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Acetal (POM) and Trichloroethane: Chemical Resistance

Polyoxymethylene (acetal)

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
concentration not statedB*–

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Material comparison at 20 °C

Trichloroethane: Material comparison at 20 °CAcetal (POM): B (highlighted); ECTFE/ETFE: A; FEP: A; Viton (FPM): A; PTFE: A; PVDF: A.ECTFE/ETFE: AFEP: AViton (FPM): APTFE: APVDF: AAcetal (POM): BPOMHDPE: CNylon (PA): CAluminium: DEPDM: DLDPE: DNBR: DPolycarbonate: DPETG: DPMP: DPP: DPolystyrene: DPolysulfone: DPVC Rigid: DPVC Flexible: DSAN: DSilicone: –SS 304: –SS 316: –
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

Acetal (POM) shows good but limited resistance (B) to Trichloroethane 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. 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

Trichloroethane is commonly encountered in pulp and paper and chemical processing. Acetal (POM) (Polyoxymethylene (acetal)) 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

Acetal (POM) is suitable for use with Trichloroethane 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. For safety-critical or long-life applications, consider ECTFE/ETFE, FEP, PTFE instead, which are rated A for this chemical.

Did you know?

Temperature is often the deciding factor when selecting materials for Trichloroethane: even materials rated A at 20 °C may lose performance at elevated temperatures.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A
Elastomers
Viton (FPM) A

About Acetal (POM)

Acetal (POM) resists many organic solvents and fuels. Strong acids and oxidising agents degrade it.

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.