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PVC Rigid and Phosgene: Chemical Resistance

Rigid (unplasticised) polyvinyl chloride

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
liquid––
gaseousDD

Material comparison at 20 °C

Phosgene: Material comparison at 20 °CPVC Rigid: D (highlighted); FEP: A; Nylon (PA): A; PTFE: A; Acetal (POM): B; Aluminium: C.FEP: ANylon (PA): APTFE: AAcetal (POM): BAluminium: CEPDM: CViton (FPM): CLDPE: CNBR: CPolycarbonate: CPP: CPVDF: CSS 304: CSS 316: CPVC Rigid: DPVC-UECTFE/ETFE: –HDPE: –PETG: –PMP: –Polystyrene: –Polysulfone: –PVC Flexible: –SAN: –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 Rigid is not resistant (D) to Phosgene at gaseous 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

Phosgene is commonly encountered in surface cleaning and metal finishing. PVC Rigid (Rigid (unplasticised) polyvinyl chloride) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. Because Phosgene is classified as corrosive, the choice of containment material is especially critical to prevent leaks, equipment damage, and safety hazards.

Practical recommendation

PVC Rigid is not recommended for use with Phosgene. 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 Nylon (PA), FEP, PTFE 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 Phosgene 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 gaseous, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) B
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, FEP 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.