Chemical Performance of PVC
This comprehensive data sheet provides authoritative engineering guidelines on the chemical resistance of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) materials. In the specification and design of valves, pipe fittings, and fluid handling systems, chemical compatibility is the most critical factor dictating operational safety and service life. Based on extensive empirical data, the performance profile of PVC is characterized by the following engineering principles:
Engineering Recommendation
No single material is universally compatible. Before specifying valves, fittings, or piping networks, system engineers must strictly cross-reference the triad of operating parameters—Chemical Media, Operating Temperature, and Concentration—against this database to guarantee the safety, economic viability, and longevity of the fluid control infrastructure.
As an amorphous thermoplastic polymer, PVC exhibits excellent chemical inertness against a broad spectrum of inorganic compounds, notably:
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Inorganic Salts and Aqueous Solutions: PVC provides superior corrosion resistance to typical chloride, sulfate, and carbonate solutions.
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Standard Acids and Alkalis: Under ambient conditions, PVC safely handles dilute to medium-concentration inorganic acids (e.g., Hydrochloric, Sulfuric, and Phosphoric acids) as well as most caustic environments (e.g., Sodium Hydroxide, Aqueous Ammonia).
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General Municipal and Industrial Fluids: PVC maintains high structural integrity in water treatment, desalination, food and beverage processing (e.g., syrups, beer), and detergent handling.
PVC polymer chains are highly susceptible to solvation, swelling, or degradation when exposed to highly penetrative or aggressive agents. The use of PVC components must be avoided or strictly evaluated when handling:
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Aggressive Organic Solvents: This includes ketones (e.g., Acetone), esters (e.g., Ethyl Acetate), aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., Benzene, Toluene), and halogenated hydrocarbons (e.g., Chloroform). These media cause rapid softening or dissolution of the material matrix.
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Strong Oxidizing Agents and Highly Concentrated Acids: Environments involving >50% Nitric Acid, fuming Sulfuric Acid (Oleum), or liquid Chlorine initiate irreversible oxidative breakdown of the polymer.
n real-world piping and valve applications, the following dynamic variables must be rigorously accounted for:
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Thermal Derating Effect: Elevated temperatures exponentially accelerate chemical attack. The data illustrates that numerous media classified as “S” (Satisfactory) at 20°C are downgraded to “L” or “U” at 60°C. Increased thermal energy enhances polymer chain mobility, thereby accelerating chemical permeation.
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Concentration Thresholds: The rate of corrosion is highly dependent on media concentration. For instance, while PVC readily withstands dilute Sulfuric Acid, it fails under highly concentrated or fuming conditions.
| Chemical | Formula | Temp. (°C) | Conc. (%) | PVC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acetaldehyde | CH₃CHO | 20 | 40 | U |
| Acetaldehyde | CH₃CHO | 60 | 40 | U |
| Acetaldehyde | CH₃CHO | 20 | 100 | U |
| Acetaldehyde | CH₃CHO | 60 | 100 | U |
| Acetic acid | CH₃COOH | 20 | up to 10 | S |
