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PVC Flexible and Isooctane: Chemical Resistance

Flexible (plasticised) polyvinyl chloride

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
technical gradeDD

Material comparison at 20 °C

Isooctane: Material comparison at 20 °CPVC Flexible: D (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: APolysulfone: APTFE: APVC Rigid: APVDF: ASAN: ASS 304: ASS 316: APolycarbonate: BPolystyrene: CEPDM: DPMP: DPVC Flexible: DPVC-PECTFE/ETFE: –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 Flexible is not resistant (D) to Isooctane at technical grade 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

Isooctane is commonly encountered in laboratory work and oil and gas. PVC Flexible (Flexible (plasticised) polyvinyl chloride) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. Since Isooctane 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 Flexible is not recommended for use with Isooctane. 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 HDPE, LDPE, Nylon (PA) instead, which are rated A for this chemical and offer reliable long-term performance.

Did you know?

When choosing between thermoplastics for Isooctane 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 technical grade, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP A, PVC Rigid A, LDPE A, Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) A, Polycarbonate B, Polysulfone 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 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 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.