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Oxalic 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 concentration not stated, 20 °C.

Rated A, very good resistance
PTFE, HDPE, PP, PVDF, PVC Rigid, EPDM, Viton (FPM), SS 316, Aluminium, LDPE, FEP, ECTFE/ETFE, Polycarbonate, PVC Flexible, Polystyrene, Polysulfone, PMP, SAN (18)
Rated B, good resistance
SS 304 (1)
Rated C, limited resistance
NBR, Nylon (PA) (2)
Rated D, not resistant
Acetal (POM) (1)
No data in the source
Silicone, PETG
Rated lower at 50 °C than at 20 °C
PVDF (A → C), SS 316 (A → C), SS 304 (B → C), Nylon (PA) (C → D)
Rating changes with concentration (20 °C)
PVDF: A (concentration not stated), B (aqueous); Nylon (PA): C (concentration not stated), D (aqueous); Polycarbonate: A (concentration not stated), B (aqueous)

Based on the row for concentration not stated, 20 °C.

Rating profile by material family

Oxalic Acid: Rating profile by material familyThermoplastics: 10 A, 1 C, 1 D, 1 no data. Fluoropolymers: 4 A. Elastomers: 2 A, 1 C, 1 no data. Metals: 2 A, 1 B.Thermoplastics (13)Thermoplastics: 10 × A, very good resistance (HDPE, LDPE, PP, PVC Rigid, PVC Flexible, PMP, Polystyrene, SAN, Polycarbonate, Polysulfone)A 10Thermoplastics: 1 × C, limited resistance (Nylon (PA))Thermoplastics: 1 × D, not resistant (Acetal (POM))Thermoplastics: 1 × no data (PETG)Fluoropolymers (4)Fluoropolymers: 4 × A, very good resistance (PTFE, FEP, PVDF, ECTFE/ETFE)A 4Elastomers (4)Elastomers: 2 × A, very good resistance (EPDM, Viton (FPM))A 2Elastomers: 1 × C, limited resistance (NBR)C 1Elastomers: 1 × no data (Silicone)– 1Metals (3)Metals: 2 × A, very good resistance (SS 316, Aluminium)A 2Metals: 1 × B, good resistance (SS 304)B 1
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

Oxalic Acid: Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °CNylon (PA) C → D; PVDF A → C; SS 316 A → C; SS 304 B → C.ABCDNylon (PA): C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CNylon (PA)PVDF: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CPVDFSS 316: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CSS 316SS 304: B at 20 °C, C at 50 °CSS 304
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
144-62-7
Formula
C2H2O4 x 2H2O
Hazard symbols in the source
Xn (harmful) (pre-GHS European symbols; check the current safety data sheet)
Concentrations listed
aqueous; concentration not stated
Also listed as
Ethanedioic acid
Name in the source (German)
Oxalsäure

