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

Based on the row for saturated, 20 °C.

Rating profile by material family

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

Potassium Carbonate: Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °CPVDF A → C.ABCDPVDF: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CPVDF
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
584-08-7
Formula
K2CO3
Hazard symbols in the source
Xn (harmful) (pre-GHS European symbols; check the current safety data sheet)
Concentrations listed
aqueous; saturated
Also listed as
Potash (Potassium Carbonate)
Name in the source (German)
Kaliumcarbonat

Rating by concentration

Potassium Carbonate: Rating by concentrationHDPE: aqueous A, saturated A. LDPE: aqueous A, saturated A. PP: aqueous A, saturated A. PVC Rigid: aqueous –, saturated A. PVC Flexible: aqueous –, saturated A. PMP: aqueous –, saturated A. Polystyrene: aqueous –, saturated A. SAN: aqueous –, saturated A. Polycarbonate: aqueous B*, saturated C. PETG: aqueous B*, saturated B*. Acetal (POM): aqueous A, saturated A. Nylon (PA): aqueous A, saturated A. PTFE: aqueous A, saturated A. FEP: aqueous A, saturated A. PVDF: aqueous A, saturated A→C. EPDM: aqueous A, saturated A. Viton (FPM): aqueous A, saturated A. NBR: aqueous A, saturated A. SS 316: aqueous A, saturated A. SS 304: aqueous A, saturated A. Aluminium: aqueous D, saturated D.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, A at 50 °CAPVC FlexiblePVC Flexible, aqueous: no data–PVC Flexible, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPMPPMP, aqueous: no data–PMP, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPolystyrenePolystyrene, aqueous: no data–Polystyrene, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASANSAN, aqueous: no data–SAN, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPolycarbonatePolycarbonate, aqueous: B at 20 °C (estimate)B*Polycarbonate, saturated: C at 20 °C, C at 50 °CCPETGPETG, aqueous: B at 20 °C (estimate)B*PETG, saturated: B at 20 °C (estimate)B*Acetal (POM)Acetal (POM), aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAAcetal (POM), saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CANylon (PA)Nylon (PA), aqueous: A at 20 °CANylon (PA), saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFLUOROPOLYMERSPTFEPTFE, 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, C at 50 °CA→CELASTOMERSEPDMEPDM, aqueous: A at 20 °CAEPDM, saturated: A at 20 °CAViton (FPM)Viton (FPM), aqueous: A at 20 °CAViton (FPM), saturated: A at 20 °CANBRNBR, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CANBR, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAMETALSSS 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: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDAluminium, saturated: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CD
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–A
Polystyrene–A
SAN–A
PolycarbonateB*C
PETGB*B*
Acetal (POM)AA
Nylon (PA)AA
Polysulfone––
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFE––
Elastomers
EPDMAA
Viton (FPM)AA
NBRAA
Silicone––
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumDD

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Resistance table: Potassium Carbonate, aqueous

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PolycarbonateB*–
PETGB*–
Acetal (POM)AA
Nylon (PA)A–
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
Elastomers
EPDMA–
Viton (FPM)A–
NBRAA
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumDD

* 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, ECTFE/ETFE, Silicone

Resistance table: Potassium Carbonate, saturated

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC RigidAA
PVC FlexibleAA
PMPAA
PolystyreneAA
SANAA
PolycarbonateCC
PETGB*–
Acetal (POM)AA
Nylon (PA)AA
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAC
Elastomers
EPDMA–
Viton (FPM)A–
NBRAA
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumDD

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: Polysulfone, ECTFE/ETFE, 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 Potassium Carbonate at high concentrations?

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

Which materials should be avoided with Potassium Carbonate?

Materials rated D (not resistant) for Potassium Carbonate are: Aluminium. These should not be used in contact with Potassium Carbonate.

Does temperature affect chemical resistance to Potassium Carbonate?

Yes. 1 of 18 tested materials show a worse rating at 50 °C than at 20 °C for Potassium Carbonate. Materials affected include: PVDF.

Is PTFE safe for Potassium Carbonate?

PTFE is rated A for Potassium Carbonate 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 Potassium Carbonate?

Yes. Potassium Carbonate 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.