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Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA) Chemical Resistance

Resistance ratings for 24 plastics, elastomers and metals at 20 °C and 50 °C.

At a glance

Ratings at 20 °C.

Rated A, very good resistance
PTFE, HDPE, PP, PVDF, Aluminium, FEP (6)
Rated B, good resistance
SS 316 (1)
Rated C, limited resistance
EPDM, SS 304, LDPE (3)
Rated D, not resistant
PVC Rigid, Viton (FPM), NBR, Nylon (PA), Acetal (POM), Polycarbonate, PVC Flexible, Polystyrene, PETG (9)
No data in the source
ECTFE/ETFE, Silicone, Polysulfone, PMP, SAN
Rated lower at 50 °C than at 20 °C
HDPE (A → D), PVDF (A → D), Aluminium (A → C), LDPE (C → D)

Rating profile by material family

Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA): Rating profile by material familyThermoplastics: 2 A, 1 C, 7 D, 3 no data. Fluoropolymers: 3 A, 1 no data. Elastomers: 1 C, 2 D, 1 no data. Metals: 1 A, 1 B, 1 C.Thermoplastics (13)Thermoplastics: 2 × A, very good resistance (HDPE, PP)A 2Thermoplastics: 1 × C, limited resistance (LDPE)Thermoplastics: 7 × D, not resistant (PVC Rigid, PVC Flexible, Polystyrene, Polycarbonate, PETG, Acetal (POM), Nylon (PA))D 7Thermoplastics: 3 × no data (PMP, SAN, Polysulfone)– 3Fluoropolymers (4)Fluoropolymers: 3 × A, very good resistance (PTFE, FEP, PVDF)A 3Fluoropolymers: 1 × no data (ECTFE/ETFE)– 1Elastomers (4)Elastomers: 1 × C, limited resistance (EPDM)C 1Elastomers: 2 × D, not resistant (Viton (FPM), NBR)D 2Elastomers: 1 × no data (Silicone)– 1Metals (3)Metals: 1 × A, very good resistance (Aluminium)A 1Metals: 1 × B, good resistance (SS 316)B 1Metals: 1 × C, limited resistance (SS 304)C 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

Trichloroacetic Acid (TCA): Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °CHDPE A → D; LDPE C → D; PVDF A → D; Aluminium A → C.ABCDHDPE: A at 20 °C, D at 50 °CHDPELDPE: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CLDPEPVDF: A at 20 °C, D at 50 °CPVDFAluminium: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CAluminium
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
76-03-9
Formula
C2HCl3O2
Hazard symbols in the source
C (corrosive) (pre-GHS European symbols; check the current safety data sheet)
Name in the source (German)
Trichloressigsäure (TCA)

Resistance table

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAD
LDPECD
PPAA
PVC RigidDD
PVC FlexibleDD
PolystyreneDD
PolycarbonateDD
PETGDD
Acetal (POM)DD
Nylon (PA)DD
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPA–
PVDFAD
Elastomers
EPDMC–
Viton (FPM)DD
NBRDD
Metals
SS 316B–
SS 304C–
AluminiumAC

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: PMP, SAN, 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.

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.

Benzaldehyde 79 %Acetic Acid 74 %Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) 74 %Ethyl Acetate 74 %Hydrogen Fluoride 69 %Cyclohexanone 68 %