| Acetic acid | CH₃COOH | 60 | up to 10 | S |
| Acetic acid | CH₃COOH | 20 | 10 to 50 | S |
| Acetic acid | CH₃COOH | 60 | 10 to 50 | L |
| Acetic acid -glacial | CH₃COOH | 20 | >96 | U |
| Acetic acid -glacial | CH₃COOH | 60 | >96 | U |
| Acetic anhydride | (CH₃CO)₂O | 20 | 100 | U |
| Acetic anhydride | (CH₃CO)₂O | 60 | 100 | U |
| Acetone | CH₃COCH₃ | 20 | 10 | U |
| Acetone | CH₃COCH₃ | 60 | 10 | U |
| Acetone | CH₃COCH₃ | 20 | 100 | U |
| Acetone | CH₃COCH₃ | 60 | 100 | U |
| Acetonitrile | — | 20 | — | U |
| Acetonitrile | — | 60 | — | U |
| Acetophenone | CH₃COC₆H₅ | 20 | tg-s | U |
| Acetophenone | CH₃COC₆H₅ | 60 | tg-s | U |
| Acetyl nitrile | — | 20 | — | U |
| Acetyl nitrile | — | 60 | — | U |
| Acetylene | C₂H₂ | 20 | tg-g | S |
| Acetylene | C₂H₂ | 60 | tg-g | S |
| Acrylic acid ethyl ester | — | 20 | — | U |
| Acrylic acid ethyl ester | — | 60 | — | U |
| Acrylonitrile | CH₂CHCN | 20 | technically pure | U |
| Acrylonitrile | CH₂CHCN | 60 | technically pure | U |
| Adipic acid | (CH₂CH₂CO₂H)₂ | 20 | sat. sol. | S |
| Adipic acid | (CH₂CH₂CO₂H)₂ | 60 | sat. sol. | L |
| Air | — | 20 | tg-g | S |
| Air | — | 60 | tg-g | S |
| Allyl alcohol | CH₂CHCH₂OH | 20 | tg-l | L |
| Allyl alcohol | CH₂CHCH₂OH | 60 | tg-l | U |
| Allyl chloride | — | 20 | — | U |
| Allyl chloride | — | 60 | sat. sol | U |
| Alum (Aluminium potassium sulphate) | Al₂(SO₄)₃·K₂SO₄·nH₂O | 20 | sat. sol | S |
| Alum (Aluminium potassium sulphate) | Al₂(SO₄)₃·K₂SO₄·nH₂O | 60 | sat. sol | S |
| Aluminium -chloride | AlCl₃ | 20 | sat. sol. | S |
| Aluminium -chloride | AlCl₃ | 60 | sat. sol. | S |
| Aluminium -fluoride | AlF₃ | 20 | susp. | S |
| Aluminium -fluoride | AlF₃ | 60 | susp. | S |
| Aluminium -hydroxide | Al(OH)₃ | 20 | susp. | S |
| Aluminium -hydroxide | Al(OH)₃ | 60 | susp. | S |
| Aluminium -nitrate | Al(NO₃)₃ | 20 | sat. sol. | S |
| Aluminium -nitrate | Al(NO₃)₃ | 60 | sat. sol. | S |
| Aluminium -oxychloride | — | 20 | susp. | S |
| Aluminium -oxychloride | — | 60 | susp. | S |
| Aluminium -sulphate | Al₂(SO₄)₃ | 20 | sat. sol. | S |
| Aluminium -sulphate | Al₂(SO₄)₃ | 60 | sat. sol. | S |
| Ammonia aqueous | NH₃ | 20 | sat. sol. | S |
| Ammonia aqueous | NH₃ | 60 | sat. sol. | S |
| Ammonia dry gas | NH₃ | 20 | tg-g | S |
| Ammonia dry gas | NH₃ | 60 | tg-g | S |
| Ammonia liquid | NH₃ | 20 | tg-l | L |
| Ammonia liquid | NH₃ | 60 | tg-l | U |
| Ammonium -acetate | CH₃COONH₄ | 20 | — | S |
| Ammonium -acetate | CH₃COONH₄ | 60 | — | S |
| Ammonium -alum | — | 20 | — | S |
| Ammonium -alum | — | 60 | — | S |
| Ammonium -benzoate | — | 20 | — | S |
| Ammonium -benzoate | — | 60 | — | S |
| Ammonium -bifluoride | — | 20 | — | S |
| Ammonium -bifluoride | — | 60 | — | S |
| Ammonium -bisulphate | — | 20 | — | S |
| Ammonium -bisulphate | — | 60 | — | S |
| Ammonium -carbonate | (NH₄)₂CO₃ | 20 | sat. sol. | S |
| Ammonium -carbonate | (NH₄)₂CO₃ | 60 | sat. sol. | S |
| Ammonium -chloride | NH₄Cl | 20 | sat. sol. | S |
| Ammonium -chloride | NH₄Cl | 60 | sat. sol. | S |
| Ammonium -dichromate | — | 20 | — | S |
| Ammonium -dichromate | — | 60 | — | S |
| Ammonium -fluoride | NH₄F | 20 | 25 | S |
| Ammonium -fluoride | NH₄F | 60 | 25 | L |
| Ammonium -hydrogen carbonate | NH₄HCO₃ | 20 | sat. sol. | S |
| Ammonium -hydrogen carbonate | NH₄HCO₃ | 60 | sat. sol. | S |
| Ammonium -hydroxide | NH₄(OH) | 20 | 35 m/v sol. | S |
| Ammonium -hydroxide | NH₄(OH) | 60 | 35 m/v sol. | S |
| Ammonium -nitrate | NH₄NO₃ | 20 | sat. sol. | S |
| Ammonium -nitrate | NH₄NO₃ | 60 | sat. sol. | S |
| Ammonium -persulphate | (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ | 20 | sat. sol. | S |
