Nitric Acid (20%) (HNO3, CAS 7697-37-2) is a clear, colorless, corrosive and oxidizing acid solution with a specific gravity of about 1.115. Dilute nitric acid is used for stainless steel passivation and pickling, metal etching and cleaning, clean-in-place (CIP) rinses in dairy and food plants, and laboratory work. It attacks many metals and organic materials. Use the compatibility ratings to choose the right tank resin, fittings and gaskets.
Safety data: Nitric Acid Safety Data Sheet (SDS) – LSB Industries
Polypropylene is the most economical tank material for Nitric Acid (20%), rated Excellent. PVDF (Kynar®) and HDPE are also rated Good or better. Avoid nylon tanks, Buna-N gaskets and aluminum hardware.
How Nitric Acid (20%) works with the plastics used to make our storage tanks.
| Material | Rating |
|---|---|
| HDPE | |
| Polypropylene | |
| Nylon | |
| PVDF (Kynar®) |
How Nitric Acid (20%) works with the plastics used for tank fittings.
| Material | Rating |
|---|---|
| HDPE | |
| PVC | |
| CPVC | |
| Polypropylene | |
| PVDF |
How Nitric Acid (20%) works with gasket and O-ring materials.
| Material | Rating |
|---|---|
| Buna-N | |
| EPDM | |
| Viton® |
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