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PETG and Mercury(II) Chloride: Chemical Resistance

Polyethylene terephthalate glycol (co-polyester)

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
aqueousB*–

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Material comparison at 20 °C

Mercury(II) Chloride: Material comparison at 20 °CPETG: B (highlighted); ECTFE/ETFE: A; EPDM: A; FEP: A; Viton (FPM): A; HDPE: A.ECTFE/ETFE: AEPDM: AFEP: AViton (FPM): AHDPE: ALDPE: ANBR: APolycarbonate: APMP: APP: APolystyrene: APolysulfone: APTFE: APVC Rigid: APVC Flexible: APVDF: ASAN: APETG: BPETGAcetal (POM): CAluminium: DNylon (PA): DSS 304: DSS 316: DSilicone: –
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

PETG shows good but limited resistance (B) to Mercury(II) Chloride at aqueous at 20 °C. The material can be used in contact with this chemical, but minor effects such as slight swelling or a small reduction in mechanical properties may occur over extended exposure periods. Regular inspection of components in service is advisable. 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

Mercury(II) Chloride is commonly encountered in pulp and paper and bleaching. PETG (Polyethylene terephthalate glycol (co-polyester)) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. Because Mercury(II) Chloride is classified as corrosive, the choice of containment material is especially critical to prevent leaks, equipment damage, and safety hazards.

Practical recommendation

PETG is suitable for use with Mercury(II) Chloride under normal conditions, but some minor effects on the material are expected over time. Periodic monitoring for swelling, softening, or weight change is recommended, especially for long-service components. For safety-critical or long-life applications, consider HDPE, LDPE, Polycarbonate instead, which are rated A for this chemical.

Did you know?

Temperature is often the deciding factor when selecting materials for Mercury(II) Chloride: even materials rated A at 20 °C may lose performance at elevated temperatures.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Based on the row for aqueous, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP A, PVC Rigid A, LDPE A, Polycarbonate A, PVC Flexible A, Polystyrene A, Polysulfone A, PMP A, SAN A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A
Elastomers
EPDM A, Viton (FPM) A, NBR A

About PETG

PETG is a co-polyester for clear containers. Strong acids and alkalis and most organic solvents attack it.

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.