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PVC Rigid and Phenol: Chemical Resistance

Rigid (unplasticised) polyvinyl chloride

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
10 %AC
100 %DD

Material comparison at 20 °C

Phenol: Material comparison at 20 °CPVC Rigid: D (highlighted); Aluminium: A; ECTFE/ETFE: A; FEP: A; PMP: A; PP: A.Aluminium: AECTFE/ETFE: AFEP: APMP: APP: APTFE: APVDF: ASS 304: ASS 316: AHDPE: BViton (FPM): CLDPE: CPolysulfone: CPVC Flexible: CEPDM: DNBR: DNylon (PA): DPolycarbonate: DPETG: DAcetal (POM): DPolystyrene: DPVC Rigid: DPVC-USAN: 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

The resistance of PVC Rigid to Phenol is concentration-dependent. Across the 2 tested concentrations (10 %, 100 %), the 20 °C rating ranges from A at lower concentrations to D at higher ones. This means engineers must verify which concentration their process actually involves before relying on a single rating. However, at 50 °C the resistance rating drops, indicating that temperature must be factored into the design. For heated applications, additional testing under actual service conditions is strongly recommended.

Application context

Phenol is commonly encountered in chemical synthesis and cleaning. PVC Rigid (Rigid (unplasticised) polyvinyl chloride) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. The compatibility between these two is therefore an important consideration for engineers and procurement teams selecting containment, transfer, or processing equipment.

Practical recommendation

PVC Rigid is not recommended for use with Phenol. 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 PMP, PP, ECTFE/ETFE instead, which are rated A for this chemical and offer reliable long-term performance.

Did you know?

In industrial practice, PVC Rigid components exposed to Phenol 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 100 %, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
HDPE B, PP A, PMP A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A
Metals
SS 316 A, SS 304 A, Aluminium A

About PVC Rigid

Rigid PVC resists acids, alkalis and salt solutions well. Ketones, esters, aromatic and chlorinated solvents dissolve or swell it. Service temperature is limited to about 60 °C.

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.