Stainless Guide
Guide to Selecting of Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is largely stainless as the name suggests, unless it is subjected to certain conditions. With this guide, we will give an insight into whether you should choose SS304 or SS316 for your particular production.
The different chemicals are assessed with 5 different remarks, which are the following:
A = Excellent.
B = Good. (Slight corrosion or discoloration)
C = Fair. (Moderate effect, not recommended for continuous use)
D = Severe Effect. (Not recommended for use)
N/A = Information Not Available. (Not enough info on the effect of the chemical)
If there is a chemical that is not on the list, do not hesitate to contact us.
| Stainless Steel Chemical Resistance Guide |
|---|
| Chemicals | Stainless Steel 304 | Stainless Steel 316 |
|---|
| Acetone |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Acetylene |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Alcohols: Amyl |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Alcohols: Butyl |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Alcohols: Ethyl |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Alcohols: Isopropyl |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Alcohols: Methyl |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Alcohols: Propyl |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Aluminum Chloride |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Aluminum Chloride 20%l |
D-Severe Effect |
C-Fair |
| Aluminum Nitrate |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Ammonia, liquid |
B-Good |
A-Excellent |
| Ammonium Hydroxide |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Amyl Acetate |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Amyl Alcohol |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Antifreeze |
N/A |
A-Excellent |
| Arsenic Acid |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Asphalt |
B-Good |
A-Excellent |
| Barium Carbonate |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Barium Chloride |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Beer |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Benzene |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Benzene Sulfonic Acid |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Bleaching Liquors |
N/A |
N/A |
| Boric Acid |
B-Good |
A-Excellent |
| Brewery Slop |
N/A |
A-Excellent |
| Bromine |
D-Severe Effect |
D-Severe Effect |
| Butane |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Butanol (Butyl Alcohol) |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Butter |
C-Fair |
A-Excellent |
| Buttermilk |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Butyl Phthalate |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Calcium Carbonate |
A-Excellent |
B-Good |
| Calcium Nitrate |
C-Fair |
B-Good |
| Calgon |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Cane Juice |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Carbon Dioxide (dry) |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Carbon Dioxide (wet) |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Carbonated Water |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Carbonic Acid |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Catsup |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Chloric Acid |
D-Severe Effect |
C-Fair |
| Chlorine (dry) |
A-Excellent |
B-Good |
| Chlorine Water |
C-Fair |
C-Fair |
| Chloroform |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Chocolate Syrup |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Chromic Acid 5% |
B-Good |
A-Excellent |
| Chromic Acid 10% |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Chromic Acid 30% |
C-Fair |
B-Good |
| Chromic Acid 50% |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Cider |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Clorox® (Bleach) |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Coffee |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Cream |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Cyanic Acid |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Detergents |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Diacetone Alcohol |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Diesel Fuel |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Diethyl Ether |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Ethanol |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Ethyl Sulfate |
D-Severe Effect |
D-Severe Effect |
| Fatty Acids |
B-Good |
A-Excellent |
| Fluorine |
C-Fair |
A-Excellent |
| Formaldehyde 40% |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Formaldehyde 100% |
C-Fair |
A-Excellent |
| Formic Acid |
B-Good |
A-Excellent |
| Freon® 11 |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Freon 12 |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Freon 22 |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Freon TF |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Fruit Juice |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Fuel Oils |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Gasoline, leaded, ref. |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Gasoline, unleaded |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Gelatin |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Glucose |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Glue, P.V.A. |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Glycerin |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Glycolic Acid |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Grape Juice |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Grease |
N/A |
A-Excellent |
| Honey |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Hydraulic Oil (Petro) |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Hydraulic Oil (Synthetic) |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Hydrochloric Acid 20% |
D-Severe Effect |
D-Severe Effect |
| Hydrochloric Acid 37% |
D-Severe Effect |
D-Severe Effect |
| Hydrochloric Acid 100% |
D-Severe Effect |
D-Severe Effect |
| Hydrogen Gas |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Ink |
C-Fair |
C-Fair |
| Iodine |
D-Severe Effect |
D-Severe Effect |
| Jet Fuel (JP3, JP4, JP5) |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Lacquer Thinners |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Lacquers |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Lactic Acid |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Lard |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Latex |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Lime |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Lithium Chloride |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Lithium Hydroxide |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Lubricants |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Magnesium Bisulfate |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Magnesium Carbonate |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Magnesium Chloride |
D-Severe Effect |
D-Severe Effect |
| Magnesium Hydroxide |
B-Good |
A-Excellent |
| Magnesium Nitrate |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Magnesium Oxide |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Magnesium Sulfate |
A-Excellent |
B-Good |
| Mash |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Mayonnaise |
C-Fair |
A-Excellent |
| Melamine |
N/A |
D-Severe Effect |
