Summary
- PVC Rigid is rated better with
- Alcohols and glycols (+71 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+67 points); Mineral acids (+41 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+38 points); Organic acids (+27 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+23 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+11 points)
- Within 10 points of each other
- Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; Esters and ethers; Halogenated hydrocarbons; Foods and beverages
Points are the difference in the share of rows rated A or B.
The two materials
PVC Rigid
Rigid (unplasticised) polyvinyl chloride
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.
Rated rows: 569. A 62 %, B 8 %, C 9 %, D 21 %
PVC Flexible
Flexible (plasticised) polyvinyl chloride
Flexible PVC shares the solvent weaknesses of rigid PVC, and any liquid that extracts the plasticiser also hardens it. It is generally less resistant than rigid PVC.
Rated rows: 344. A 45 %, B 1 %, C 17 %, D 37 %
Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical class
How often the two ratings agree
Chemical classes were assigned by this site, not by the source. Mixtures and trade products without a clear class are not counted.
By chemical class
| Chemical class | PVC Rigid: rated A or B | PVC Flexible: rated A or B |
|---|---|---|
| Mineral acids | 82 % (56 rows) | 41 % (27 rows) |
| Organic acids | 87 % (45 rows) | 60 % (25 rows) |
| Alkalis | 100 % (16 rows) | 100 % (11 rows) |
| Salts and salt solutions | 100 % (111 rows) | 96 % (81 rows) |
| Oxidising agents and halogens | 85 % (39 rows) | 47 % (17 rows) |
| Alcohols and glycols | 79 % (43 rows) | 8 % (26 rows) |
| Phenols | 38 % (8 rows) | – |
| Ketones and aldehydes | 11 % (18 rows) | 0 % (9 rows) |
| Esters and ethers | 5 % (39 rows) | 4 % (25 rows) |
| Amines and nitrogen compounds | 23 % (22 rows) | 0 % (12 rows) |
| Aromatic hydrocarbons | 0 % (9 rows) | – |
| Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons | 84 % (38 rows) | 17 % (23 rows) |
| Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils | 59 % (17 rows) | – |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | 8 % (36 rows) | 0 % (31 rows) |
| Foods and beverages | 100 % (23 rows) | 93 % (14 rows) |
Where the ratings differ most
Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 63 in total, the first 40 shown.
| Chemical | Concentration | PVC Rigid | PVC Flexible |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-Ethylhexanol | A | D | |
| Acetic Acid | 90 % | A | D |
| Cyclohexanol | technical grade | A | D |
| Isooctane | technical grade | A | D |
| Isopropanol | technical grade | A | D |
| Naphtha | A | D | |
| Picric Acid | 1 % aqueous | A | D |
| Potassium Cyanide | saturated | A | D |
| Acetic Acid | 5 % | A | C |
| Acetylene | 100 % | B | D |
| Allyl Alcohol | 96 % | B | D |
| Arsenic Acid | A | C | |
| Arsenic Acid | aqueous | A | C |
| Battery Acid | 38 % | A | C |
| Brake Fluid | A | C | |
| Bromine | B | D | |
| Butane | technical grade | A | C |
| Butanol | technical grade | B | D |
| Butyric Acid | B | D | |
| Castor Oil | 100 % | A | C |
| Cetyl Alcohol | 100 % | A | C |
| Chlorodifluoromethane | B | D | |
| Crude Oil | 100 % | A | C |
| Decahydronaphthalene | A | C | |
| Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12) | B | D | |
| Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12) | technical grade | B | D |
| Diesel Fuel | 100 % | A | C |
| Ethanol | 50 % | A | C |
| Ethanol | 96 % | A | C |
| Ethyl Alcohol | 50 % | A | C |
| Ethyl Alcohol | 96 % | A | C |
| Ethylene Glycol | A | C | |
| Fats, Cooking Oils | A | C | |
| Formic Acid | 98-100 % | C | A |
| Heating Oil | A | C | |
| Hexanetriol | 100 % | A | C |
| Hexanol | A | C | |
| Hydrobromic Acid | 40 % | A | C |
| Hydrobromic Acid | 50 % | A | C |
| Hydrobromic Acid | dilute | A | C |
Rating scale
- A very good resistance
- B good resistance
- C limited resistance
- D not resistant
- – no data
- K no general statement possible
A rating marked * is an estimate in the source, not a test result. An estimate is given as one value without a temperature.
More comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PVC Rigid or PVC Flexible more chemical-resistant?
Of 339 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, PVC Rigid and PVC Flexible share the same rating in 246 rows (73 %). PVC Rigid is rated better in 90 rows and PVC Flexible in 3 rows.
How do PVC Rigid and PVC Flexible compare for chemical resistance?
Based on 339 chemicals tested for both: PVC Rigid is rated better with Alcohols and glycols, Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Mineral acids, Oxidising agents and halogens. PVC Flexible is rated better with –. They perform similarly with Alkalis, Salts and salt solutions, Esters and ethers, Halogenated hydrocarbons.
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.