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PVC Rigid and Hydrocyanic Acid (Hydrogen Cyanide): Chemical Resistance

Rigid (unplasticised) polyvinyl chloride

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
aqueousA–
technical gradeAC

Material comparison at 20 °C

Hydrocyanic Acid (Hydrogen Cyanide): Material comparison at 20 °CPVC Rigid: A (highlighted); Aluminium: A; EPDM: A; FEP: A; Viton (FPM): A; HDPE: A.Aluminium: AEPDM: AFEP: AViton (FPM): AHDPE: ALDPE: APP: APolystyrene: APTFE: APVC Rigid: APVC-UPVC Flexible: APVDF: ASS 304: ASS 316: ANBR: CNylon (PA): CPolycarbonate: DPMP: DAcetal (POM): DECTFE/ETFE: –PETG: –Polysulfone: –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 shows excellent resistance to Hydrocyanic Acid (Hydrogen Cyanide) across all 2 tested concentrations (aqueous, technical grade) at 20 °C, making it a reliable choice for storage, transfer, and handling applications involving this chemical at any of the tested strengths. 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

Hydrocyanic Acid (Hydrogen Cyanide) is commonly encountered in surface cleaning and water treatment. PVC Rigid (Rigid (unplasticised) polyvinyl chloride) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. Since Hydrocyanic Acid (Hydrogen Cyanide) 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 can be used with confidence for Hydrocyanic Acid (Hydrogen Cyanide) 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?

When choosing between thermoplastics for Hydrocyanic Acid (Hydrogen Cyanide) service, engineers consider not just the resistance rating but also factors such as permeation rate, creep resistance, and weldability.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Based on the row for aqueous, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP A, LDPE A, PVC Flexible A, Polystyrene A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A
Elastomers
EPDM A, 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.