Rating
| Concentration | 20 °C | 50 °C | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 % | – | – | |
| 50 % | B | – | |
| 70 % | C | – | |
| 100 % | – | – |
Material comparison at 20 °C
Resistance overview
The resistance of PVC Flexible to Hydrofluoric Acid is concentration-dependent. Across the 2 tested concentrations (50 %, 70 %), the 20 °C rating ranges from B at lower concentrations to C at higher ones. This means engineers must verify which concentration their process actually involves before relying on a single rating. The rating remains stable between 20 °C and 50 °C, which means this material can also handle moderately elevated process temperatures without additional risk.
Application context
Hydrofluoric Acid is commonly encountered in metal finishing and water treatment. PVC Flexible (Flexible (plasticised) polyvinyl chloride) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. Because Hydrofluoric Acid is classified as corrosive, the choice of containment material is especially critical to prevent leaks, equipment damage, and safety hazards.
Practical recommendation
PVC Flexible has limited resistance to Hydrofluoric 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, LDPE, PP, PVC Rigid offer significantly better resistance and are rated A.
Did you know?
In industrial practice, PVC Flexible components exposed to Hydrofluoric Acid are typically inspected for swelling, discoloration, or loss of mechanical strength as early indicators of chemical attack.
Materials rated A or B at 20 °C
Based on the row for 70 %, 20 °C.
- Thermoplastics
- PP A, PVC Rigid A, LDPE A
- Fluoropolymers
- PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A
About PVC Flexible
Flexible PVC shares the solvent weaknesses of rigid PVC, and any liquid that extracts the plasticiser also hardens it. It is generally less resistant than rigid PVC.
Rating scale
- A very good resistance
- B good resistance
- C limited resistance
- D not resistant
- – no data
- K no general statement possible
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.