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PVC Rigid and Diesel Fuel: Chemical Resistance

Rigid (unplasticised) polyvinyl chloride

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
100 %AC

Material comparison at 20 °C

Diesel Fuel: Material comparison at 20 °CPVC Rigid: A (highlighted); Aluminium: A; FEP: A; Viton (FPM): A; HDPE: A; LDPE: A.Aluminium: AFEP: AViton (FPM): AHDPE: ALDPE: ANBR: ANylon (PA): APETG: AAcetal (POM): APP: APTFE: APVC Rigid: APVC-UPVDF: ASAN: ASS 304: ASS 316: APolycarbonate: CPolystyrene: CPVC Flexible: CEPDM: DECTFE/ETFE: –PMP: –Polysulfone: –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 shows very good resistance (A) to Diesel Fuel at 100 % at 20 °C, meaning the material remains essentially unaffected by this chemical under standard laboratory test conditions. 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

Diesel Fuel is commonly encountered in power generation and automotive. PVC Rigid (Rigid (unplasticised) polyvinyl chloride) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. The compatibility between these two is therefore an important consideration for engineers and procurement teams selecting containment, transfer, or processing equipment.

Practical recommendation

PVC Rigid can be used with confidence for Diesel Fuel containment and handling. The A rating indicates that the material shows no significant change in weight, dimensions, or mechanical properties after prolonged contact under test conditions. At elevated temperatures (50 °C), some reduction in resistance occurs, so periodic inspection is advisable for heated applications. Always verify performance under actual operating conditions before committing to a design.

Did you know?

The ratings shown here apply to pure Diesel Fuel in contact with the base thermoplastic. In real-world applications, additives, pigments, and fillers in the material can shift resistance in either direction.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Based on the row for 100 %, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP A, LDPE A, Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) A, PETG A, SAN A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A
Elastomers
Viton (FPM) A, NBR 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.