| Mercury |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Methane |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Methanol (Methyl Alcohol) |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Milk |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Mineral Spirits |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Molasses |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Motor oil |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Mustard |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Natural Gas |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Nickel Chloride |
D-Severe Effect |
C-Fair |
| Nickel Nitrate |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Nickel Sulfate |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Nitric Acid (5-10%) |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Nitric Acid (20%) |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Nitric Acid (50%) |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Nitrobenzene |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Nitrogen Fertilizer |
N/A |
N/A |
| Oils: Aniline |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Anise |
N/A |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Bay |
N/A |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Bone |
N/A |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Castor |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Cinnamon |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Citric |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Clove |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Coconut |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Cod Liver |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Corn |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Cottonseed |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Creosote |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Oils: Diesel Fuel (20, 30, 40, 50) |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Fuel (1, 2, 3, 5A, 5B, 6) |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Ginger |
D-Severe Effect |
D-Severe Effect |
| Oils: Lemon |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Linseed |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Mineral |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Olive |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Orange |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Palm |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Peanut |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Peppermint |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Pine |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Rapeseed |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Rosin |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Sesame Seed |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Silicone |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Soybean |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Tanning |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Transformer |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Turbine |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oleic Acid |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oleum 100% |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oleum 25% |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Oxalic Acid (cold) |
B-Good |
A-Excellent |
| Ozone |
B-Good |
A-Excellent |
| Palmitic Acid |
B-Good |
A-Excellent |
| Paraffin |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Pentane |
C-Fair |
C-Fair |
| Perchloric Acid |
C-Fair |
C-Fair |
| Petroleum |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Phenol (10%) |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Potash (Potassium Carbonate) |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Propane (liquefied) |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Propylene |
B-Good |
A-Excellent |
| Propylene Glycol |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Rosins |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Rum |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Rust Inhibitors |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Salad Dressings |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Salicylic Acid |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Salt Brine (NaCl saturated) |
B-Good |
A-Excellent |
| Sea Water |
C-Fair |
C-Fair |
| Shellac (Bleached) |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Shellac (Orange) |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Silicone |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Soap Solutions |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Soy Sauce |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Stannic Chloride |
N/A |
D-Severe Effect |
| Stannic Fluoborate |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Starch |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Stoddard Solvent |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Styrene |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Sugar (Liquids) |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Sulfate (Liquors) |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Sulfuric Acid (<10%) |
D-Severe Effect |
B-Good |
| Sulfuric Acid (10-75%) |
D-Severe Effect |
D-Severe Effect |
| Sulfuric Acid (75-100%) |
C-Fair |
D-Severe Effect |
| Sulfuric Acid (cold concentrated) |
C-Fair |
B-Good |
| Sulfuric Acid (hot concentrated) |
D-Severe Effect |
C-Fair |
| Tallow |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Tannic Acid |
B-Good |
A-Excellent |
| Tanning Liquors |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Tin Salts |
N/A |
D-Severe Effect |
| Tomato Juice |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Turpentine |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Urea |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Uric Acid |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Urine |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Varnish |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Vegetable Juice |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Oils: Vinegar |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Vinyl Acetate |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Vinyl Chloride |
B-Good |
A-Excellent |
| Water, Acid, Mine |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Water, Deionized |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Water, Distilled |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Water, Fresh |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Water, Salt |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Weed Killers |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Whey |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Whiskey & Wines |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| White Liquor (Pulp Mill) |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| White Water (Paper Mill) |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Xylene |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Zinc Chloride |
B-Good |
B-Good |
| Zinc Hydrosulfite |
A-Excellent |
A-Excellent |
| Zinc Sulfate |
B-Good |
A-Excellent |
The information in this guide is obtained from various reliable sources and should only be used as a guide to the choice to be made. We always recommend that you test the chemical with the product so that you can see the reaction before making a permanent installation.