Rating by concentration

Oxalic Acid: Rating by concentrationHDPE: aqueous A, concentration not stated A. LDPE: aqueous A, concentration not stated A. PP: aqueous A, concentration not stated A. PVC Rigid: aqueous –, concentration not stated A. PVC Flexible: aqueous –, concentration not stated A. PMP: aqueous –, concentration not stated A. Polystyrene: aqueous –, concentration not stated A. SAN: aqueous –, concentration not stated A. Polycarbonate: aqueous B*, concentration not stated A. PETG: aqueous B*, concentration not stated –. Acetal (POM): aqueous D, concentration not stated D. Nylon (PA): aqueous D, concentration not stated C→D. Polysulfone: aqueous –, concentration not stated A. PTFE: aqueous A, concentration not stated A. FEP: aqueous A, concentration not stated A. PVDF: aqueous B*, concentration not stated A→C. ECTFE/ETFE: aqueous A, concentration not stated A. EPDM: aqueous A, concentration not stated A. Viton (FPM): aqueous A, concentration not stated A. NBR: aqueous C, concentration not stated C. SS 316: aqueous A→C, concentration not stated A→C. SS 304: aqueous B→C, concentration not stated B→C. Aluminium: aqueous A, concentration not stated A.aqueousconcentrationnot statedTHERMOPLASTICSHDPEHDPE, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAHDPE, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CALDPELDPE, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CALDPE, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPPPP, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPP, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVC RigidPVC Rigid, aqueous: no data–PVC Rigid, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVC FlexiblePVC Flexible, aqueous: no data–PVC Flexible, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPMPPMP, aqueous: no data–PMP, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPolystyrenePolystyrene, aqueous: no data–Polystyrene, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASANSAN, aqueous: no data–SAN, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPolycarbonatePolycarbonate, aqueous: B at 20 °C (estimate)B*Polycarbonate, concentration not stated: A at 20 °CAPETGPETG, aqueous: B at 20 °C (estimate)B*PETG, concentration not stated: no data–Acetal (POM)Acetal (POM), aqueous: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDAcetal (POM), concentration not stated: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDNylon (PA)Nylon (PA), aqueous: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDNylon (PA), concentration not stated: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CC→DPolysulfonePolysulfone, aqueous: no data–Polysulfone, concentration not stated: A at 20 °CAFLUOROPOLYMERSPTFEPTFE, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPTFE, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEPFEP, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEP, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDFPVDF, aqueous: B at 20 °C (estimate)B*PVDF, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CECTFE/ETFEECTFE/ETFE, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAECTFE/ETFE, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAELASTOMERSEPDMEPDM, aqueous: A at 20 °CAEPDM, concentration not stated: A at 20 °CAViton (FPM)Viton (FPM), aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAViton (FPM), concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CANBRNBR, aqueous: C at 20 °C, C at 50 °CCNBR, concentration not stated: C at 20 °C, C at 50 °CCMETALSSS 316SS 316, aqueous: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CSS 316, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CSS 304SS 304, aqueous: B at 20 °C, C at 50 °CB→CSS 304, concentration not stated: B at 20 °C, C at 50 °CB→CAluminiumAluminium, aqueous: A at 20 °CAAluminium, concentration not stated: A at 20 °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
Materialaqueousconcentration not stated
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC Rigid–A
PVC Flexible–A
PMP–A
Polystyrene–A
SAN–A
PolycarbonateB*A
PETGB*–
Acetal (POM)DD
Nylon (PA)DC
Polysulfone–A
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFB*A
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMAA
Viton (FPM)AA
NBRCC
Silicone––
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304BB
AluminiumAA

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Resistance table: Oxalic Acid, aqueous

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PolycarbonateB*–
PETGB*–
Acetal (POM)DD
Nylon (PA)DD
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFB*–
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMA–
Viton (FPM)AA
NBRCC
Metals
SS 316AC
SS 304BC
AluminiumA–

* 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, Polysulfone, Silicone

Resistance table: Oxalic Acid, concentration not stated

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC RigidAA
PVC FlexibleAA
PMPAA
PolystyreneAA
SANAA
PolycarbonateA–
Acetal (POM)DD
Nylon (PA)CD
PolysulfoneA–
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAC
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMA–
Viton (FPM)AA
NBRCC
Metals
SS 316AC
SS 304BC
AluminiumA–

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: PETG, 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 Oxalic Acid at high concentrations?

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

Which materials should be avoided with Oxalic Acid?

Materials rated D (not resistant) for Oxalic Acid are: Acetal (POM). These should not be used in contact with Oxalic Acid.

Does temperature affect chemical resistance to Oxalic Acid?

Yes. 4 of 18 tested materials show a worse rating at 50 °C than at 20 °C for Oxalic Acid. Materials affected include: PVDF, SS 316, SS 304, Nylon (PA).

Is PTFE safe for Oxalic Acid?

PTFE is rated A for Oxalic 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 Oxalic Acid?

Yes. Oxalic Acid is tested at 2 concentrations (aqueous, concentration not stated). 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.