Nitric Acid (50%) (HNO3, CAS 7697-37-2) is a strong oxidizing mineral acid with a specific gravity of about 1.31 to 1.36 that may give off reddish-brown nitrogen oxide fumes. It is used to make ammonium nitrate fertilizer, explosives, nitrocellulose and adipic acid, for metal treating and etching, and as a cleaning acid. Strong nitric acid degrades many plastics and elastomers over time, so material selection is critical. Use the compatibility ratings to choose the right tank resin, fittings and gaskets.
Safety data: Nitric Acid Safety Data Sheet (SDS) – LSB Industries
PVDF (Kynar®) is the most economical tank material for Nitric Acid (50%), rated Excellent. Polypropylene is also rated Good or better. Avoid HDPE and nylon tanks; HDPE fittings; Buna-N and EPDM gaskets; aluminum hardware.
How Nitric Acid (50%) works with the plastics used to make our storage tanks.
| Material | Rating |
|---|---|
| HDPE | |
| Polypropylene | |
| Nylon | |
| PVDF (Kynar®) |
How Nitric Acid (50%) works with the plastics used for tank fittings.
| Material | Rating |
|---|---|
| HDPE | |
| PVC | |
| CPVC | |
| Polypropylene | |
| PVDF |
How Nitric Acid (50%) works with gasket and O-ring materials.
| Material | Rating |
|---|---|
| Buna-N | |
| EPDM | |
| Viton® |
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