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PVC Rigid and Cumene: Chemical Resistance

Rigid (unplasticised) polyvinyl chloride

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
concentration not statedDD

Material comparison at 20 °C

Cumene: Material comparison at 20 °CPVC Rigid: D (highlighted); Aluminium: A; ECTFE/ETFE: A; FEP: A; Viton (FPM): A; PTFE: A.Aluminium: AECTFE/ETFE: AFEP: AViton (FPM): APTFE: ASS 304: ASS 316: AHDPE: BNylon (PA): BAcetal (POM): BPVDF: BLDPE: CPP: CEPDM: DNBR: DPolycarbonate: DPMP: DPolystyrene: DPolysulfone: DPVC Rigid: DPVC-UPETG: –PVC Flexible: –SAN: –Silicone: –
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

PVC Rigid is not resistant (D) to Cumene and should not be used in direct contact. The chemical is expected to cause rapid degradation, which can include dissolution, cracking, severe swelling, or complete structural failure of the material.

Application context

Cumene is commonly encountered in electronics cleaning and chemical synthesis. PVC Rigid (Rigid (unplasticised) polyvinyl chloride) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. Since Cumene is flammable, material selection must also consider the risk of static charge buildup and the need for proper grounding in storage and transfer systems.

Practical recommendation

PVC Rigid is not recommended for use with Cumene. 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 ECTFE/ETFE, FEP, PTFE instead, which are rated A for this chemical and offer reliable long-term performance.

Did you know?

Rigid (unplasticised) polyvinyl chloride was first developed in the 1920s and remains one of the most widely used thermoplastics in chemical handling equipment.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Thermoplastics
HDPE B, Nylon (PA) B, Acetal (POM) B
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, PVDF B, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A
Elastomers
Viton (FPM) A
Metals
SS 316 A, SS 304 A, Aluminium 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.