Design Calculators - Mechanical

World-Class Material Compatibility Chart for Mechanical Engineers

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Material & Chemical Resistance Chart

This chart provides general guidance on the chemical resistance and compatibility of common engineering materials across various chemical classes. It's a vital reference for selecting materials for piping, vessels, seals, and other components in industrial applications.

Compatibility Ratings Key:

  • Excellent: Suitable for continuous service; very little or no effect.
  • Good: Minor to moderate effects, may be suitable depending on specific conditions (e.g., temperature, concentration, duration). Test before use.
  • Fair: Moderate to severe effects, generally not recommended for continuous service. Very limited use.
  • Poor: Not recommended for any service; severe corrosive effects.
  • N/A: Information not readily available or application typically uncommon.

Disclaimer: This chart provides general guidelines. Compatibility can be highly dependent on specific chemical concentration, temperature, pressure, exposure duration, presence of impurities, and mechanical stress. Always consult specific material data sheets, manufacturer recommendations, and perform thorough testing for critical applications.

Material Strong Acids (e.g., HCl, H2SO4 conc.) Weak Acids (e.g., Acetic Acid, Citric Acid) Strong Bases (e.g., NaOH, KOH) Weak Bases (e.g., NH4OH) Aliphatic Hydrocarbons (e.g., Gasoline, Diesel) Aromatic Hydrocarbons (e.g., Benzene, Toluene) Halogenated Solvents (e.g., CHCl3, CCl4) Alcohols (e.g., Methanol, Ethanol) Water & Steam Oxidizing Agents (e.g., HNO3, Bleach) Standard/Notes
Stainless Steel 304 Poor Good Good Excellent Excellent Good Poor Excellent Excellent Fair ASTM A240
Stainless Steel 316 Good Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Fair Excellent Excellent Good ASTM A240
Duplex Stainless Steel 2205 Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Good Excellent Excellent Excellent ASTM A240
Hastelloy C-276 Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent ASTM B575
Inconel 625 Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent ASTM B443
Monel 400 Good Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Fair Excellent Excellent Poor ASTM B127
Alloy 20 Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Good Excellent Excellent Excellent ASTM B463
Titanium Good Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Fair Excellent Excellent Excellent ASTM B338
Zirconium Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Good Excellent Excellent Fair ASTM B551
Copper Poor Good Poor Excellent Excellent Good Poor Excellent Good Poor ASTM B152
Brass Poor Fair Fair Good Excellent Good Poor Good Fair Poor ASTM B36
PTFE (Teflon) Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent ASTM D4894
Kynar (PVDF) Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Good Excellent Excellent Excellent ASTM D3222
HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) Good Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Fair Poor Good Excellent Good ASTM D4976
UHMW-PE (Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) Good Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Good Poor Excellent Excellent Good ASTM D4020
PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) Good Excellent Excellent Excellent Poor Poor Poor Good Excellent Good ASTM D1784
Polycarbonate Poor Fair Poor Poor Good Fair Poor Good Excellent Fair ASTM D3935
Nylon 6/6 Poor Fair Good Excellent Excellent Good Poor Good Good Poor ASTM D4066
Polyurethane Poor Good Fair Good Excellent Good Poor Good Excellent Fair ASTM D3574
Viton (FKM) Poor Good Fair Excellent Excellent Excellent Good Good Fair Good ASTM D1418 (FKM)
EPDM Fair Good Excellent Excellent Poor Poor Poor Excellent Excellent Fair ASTM D1418 (EPDM)
Nitrile (Buna-N) Poor Good Good Good Excellent Fair Poor Good Fair Poor ASTM D1418 (NBR)
Natural Rubber Poor Good Good Good Poor Poor Poor Good Excellent Poor ASTM D1418 (NR)
Silicone Poor Good Good Good Poor Poor Poor Excellent Excellent Fair ASTM D1418 (VMQ)
Neoprene (Chloroprene) Poor Good Good Good Good Fair Poor Good Excellent Fair ASTM D1418 (CR)
Butyl Rubber Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Poor Poor Good Excellent Excellent Good ASTM D1418 (IIR)
Carbon Steel Poor Poor Good Good Excellent Good Good Excellent Poor (Rusts) Poor ASTM A36
Bronze Poor Fair Fair Good Good Good Poor Good Good Poor ASTM B62
Aluminum Poor Fair Poor Good Excellent Excellent Poor Excellent Good (Oxidizes) Poor ASTM B209
Borosilicate Glass Excellent Excellent Fair Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent ASTM E438
Glass Lined Steel Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent High chemical resistance
Graphite Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Poor (Oxidizes) ASTM C559
Ceramic (Alumina) Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent ASTM C20
Silicon Carbide Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent High temp & wear resist.
Zirconia Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent Excellent High fracture toughness

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