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Tartaric Acid 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 concentration not stated, 20 °C.

Rated A, very good resistance
PTFE, HDPE, PP, PVDF, PVC Rigid, Viton (FPM), NBR, SS 316, SS 304, LDPE, FEP, ECTFE/ETFE, Polycarbonate, PVC Flexible, Polysulfone, PMP, SAN (17)
Rated B, good resistance
Polystyrene (1)
Rated C, limited resistance
EPDM, Acetal (POM) (2)
Rated D, not resistant
Aluminium, Nylon (PA) (2)
No data in the source
Silicone, PETG
Rated lower at 50 °C than at 20 °C
PVC Rigid (A → B), SS 316 (A → B), SS 304 (A → C), Polycarbonate (A → B), PVC Flexible (A → C)
Rating changes with concentration (20 °C)
Nylon (PA): C (aqueous), D (concentration not stated)

Based on the row for concentration not stated, 20 °C.

Rating profile by material family

Tartaric Acid: Rating profile by material familyThermoplastics: 9 A, 1 B, 1 C, 1 D, 1 no data. Fluoropolymers: 4 A. Elastomers: 2 A, 1 C, 1 no data. Metals: 2 A, 1 D.Thermoplastics (13)Thermoplastics: 9 × A, very good resistance (HDPE, LDPE, PP, PVC Rigid, PVC Flexible, PMP, SAN, Polycarbonate, Polysulfone)A 9Thermoplastics: 1 × B, good resistance (Polystyrene)Thermoplastics: 1 × C, limited resistance (Acetal (POM))Thermoplastics: 1 × D, not resistant (Nylon (PA))Thermoplastics: 1 × no data (PETG)Fluoropolymers (4)Fluoropolymers: 4 × A, very good resistance (PTFE, FEP, PVDF, ECTFE/ETFE)A 4Elastomers (4)Elastomers: 2 × A, very good resistance (Viton (FPM), NBR)A 2Elastomers: 1 × C, limited resistance (EPDM)C 1Elastomers: 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

Tartaric Acid: Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °CPVC Rigid A → B; PVC Flexible A → C; Polycarbonate A → B; SS 316 A → B; SS 304 A → C.ABCDPVC Rigid: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CPVC RigidPVC Flexible: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CPVC FlexiblePolycarbonate: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CPolycarbonateSS 316: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CSS 316SS 304: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CSS 304
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
87-69-4
Formula
C4H6O6
Hazard symbols in the source
Xi (irritant) (pre-GHS European symbols; check the current safety data sheet)
Concentrations listed
aqueous; concentration not stated
Also listed as
Dihydroxysuccinic acid
Name in the source (German)
Weinsäure

Rating by concentration

Tartaric Acid: Rating by concentrationHDPE: aqueous A, concentration not stated A. LDPE: aqueous A, concentration not stated A. PP: aqueous A, concentration not stated A. PVC Rigid: aqueous –, concentration not stated A→B. PVC Flexible: aqueous –, concentration not stated A→C. PMP: aqueous –, concentration not stated A. Polystyrene: aqueous –, concentration not stated B. SAN: aqueous –, concentration not stated A. Polycarbonate: aqueous A→B, concentration not stated A→B. Acetal (POM): aqueous C*, concentration not stated C*. Nylon (PA): aqueous C, concentration not stated D. Polysulfone: aqueous A, concentration not stated A. PTFE: aqueous A, concentration not stated A. FEP: aqueous A, concentration not stated A. PVDF: aqueous A, concentration not stated A. ECTFE/ETFE: aqueous –, concentration not stated A. EPDM: aqueous C, concentration not stated C. Viton (FPM): aqueous A, concentration not stated A. NBR: aqueous A, concentration not stated A. SS 316: aqueous A→B, concentration not stated A→B. SS 304: aqueous A→C, concentration not stated A→C. Aluminium: aqueous D*, concentration not stated D*.aqueousconcentrationnot statedTHERMOPLASTICSHDPEHDPE, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAHDPE, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CALDPELDPE, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CALDPE, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPPPP, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPP, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVC RigidPVC Rigid, aqueous: no data–PVC Rigid, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPVC FlexiblePVC Flexible, aqueous: no data–PVC Flexible, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CPMPPMP, aqueous: no data–PMP, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPolystyrenePolystyrene, aqueous: no data–Polystyrene, concentration not stated: B at 20 °C, B at 50 °CBSANSAN, aqueous: no data–SAN, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPolycarbonatePolycarbonate, aqueous: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPolycarbonate, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BAcetal (POM)Acetal (POM), aqueous: C at 20 °C (estimate)C*Acetal (POM), concentration not stated: C at 20 °C (estimate)C*Nylon (PA)Nylon (PA), aqueous: C at 20 °C, C at 50 °CCNylon (PA), concentration not stated: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolysulfonePolysulfone, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPolysulfone, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFLUOROPOLYMERSPTFEPTFE, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPTFE, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEPFEP, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEP, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDFPVDF, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDF, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAECTFE/ETFEECTFE/ETFE, aqueous: no data–ECTFE/ETFE, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAELASTOMERSEPDMEPDM, aqueous: C at 20 °CCEPDM, concentration not stated: C at 20 °CCViton (FPM)Viton (FPM), aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAViton (FPM), concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CANBRNBR, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CANBR, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAMETALSSS 316SS 316, aqueous: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BSS 316, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BSS 304SS 304, aqueous: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CSS 304, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CAluminiumAluminium, aqueous: D at 20 °C (estimate)D*Aluminium, concentration not stated: D at 20 °C (estimate)D*
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
Materialaqueousconcentration not stated
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC Rigid–A
PVC Flexible–A
PMP–A
Polystyrene–B
SAN–A
PolycarbonateAA
PETG––
Acetal (POM)C*C*
Nylon (PA)CD
PolysulfoneAA
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFE–A
Elastomers
EPDMCC
Viton (FPM)AA
NBRAA
Silicone––
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumD*D*

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Resistance table: Tartaric Acid, aqueous

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PolycarbonateAB
Acetal (POM)C*–
Nylon (PA)CC
PolysulfoneAA
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
Elastomers
EPDMC–
Viton (FPM)AA
NBRAA
Metals
SS 316AB
SS 304AC
AluminiumD*–

* 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, PETG, ECTFE/ETFE, Silicone

Resistance table: Tartaric Acid, concentration not stated

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC RigidAB
PVC FlexibleAC
PMPAA
PolystyreneBB
SANAA
PolycarbonateAB
Acetal (POM)C*–
Nylon (PA)DD
PolysulfoneAA
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMC–
Viton (FPM)AA
NBRAA
Metals
SS 316AB
SS 304AC
AluminiumD*–

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: PETG, 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 Tartaric Acid at high concentrations?

The materials with an A rating (resistant) for Tartaric Acid at 20 °C are: PTFE, HDPE, PP, PVDF, PVC Rigid, Viton (FPM), NBR, SS 316. These can generally be used in direct contact.

Which materials should be avoided with Tartaric Acid?

Materials rated D (not resistant) for Tartaric Acid are: Aluminium, Nylon (PA). These should not be used in contact with Tartaric Acid.

Does temperature affect chemical resistance to Tartaric Acid?

Yes. 5 of 19 tested materials show a worse rating at 50 °C than at 20 °C for Tartaric Acid. Materials affected include: PVC Rigid, SS 316, SS 304, Polycarbonate, PVC Flexible.

Is PTFE safe for Tartaric Acid?

PTFE is rated A for Tartaric Acid 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 Tartaric Acid?

Yes. Tartaric Acid is tested at 2 concentrations (aqueous, concentration not stated). 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.