Chemical Resistant Spray Bottles: Choosing the Bottle, Seals and Nozzle
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A chemical resistant spray bottle is one where every part the liquid touches suits your chemical: the seals, the pump or trigger head, the spring and the nozzle, as well as the bottle. The seal usually decides it. VITON (FKM) seals suit acids and petroleum solvents, and EPDM seals suit bleach and caustics. Pick the bottle for the chemical, not the other way round.
What makes a spray bottle chemical resistant
A plain garden spray bottle is made for water and mild products. With a strong acid, solvent or bleach, the bottle often copes. The rubber parts do not. The O-rings and gaskets swell, harden or crack, and the sprayer leaks or loses pressure. Four parts decide how long a bottle lasts:
- Seals. The O-rings and gaskets in the pump or trigger head. This is the first thing to match to your chemical.
- Pump or trigger head body. On Klager pressure bottles the acid and alkaline models use a polypropylene pump, and the solvent model uses a nylon pump.
- Spring. The acid models have acid resistant springs, and the solvent and alkaline models have stainless steel springs.
- Nozzle and lance. Covered below, because it is the part most people forget.
Plain nitrile (NBR) seals are for water based liquids. They are not for strong acids, bleach or hydrocarbons. If you are not sure which seal your chemical needs, our VITON vs EPDM guide explains the difference, and the Chemical Compatibility Guide lists the full range of chemicals.
Match the bottle to the chemical
| Your chemical | Seal | Klager bottle |
|---|---|---|
| Hydrochloric (muriatic) and sulphuric acid, up to 10 per cent | VITON (FKM) | 1.2L or 1.5L Acid Resistant |
| Phosphoric and citric acid, up to 30 per cent | VITON (FKM) or EPDM | The acid or the alkaline bottle |
| Brake cleaner, white spirit, xylene, diesel, petrol | VITON (FKM) | 1.0L or 1.5L Solvent Resistant |
| Heavy daily petroleum solvent work, carby cleaner | FKM-80, a higher grade of VITON | 1.0L Superior |
| Caustic soda (up to 50 per cent), potassium hydroxide (up to 30 per cent), strong alkaline degreasers | EPDM | 1.2L Alkaline Resistant |
| Bleach (sodium hypochlorite), up to 12.5 per cent available chlorine | EPDM, or a model rated for bleach | The alkaline bottle, or see bleach resistant sprayers |
| Acetone, MEK, acetates, thinners, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, quaternary sanitisers, hydrofluoric acid | Ask us | Send us the SDS |
These ratings are Klager's and apply to the Klager bottles. Gloria sprayers share the seal material but are not Klager's build, so check the Gloria data sheet or ask us. Concentration and temperature change the answer, so always check the SDS. Do not fill any Klager sprayer with liquid hotter than 30 degrees C.
The nozzle is part of the chemical path
Every drop passes through the nozzle, so it has to suit the chemical as well. Here is what the makers specify:
- Klager Original bottles we stock come with a 0.8 mm plastic hollow cone nozzle. The Klager Master Solve+, built for solvents and acetone mixtures, has a brass hollow cone nozzle of the same size.
- Gloria PRO 500 JET Acid Resistant. NORA PRO fits it with an acid resistant trigger valve, a plastic lance and a PVDF nozzle. The standard Gloria PRO 500 has a brass lance and nozzle, which acids attack. For acids, choose the acid model rather than swapping parts.
- Adjustable ConeJet nozzles. The O-ring that seals the adjuster matters. We stock an acid and solvent version with a VITON O-ring and an alkaline and bleach version with an EPDM O-ring. Both have a PP washer and adjust from a fine cone to a straight jet.
- Klager extension lances come in 15, 30 and 50 cm. They are nylon with VITON seals, so use them on the acid and solvent bottles, never with acetone, and ask us before using one on an alkaline bottle.
Spray pattern is a separate choice. A cone suits general coating. A flat fan lays an even band on a surface. A narrow jet drives product into cracks, and a foam nozzle makes the product cling. Replace a nozzle when the pattern distorts or the output rises, because the tip is worn. Spare Klager nozzles are on our parts range, so tell us your model and we will confirm the thread.
Trigger spray bottles
A trigger bottle pumps once for every squeeze, so it suits short jobs and finished products in bottles. A refillable pressure bottle holds a charge and gives a steady spray, and Klager's relief valve limits its pressure to 3 or 4 bar depending on the model. For heavy chemical work a pressure bottle is the better tool. See our pressure spray bottle guide.
For bottled products, the Canyon 3NB is the standard trigger and the Canyon 3SE Super Black is the chemical resistant one, for harsher cleaning and detailing chemicals. Both have a 0.4 mm nozzle and a 22.5 cm dip tube. They come in 28/400 (short skirt) and 28/410 (long skirt) neck sizes, sold by the box of 350 to chemical makers, detailers and resellers. Chemical resistance still varies by product, so send us the SDS first. Browse all trigger sprayers.
Keep a bottle working
- Use one labelled bottle per chemical. A Klager colour coding cap makes that easy.
- When you finish, release the pressure, decant what is left back into its container, rinse the bottle and pump clean water through the nozzle. Store it depressurised, out of heat and direct sun.
- Grease the pump piston O-ring of an EPDM bottle with silicone oil only. Petroleum based grease attacks EPDM.
- When a seal wears, fit a genuine VITON, EPDM or FKM-80 seal kit instead of buying a new bottle. See parts and seal repair kits and the Refill and Repair Guide.
Klager can recommend a material for a chemical but cannot guarantee it, and on the harshest chemicals a sprayer lasts three to six months at best. Plan to inspect the seals, not to forget them.
Where to look next
Browse chemical resistant sprayers, or go straight to acid resistant, bleach resistant, solvent resistant and alkaline resistant sprayers. For solvents in detail, read which Klager sprayer for which solvent.
Frequently asked questions
What is a chemical resistant spray bottle?
A spray bottle whose seals, pump or trigger head, spring and nozzle are all suited to the chemical you spray. The seal is usually the deciding part: VITON (FKM) for acids and petroleum solvents, EPDM for bleach and caustics.
Which seal do I need for acid and which for bleach?
VITON (FKM) for acids such as hydrochloric and sulphuric up to 10 per cent, and phosphoric and citric up to 30 per cent. EPDM for bleach, caustic soda and strong alkaline degreasers. Check the strength on the SDS, and ask us if your chemical is stronger or hot.
Does the nozzle need to be chemical resistant too?
Yes. Every drop passes through it. Use a nozzle and lance made for your chemical, with a VITON O-ring for acids and solvents or an EPDM O-ring for alkalis and bleach. Replace it when the spray pattern distorts.
Can I use one spray bottle for different chemicals?
Not safely if they sit in different seal groups. Acids and solvents want VITON, while bleach and caustics want EPDM. Keep one labelled bottle for each chemical and rinse after every job.
Can I spray acetone in a chemical resistant spray bottle?
Not in a standard one. Acetone and other ketones attack VITON, and Klager's current list does not recommend any standard sprayer material for pure acetone. Send us the product and we will confirm the right specialist model, such as the Klager Master Solve+.
Resellers, chemical companies and workshops can request a quote and tell us the chemical, or apply for a trade account. See the full Klager range, distributed in Australia and New Zealand exclusively by NORA PRO.