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PVDF and Sodium Sulfide: Chemical Resistance

Polyvinylidene fluoride

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
aqueousAA
saturatedCC

Material comparison at 20 °C

Sodium Sulfide: Material comparison at 20 °CPVDF: C (highlighted); EPDM: A; FEP: A; Viton (FPM): A; HDPE: A; LDPE: A.EPDM: AFEP: AViton (FPM): AHDPE: ALDPE: ANylon (PA): APETG: APMP: AAcetal (POM): APP: APolystyrene: APolysulfone: APTFE: APVC Rigid: APVC Flexible: ASAN: ASS 304: ASS 316: ANBR: BAluminium: CPolycarbonate: CPVDF: CPVDFECTFE/ETFE: –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

The resistance of PVDF to Sodium Sulfide is concentration-dependent. Across the 2 tested concentrations (aqueous, saturated), the 20 °C rating ranges from A at lower concentrations to C at higher ones. This means engineers must verify which concentration their process actually involves before relying on a single rating. The rating remains stable between 20 °C and 50 °C, which means this material can also handle moderately elevated process temperatures without additional risk.

Application context

Sodium Sulfide is commonly encountered in laboratory work and surface cleaning. PVDF (Polyvinylidene fluoride) is a fluoropolymer typically used for seals, gaskets, valve seats and lined equipment. Because Sodium Sulfide is classified as corrosive, the choice of containment material is especially critical to prevent leaks, equipment damage, and safety hazards.

Practical recommendation

PVDF has limited resistance to Sodium Sulfide and should only be used for short-term or intermittent contact at ambient temperature. The C rating means the material undergoes noticeable changes — swelling, loss of strength, or surface degradation — that make it unsuitable for permanent installations. For prolonged or continuous exposure, HDPE, LDPE, Nylon (PA) offer significantly better resistance and are rated A.

Did you know?

Polyvinylidene fluoride is commonly chosen for seals, gaskets, valve seats and lined equipment because of its combination of chemical resistance, mechanical strength, and cost-effectiveness.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Based on the row for saturated, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP A, PVC Rigid A, LDPE A, Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) A, PVC Flexible A, Polystyrene A, Polysulfone A, PETG A, PMP A, SAN A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, FEP A
Elastomers
EPDM A, Viton (FPM) A, NBR B
Metals
SS 316 A, SS 304 A

About PVDF

PVDF resists acids, halogens and hydrocarbons. Strong bases, amines, ketones and esters attack it. Service temperature is up to about 150 °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.