon (PA), 50 %: C at 20 °CCNylon (PA), saturated: C at 20 °CCPolysulfonePolysulfone, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPolysulfone, 50 %: no data–Polysulfone, saturated: no data–FLUOROPOLYMERSPTFEPTFE, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPTFE, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPTFE, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEPFEP, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEP, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEP, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDFPVDF, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDF, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDF, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAECTFE/ETFEECTFE/ETFE, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAECTFE/ETFE, 50 %: no data–ECTFE/ETFE, saturated: no data–ELASTOMERSEPDMEPDM, 10 %: A at 20 °CAEPDM, 50 %: A at 20 °CAEPDM, saturated: A at 20 °CAViton (FPM)Viton (FPM), 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAViton (FPM), 50 %: A at 20 °C (estimate)A*Viton (FPM), saturated: A at 20 °C (estimate)A*NBRNBR, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CANBR, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CANBR, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAMETALSSS 316SS 316, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 316, 50 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BSS 316, saturated: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BSS 304SS 304, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 304, 50 %: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CSS 304, saturated: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CAluminiumAluminium, 10 %: A at 20 °CAAluminium, 50 %: A at 20 °CAAluminium, saturated: A at 20 °CA
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 %50 %saturated
Thermoplastics
HDPEAAA
LDPEAAA
PPAAA
PVC RigidA–A
PVC FlexibleA–A
PMPAAA
PolystyreneAAA
SANA––
PolycarbonateAAA
PETGA––
Acetal (POM)BBB
Nylon (PA)ACC
PolysulfoneA––
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAAA
FEPAAA
PVDFAAA
ECTFE/ETFEA––
Elastomers
EPDMAAA
Viton (FPM)AA*A*
NBRAAA
Silicone–––
Metals
SS 316AAA
SS 304AAA
AluminiumAAA

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Resistance table: Citric Acid, 10 %

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC RigidAC
PVC FlexibleA–
PMPAA
PolystyreneAB
SANAA
PolycarbonateAB
PETGAC
Acetal (POM)BD
Nylon (PA)AA
PolysulfoneAA
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMA–
Viton (FPM)AA
NBRAA
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumA–

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

Resistance table: Citric Acid, 50 %

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PMPA–
PolystyreneA–
PolycarbonateA–
Acetal (POM)B–
Nylon (PA)C–
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
Elastomers
EPDMA–
Viton (FPM)A*–
NBRAA
Metals
SS 316AB
SS 304AC
AluminiumA–

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: PVC Rigid, PVC Flexible, SAN, PETG, Polysulfone, ECTFE/ETFE, Silicone

Resistance table: Citric Acid, saturated

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC RigidAA
PVC FlexibleAA
PMPA–
PolystyreneAA
PolycarbonateA–
Acetal (POM)B–
Nylon (PA)C–
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
Elastomers
EPDMA–
Viton (FPM)A*–
NBRAA
Metals
SS 316AB
SS 304AC
AluminiumA–

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: SAN, PETG, Polysulfone, 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 Citric Acid at high concentrations?

The materials with an A rating (resistant) for Citric Acid at 20 °C are: PTFE, HDPE, PP, PVDF, PVC Rigid, EPDM, Viton (FPM), NBR. These can generally be used in direct contact.

Does temperature affect chemical resistance to Citric Acid?

Yes. 5 of 20 tested materials show a worse rating at 50 °C than at 20 °C for Citric Acid. Materials affected include: PVC Rigid, Acetal (POM), Polycarbonate, Polystyrene, PETG.

Is PTFE safe for Citric Acid?

PTFE is rated A for Citric Acid 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 Citric Acid?

Yes. Citric Acid is tested at 3 concentrations (10 %, 50 %, saturated). 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.

Barium Chloride 100 %Boric Acid 100 %Potassium Ferrocyanide 100 %Water Glass (Sodium Silicate) 100 %Molasses 100 %Aluminum Oxide 96 %