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PVC Rigid and Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach): Chemical Resistance

Rigid (unplasticised) polyvinyl chloride

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
12,5 % ClAC
15 %AA
diluteAC
saturatedAC

Material comparison at 20 °C

Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach): Material comparison at 20 °CPVC Rigid: A (highlighted); ECTFE/ETFE: A; FEP: A; Viton (FPM): A; PMP: A; Polystyrene: A.ECTFE/ETFE: AFEP: AViton (FPM): APMP: APolystyrene: APolysulfone: APTFE: APVC Rigid: APVC-USAN: AHDPE: BLDPE: BPolycarbonate: BPP: BSS 316: BEPDM: CPETG: CPVDF: CSS 304: CAluminium: DNBR: DNylon (PA): DAcetal (POM): DPVC Flexible: –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 shows excellent resistance to Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach) across all 4 tested concentrations (12,5 % Cl, 15 %, dilute, saturated) at 20 °C, making it a reliable choice for storage, transfer, and handling applications involving this chemical at any of the tested strengths. 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 Hypochlorite (Bleach) is commonly encountered in chemical processing and pulp and paper. PVC Rigid (Rigid (unplasticised) polyvinyl chloride) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. Because Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach) is classified as corrosive, the choice of containment material is especially critical to prevent leaks, equipment damage, and safety hazards.

Practical recommendation

PVC Rigid can be used with confidence for Sodium Hypochlorite (Bleach) containment and handling. The A rating indicates that the material shows no significant change in weight, dimensions, or mechanical properties after prolonged contact under test conditions. At elevated temperatures (50 °C), some reduction in resistance occurs, so periodic inspection is advisable for heated applications. Always verify performance under actual operating conditions before committing to a design.

Did you know?

Rigid (unplasticised) polyvinyl chloride was first developed in the 1920s and remains one of the most widely used thermoplastics in chemical handling equipment.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Based on the row for 15 %, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
HDPE B, PP B, LDPE B, Polycarbonate B, Polystyrene A, Polysulfone A, PMP A, SAN A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A
Elastomers
Viton (FPM) A
Metals
SS 316 B

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.