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Maleic Acid Chemical Resistance

Resistance ratings for 24 plastics, elastomers and metals at 20 °C and 50 °C. Listed at 2 concentrations, because the rating depends on it.

At a glance

Based on the row for saturated, 20 °C.

Rated A, very good resistance
PTFE, HDPE, PP, PVDF, PVC Rigid, Viton (FPM), SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium, LDPE, FEP, ECTFE/ETFE, PVC Flexible (13)
Rated B, good resistance
none (0)
Rated C, limited resistance
Acetal (POM), Polycarbonate (2)
Rated D, not resistant
EPDM, NBR, Nylon (PA) (3)
No data in the source
Silicone, Polystyrene, Polysulfone, PETG, PMP, SAN
Rated lower at 50 °C than at 20 °C
PVC Rigid (A → C)
Rating changes with concentration (20 °C)
NBR: A (aqueous), D (saturated)

Based on the row for saturated, 20 °C.

Rating profile by material family

Maleic Acid: Rating profile by material familyThermoplastics: 5 A, 2 C, 1 D, 5 no data. Fluoropolymers: 4 A. Elastomers: 1 A, 2 D, 1 no data. Metals: 3 A.Thermoplastics (13)Thermoplastics: 5 × A, very good resistance (HDPE, LDPE, PP, PVC Rigid, PVC Flexible)A 5Thermoplastics: 2 × C, limited resistance (Polycarbonate, Acetal (POM))C 2Thermoplastics: 1 × D, not resistant (Nylon (PA))Thermoplastics: 5 × no data (PMP, Polystyrene, SAN, PETG, Polysulfone)– 5Fluoropolymers (4)Fluoropolymers: 4 × A, very good resistance (PTFE, FEP, PVDF, ECTFE/ETFE)A 4Elastomers (4)Elastomers: 1 × A, very good resistance (Viton (FPM))A 1Elastomers: 2 × D, not resistant (EPDM, NBR)D 2Elastomers: 1 × no data (Silicone)– 1Metals (3)Metals: 3 × A, very good resistance (SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium)A 3
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistantno data
Number of materials in each family with each rating at 20 °C.

Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °C

Maleic Acid: Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °CPVC Rigid A → C.ABCDPVC Rigid: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CPVC Rigid
20 °C50 °C
Materials whose rating differs between 20 °C and 50 °C. Materials not shown keep their rating or have no 50 °C value.

Substance

CAS number
110-16-7
Formula
C4H4O4
Hazard symbols in the source
Xn (harmful) (pre-GHS European symbols; check the current safety data sheet)
Concentrations listed
aqueous; saturated
Also listed as
Butenedioic Acid, cis-
Name in the source (German)
Maleinsäure

Rating by concentration

Maleic Acid: Rating by concentrationHDPE: aqueous A, saturated A. LDPE: aqueous A, saturated A. PP: aqueous A, saturated A. PVC Rigid: aqueous –, saturated A→C. PVC Flexible: aqueous –, saturated A. Polycarbonate: aqueous C*, saturated C*. Acetal (POM): aqueous C*, saturated C*. Nylon (PA): aqueous D, saturated D. PTFE: aqueous A, saturated A. FEP: aqueous A, saturated A. PVDF: aqueous A, saturated A. ECTFE/ETFE: aqueous A, saturated A. EPDM: aqueous D, saturated D. Viton (FPM): aqueous A, saturated A. NBR: aqueous A, saturated D. SS 316: aqueous A, saturated A. SS 304: aqueous A, saturated A. Aluminium: aqueous A, saturated A.aqueoussaturatedTHERMOPLASTICSHDPEHDPE, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAHDPE, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CALDPELDPE, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CALDPE, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPPPP, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPP, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVC RigidPVC Rigid, aqueous: no data–PVC Rigid, saturated: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CPVC FlexiblePVC Flexible, aqueous: no data–PVC Flexible, saturated: A at 20 °CAPolycarbonatePolycarbonate, aqueous: C at 20 °C (estimate)C*Polycarbonate, saturated: C at 20 °C (estimate)C*Acetal (POM)Acetal (POM), aqueous: C at 20 °C (estimate)C*Acetal (POM), saturated: C at 20 °C (estimate)C*Nylon (PA)Nylon (PA), aqueous: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDNylon (PA), saturated: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDFLUOROPOLYMERSPTFEPTFE, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPTFE, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEPFEP, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEP, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDFPVDF, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDF, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAECTFE/ETFEECTFE/ETFE, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAECTFE/ETFE, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAELASTOMERSEPDMEPDM, aqueous: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDEPDM, saturated: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDViton (FPM)Viton (FPM), aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAViton (FPM), saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CANBRNBR, aqueous: A at 20 °CANBR, saturated: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDMETALSSS 316SS 316, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 316, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 304SS 304, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 304, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAAluminiumAluminium, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAAluminium, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CA
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistantno data
Each cell shows the rating at 20 °C. Where the rating at 50 °C differs, it follows the arrow. * marks an estimate in the source.
Show as a table
Materialaqueoussaturated
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC Rigid–A
PVC Flexible–A
PMP––
Polystyrene––
SAN––
PolycarbonateC*C*
PETG––
Acetal (POM)C*C*
Nylon (PA)DD
Polysulfone––
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMDD
Viton (FPM)AA
NBRAD
Silicone––
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumAA

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Resistance table: Maleic Acid, aqueous

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PolycarbonateC*–
Acetal (POM)C*–
Nylon (PA)DD
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMDD
Viton (FPM)AA
NBRA–
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumAA

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: PVC Rigid, PVC Flexible, PMP, Polystyrene, SAN, PETG, Polysulfone, Silicone

Resistance table: Maleic Acid, saturated

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC RigidAC
PVC FlexibleA–
PolycarbonateC*–
Acetal (POM)C*–
Nylon (PA)DD
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMDD
Viton (FPM)AA
NBRDD
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumAA

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: PMP, Polystyrene, SAN, PETG, Polysulfone, Silicone

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which materials resist Maleic Acid at high concentrations?

The materials with an A rating (resistant) for Maleic Acid at 20 °C are: PTFE, HDPE, PP, PVDF, PVC Rigid, Viton (FPM), SS 316, SS 304. These can generally be used in direct contact.

Which materials should be avoided with Maleic Acid?

Materials rated D (not resistant) for Maleic Acid are: EPDM, NBR, Nylon (PA). These should not be used in contact with Maleic Acid.

Does temperature affect chemical resistance to Maleic Acid?

Yes. 1 of 15 tested materials show a worse rating at 50 °C than at 20 °C for Maleic Acid. Materials affected include: PVC Rigid.

Is PTFE safe for Maleic Acid?

PTFE is rated A for Maleic Acid at 20 °C. A rating of A means resistant, B means limited resistance, C means partly resistant, and D means not resistant.

Does concentration affect chemical resistance to Maleic Acid?

Yes. Maleic Acid is tested at 2 concentrations (aqueous, saturated). Some materials change their rating depending on the concentration.

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.

Chemicals with a similar resistance profile

Same 20 °C rating on the share of materials shown.