| Ammonium -persulphate | (NH₄)₂S₂O₈ | 60 | sat. sol. | S |
- The Water Supply Manual for PVC Pipe Systems, First Edition, Vinidex Pty Limited, 1989
- ISO/TR 10358 Technical Report: Plastic Pipes and Fittings-Combined Chemical-resistance Classification Table, First Edition, International Organisation for Standardisation, 1993
- Chemical Resistance, Volume 1- Thermoplastics, Second Edition, Plastics Design Library, 1994
- Chemical Resistance Data Sheets, Volume 1-Plastics, Rapra Technology Limited, 1993
The following is a complete list of test substances arranged in alphabetical order:
Acetaldehyde / Acetic acid / Acetic acid -glacial / Acetic anhydride / Acetone / Acetonitrile / Acetophenone / Acetyl nitrile / Acetylene / Acrylic acid ethyl ester / Acrylonitrile / Adipic acid / Air / Allyl alcohol / Allyl chloride / Alum (Aluminium potassium sulphate) / Aluminium -chloride / Aluminium -fluoride / Aluminium -hydroxide / Aluminium -nitrate / Aluminium -oxychloride / Aluminium -sulphate / Ammonia aqueous / Ammonia dry gas / Ammonia liquid / Ammonium -acetate / Ammonium -alum / Ammonium -benzoate / Ammonium -bifluoride / Ammonium -bisulphate / Ammonium -carbonate / Ammonium -chloride / Ammonium -dichromate / Ammonium -fluoride / Ammonium -hydrogen carbonate / Ammonium -hydroxide / Ammonium -nitrate / Ammonium -persulphate / Ammonium -phosphate dibasic / Ammonium -phosphate meta / Ammonium -phosphate tri / Ammonium -sulphate / Ammonium -sulphide / Ammonium -thiocyanate / Ammonium -zinc chloride / Amyl acetate / Amyl alcohol / Amyl chloride / Aniline / Aniline -chlorohydrate / Aniline -hydrochloride / Aniline -sulphate / Anthraquinone / Anthraquinone sulphonic acid / Antimony chloride / Aqua regia / Arsenic acid / Aryl sulphonic acids / Barium -bromide / Barium -carbonate / Barium -chloride / Barium -hydroxide / Barium -nitrate / Barium -sulphate / Barium -sulphide / Beer / Benzaldehyde / Benzalkonium chloride / Benzene / Benzoic acid / Benzoyl chloride / Benzyl acetate / Bismuth carbonate / Boric acid / Boron trifluoride / Brine / Bromic acid / Bromine / Bromobenzene / Bromoethane / Bromotoluene / Butadiene / Butane / Butanediols / Butanols (butyl alcohols) / Butyl acetate / Butylene glycol / Butyl mercaptan / Butylphenols / Butyl phthalate / Butylstearate / Butynediol / Butyric acid / Cadmium cyanide / Calcium -carbonate / Calcium -chlorate / Calcium -chloride / Calcium -hydrogen sulphide (calcium bisulphide) / Calcium -hydrogen sulphite (calcium bisulphite) / Calcium -hydroxide / Calcium -hypochlorite / Calcium -nitrate / Calcium -sulphate / Calcium -sulphide / Carbitol / Carbon dioxide (aqueous) / Carbon dioxide (gas) / Carbon disulphide / Carbon monoxide / Carbon tetrachloride / Carbonic acid (aqueous) / Carbonic acid (aqueous) (wet) / Carbonic acid (dry) / Castor oil / Caustic potash / Cellosolve (2-ethoxyethanol) / Cellosolve acetate / Chloral hydrate / Chloramine / Chloric acid / Chlorine -dry gas / Chloroacetic acid / Chloroacetyl chloride / Chlorobenzene / Chloroform / Chloropicrin / Chloropropanes / Chlorosulphonic acid / Chrome alum / Chromic acid (plating soln) / Chromic solution / Citric acid / Copper -carbonate / Copper -chloride / Copper -cyanide / Copper -fluoride / Copper -hypochlorite / Copper -nitrate / Copper -sulphate / Cottonseed oil / Creosote / Cresol / Cresylic acid / Crotonaldehyde / Crude oil / Cyclanone / Cyclohexane / Cyclohexanol / Cyclohexanone / Cyclohexyl alcohol / DDT / Detergents (synthetic) / Developers (photographic) / Dextrin / Dextrose / Diacetone alcohol / Diazo salts / Dibutoxyethyl phthalate / Dibutyl phthalate / Dibutyl sebacate / Dichloroacetic acid / Dichlorobenzene / Dichloroethane (ethylene dichloride) / Dichloroethylene / Diesel fuels / Diethyl ether / Diethyl sulphate (ethyl sulphate) / Diglycolic acid / Dimethylamine / Dimethyl formamide / Dimethylhydrazine / Dimethyl sulphate (methyl sulphate) / Dioctyl phthalate / Dioxane / Diphenyl ether / Dodecanoic acid (lauric acid) / Emulsions (photographic) / Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) / Ethers / Ethyl -acetate / Ethyl -acrylate / Ethyl -chloride / Ethyl -chloroacetate / Ethyl -ether / Ethylene -chlorohydrin / Ethylene -dibromide / Ethylene -glycol (ethanediol) / Ethylene -oxide (oxiran) / Fatty acids / Ferric -acetate / Ferric -chloride / Ferric -hydroxide / Ferric -nitrate / Ferric -sulphate / Ferrous -chloride / Ferrous -hydroxide / Ferrous -nitrate / Ferrous -sulphate / Fixing soln. (photographic) / Fluoboric acid / Fluorine / Fluosilic acid / Formaldehyde / Formic acid / Fructose / Fuel oil / Furfuraldehyde (furfural) / Furfuryl alcohol / Gas (manufactured) / Gas (natural,wet/dry) / Gasoline (fuel) / Gelatine / Glucose / Glycerine / Glycolic acid / Heptane / Hexadecanol (cetyl alcohol) / Hexane / Hexanol (hexyl alcohol) / Hydrazine / Hydrobromic acid / Hydrochloric acid / Hydrocyanic acid / Hydrofluoric acid / Hydrogen / Hydrogen -peroxide / Hydrogen -sulphide / Hydroquinone (quinol) / Hydrosulphite / Hydroxylamine sulphate / Hydrochlorous acid / Hypochlorite / Hypochlorous acid / Iodine (soln in alcohol) / Iodine (soln in potassium iodide) / Isobutyl alcohol / Iso-octane (2,2,4-trimethylbentane) / Isophorone / Isopropyl -alcohol / Isopropyl -ether / Kerosene / Lactic acid / Latex / Lauryl chloride / Lead -acetate / Lead -arsenate / Lead -chloride / Lead -nitrate / Lead -sulphate / Linoleic acid / Linoleic oil / Linseed oil / Lithium bromide / Magnesium -carbonate / Magnesium -chloride / Magnesium -citrate / Magnesium -hydroxide / Magnesium -nitrate / Magnesium -sulphate / Maleic acid / Malic acid / Manganese -chloride / Manganese -sulphate / Mercuric -chloride / Mercuric -cyanide / Mercurous nitrate / Mercury / Mesityl oxide / Methoxyethyl oleate / Methyl -acetate / Methyl -alcohol (methanol) / Methyl -bromide (bromomethane) / Methyl -cellosolve / Methyl -chloride (chloromethane) / Methyl -ethyl ketone / Methyl -glycol / Methyl -isobutyl ketone / Methyl -methacrylate / Methyl -salicylate / Methylamine / Methylated spirits / Methylcyclohexanone / Methylene -bromide / Methylene -chloride / Methylene -chlorobromide / Methylene -iodine / Methylsulphoric acid / Mineral oils / Molasses / Motor oils / Muriatic acid / Naphtha / Naphthalene / Natural gas / Nickel -acetate / Nickel -chloride / Nickel -nitrate / Nickel -sulphate / Nicotonic acid / Nitric acid / Nitrobenzene / Nitroglycerin / Nitroglycol / Nitromethane / Nitropropane / Nitrous fumes (moist) / Nitrous oxide / Oils and fats / Oleic acid / Oleum / Oxalic acid / Oxygen / Ozone / Palmitic acid / Paraffin / Paraffin -emulsion/oil / Peracetic acid / Perchloric acid / Perphosphate / Petrol -refined / Petrol -unrefined / Petrol/benzene (mixture) / Petroleum liquifier / Petroleum oils / Petroleum spirit (petroleum ether) / Phenol / Phenylhydrazine / Phenylhydrazine hydrochloride / Phosgene (gas) / Phosgene (liquid) / Phosphine / Phosphoric -acid / Phosphoric -anhydride / Phosphorous / Phosphorous -pentoxide / Phosphorous -trichloride / Phosphoryl chloride (phosphorus oxychloride) / Phthalic acid / Picric acid / Plating solutions: brass / Plating solutions: cadmium / Plating solutions: chromium / Plating solutions: copper / Plating solutions: gold / Plating solutions: indium / Plating solutions: lead / Plating solutions: nickel / Plating solutions: rhodium / Plating solutions: silver / Plating solutions: tin / Plating solutions: zinc / Polyglycol ethers / Potash / Potassium -alum / Potassium -borate / Potassium -bromate / Potassium -bromide / Potassium -carbonate / Potassium -chlorate / Potassium -chloride / Potassium -chromate / Potassium -cuprocyanide / Potassium -cyanide / Potassium -dichromate (potassium bichromate) / Potassium -ferricyanide / Potassium -ferrocyanide (potassium hexacyanoferrate (II)) / Potassium -fluoride / Potassium -hydrogen carbonate (potassium bicarbonate) / Potassium -hydrogen sulphate (potassium bisulphate) / Potassium -hydrogen sulphite (potassium bisulphite) / Potassium -hydroxide / Potassium -nitrate / Potassium -perborate / Potassium -perchlorate / Potassium -permanganate / Potassium -persulphate / Potassium -sulphate / Potassium -sulphide / Potassium -sulphite / Potassium -thiosulphate / Propane / Propylene -dichloride / Propylene -oxide / Pyridine / Salicylic acid / Sea Water / Sewage / Silicic acid / Silver -acetate / Silver -cyanide / Silver -nitrate / Soap solutions (aqueous soln.) / Sodium -acetate / Sodium -alum / Sodium -antimonate / Sodium -arsenite / Sodium -benzoate / Sodium -bicarbonate (hydrogen carbonate) / Sodium -bichromate (hydrogen chromate) / Sodium -bisulphate (hydrogen sulphate) / Sodium -bisulphite (hydrogen sulphite) / Sodium -bromide / Sodium -carbonate / Sodium -chlorate / Sodium -chloride / Sodium -cyanide / Sodium -dichromate / Sodium -ferricyanide / Sodium -ferrocyanide / Sodium -fluoride / Sodium -hydrogen orthophosphate (di Sodium -) / Sodium -hydroxide / Sodium -hypochlorite / Sodium -metaphosphate / Sodium -nitrate / Sodium -nitrite / Sodium -perborate / Sodium -perchlorate / Sodium -peroxide / Sodium -phosphate di / Sodium -phosphate tri / Sodium -silicate / Sodium -sulphate / Sodium -sulphide / Sodium -sulphite / Sodium -tetraborate (di Sodium-), ‘Borax’ / Sodium -thiosulphate (sodium hyposulphite) / Stannic chloride (Tin (IV) chloride) / Stannous chloride (Tin (II) chloride) / Starch / Stearic acid / Stoddard solvents / Succinic acid / Sucrose (sugar) / Sulphamic acid / Sulphite liquors / Sulphur / Sulphur dioxide (dry) / Sulphur dioxide (liquid) / Sulphur dioxide (moist) / Sulphur trioxide / Sulphuric acid / Sulphuric acid -nitric aqueous soln. / Sulphurous acid / Tallow / Tannic acid / Tanning extracts / Tartaric acid / Tetrachloroethane / Tetrachloroethylene (Perchloroethylene) / Tetraethyl lead (lead tetraethyl) / Tetrahydrofuran / Tetrahydronapthalene (tetralin) / Tetrasodium pyrophosphate / Thionyl chloride / Thiophene / Tirpineol / Titanium tetrachloride / Toluene / Tributyl citrate / Tributyl phosphate / Trichloroacetic acid / Trichlorobenzene / Trichloroethylene / Triethanolamine / Triethylamine / Trigol (triethylene glycol) / 3,4,5-Trihydroxybenzoic acid (gallic acid) / Trilon / Trimethylamine / Trimethylol propane (2-ethyl-2-hydroxymethylpropanediol) / Trimethyl propane / Trisodium phosphate / Turpentine / Urea / Uric acid / Urine / Vegetable oils / Vinegar / Vinyl acetate / Water / Whiskey / White liquor / Wines and spirits / Xylene / Yeast / Zinc -carbonate / Zinc -chloride / Zinc -chromate / Zinc -cyanide / Zinc -nitrate / Zinc -oxide / Zinc -sulphate
Chemical resistance data based on PVC-U reference standards (ISO/TR 10358, JARO). PVC-O exhibits equivalent chemical resistance. For PVC-M applications involving organic solvents, oils, or hydrocarbons, please contact JARO for material-specific compatibility confirmation.