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PVC Rigid and Sodium Acetate: Chemical Resistance

Rigid (unplasticised) polyvinyl chloride

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
any concentrationBC

Material comparison at 20 °C

Sodium Acetate: Material comparison at 20 °CPVC Rigid: B (highlighted); Aluminium: A; ECTFE/ETFE: A; EPDM: A; FEP: A; HDPE: A.Aluminium: AECTFE/ETFE: AEPDM: AFEP: AHDPE: ALDPE: ANylon (PA): APolycarbonate: APETG: APMP: AAcetal (POM): APP: APolysulfone: APTFE: APVDF: ASAN: ASS 304: ASS 316: APolystyrene: BPVC Rigid: BPVC-UViton (FPM): CNBR: CPVC Flexible: CSilicone: –
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 shows good but limited resistance (B) to Sodium Acetate at any concentration 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. 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

Sodium Acetate is commonly encountered in food processing and water treatment. 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 suitable for use with Sodium Acetate 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. Avoid prolonged exposure at elevated temperatures, as the resistance decreases further at 50 °C. For safety-critical or long-life applications, consider HDPE, LDPE, Nylon (PA) instead, which are rated A for this chemical.

Did you know?

In industrial practice, PVC Rigid components exposed to Sodium Acetate 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 any concentration, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP A, LDPE A, Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) A, Polycarbonate A, Polystyrene B, Polysulfone A, PETG A, PMP A, SAN A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A
Elastomers
EPDM 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.