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Metal Comparison Chart

Metal selection for chemical service depends on the specific chemicals, concentration, and temperature. SS 316 adds molybdenum for chloride resistance, SS 304 is the general-purpose workhorse, and aluminium saves weight but has narrower compatibility.

A = Excellent B = Good C = Limited D = Not Recommended

All rated rows, by rating

All rated rows, by ratingSS 316: A 89 %, B 4 %, C 2 %, D 4 %. SS 304: A 88 %, B 5 %, C 2 %, D 5 %. Aluminium: A 60 %, B 9 %, C 16 %, D 16 %.SS 316 (868)SS 316: A 89 % (773)A 89 %SS 316: B 4 % (39)BSS 316: C 2 % (19)SS 316: D 4 % (37)SS 304 (865)SS 304: A 88 % (758)A 88 %SS 304: B 5 % (40)BSS 304: C 2 % (20)SS 304: D 5 % (47)DAluminium (968)Aluminium: A 60 % (578)A 60 %Aluminium: B 9 % (83)BAluminium: C 16 % (154)C 16 %Aluminium: D 16 % (153)D 16 %
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistant
Share of each rating at 20 °C. The number in brackets is the number of rated source rows.

Share of rows rated A or B, by material and chemical class

Share of rows rated A or B, by material and chemical classMineral acids: SS 316 65 %, SS 304 63 %, Aluminium 16 %. Organic acids: SS 316 98 %, SS 304 96 %, Aluminium 67 %. Alkalis: SS 316 100 %, SS 304 100 %, Aluminium 24 %. Salts and salt solutions: SS 316 93 %, SS 304 93 %, Aluminium 52 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: SS 316 79 %, SS 304 66 %, Aluminium 45 %. Alcohols and glycols: SS 316 100 %, SS 304 100 %, Aluminium 98 %. Phenols: SS 316 100 %, SS 304 100 %, Aluminium 86 %. Ketones and aldehydes: SS 316 100 %, SS 304 100 %, Aluminium 97 %. Esters and ethers: SS 316 100 %, SS 304 100 %, Aluminium 94 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: SS 316 95 %, SS 304 95 %, Aluminium 95 %. Aromatic hydrocarbons: SS 316 100 %, SS 304 100 %, Aluminium 100 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: SS 316 100 %, SS 304 100 %, Aluminium 100 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: SS 316 100 %, SS 304 100 %, Aluminium 100 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: SS 316 88 %, SS 304 88 %, Aluminium 27 %. Foods and beverages: SS 316 100 %, SS 304 100 %, Aluminium 96 %.316304AlMineral acidsMineral acids, SS 316: 65 % (60)65 %Mineral acids, SS 304: 63 % (60)63 %Mineral acids, Aluminium: 16 % (63)16 %Organic acidsOrganic acids, SS 316: 98 % (55)98 %Organic acids, SS 304: 96 % (53)96 %Organic acids, Aluminium: 67 % (64)67 %AlkalisAlkalis, SS 316: 100 % (22)100 %Alkalis, SS 304: 100 % (22)100 %Alkalis, Aluminium: 24 % (21)24 %SaltsSalts and salt solutions, SS 316: 93 % (175)93 %Salts and salt solutions, SS 304: 93 % (175)93 %Salts and salt solutions, Aluminium: 52 % (194)52 %OxidisersOxidising agents and halogens, SS 316: 79 % (57)79 %Oxidising agents and halogens, SS 304: 66 % (56)66 %Oxidising agents and halogens, Aluminium: 45 % (62)45 %AlcoholsAlcohols and glycols, SS 316: 100 % (58)100 %Alcohols and glycols, SS 304: 100 % (58)100 %Alcohols and glycols, Aluminium: 98 % (59)98 %PhenolsPhenols, SS 316: 100 % (11)100 %Phenols, SS 304: 100 % (11)100 %Phenols, Aluminium: 86 % (14)86 %Ketones, aldehydesKetones and aldehydes, SS 316: 100 % (33)100 %Ketones and aldehydes, SS 304: 100 % (33)100 %Ketones and aldehydes, Aluminium: 97 % (35)97 %Esters, ethersEsters and ethers, SS 316: 100 % (69)100 %Esters and ethers, SS 304: 100 % (69)100 %Esters and ethers, Aluminium: 94 % (71)94 %AminesAmines and nitrogen compounds, SS 316: 95 % (38)95 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, SS 304: 95 % (38)95 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, Aluminium: 95 % (39)95 %AromaticsAromatic hydrocarbons, SS 316: 100 % (14)100 %Aromatic hydrocarbons, SS 304: 100 % (14)100 %Aromatic hydrocarbons, Aluminium: 100 % (14)100 %Fuels, mineral oilsFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, SS 316: 100 % (76)100 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, SS 304: 100 % (76)100 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Aluminium: 100 % (78)100 %Vegetable oils, fatsVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, SS 316: 100 % (48)100 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, SS 304: 100 % (48)100 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Aluminium: 100 % (48)100 %HalogenatedHalogenated hydrocarbons, SS 316: 88 % (24)88 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, SS 304: 88 % (24)88 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, Aluminium: 27 % (71)27 %FoodsFoods and beverages, SS 316: 100 % (46)100 %Foods and beverages, SS 304: 100 % (46)100 %Foods and beverages, Aluminium: 96 % (46)96 %
0–19 %20–39 %40–59 %60–79 %80–100 %
Rating at 20 °C. A dash means fewer than 8 rated rows in that class.

Chemical classes were assigned by this site, not by the source. Mixtures and trade products without a clear class are not counted.

Showing 868 chemicals
Chemical Conc. SS316SS304Al
1,2-Dibromoethane
Dibromethan-1,2
—AAC
1-Chloronaphthalene
Chlornaphthalin, 1-
—AAB
1-Pentanethiol
Pentanthiol, 1-
—AAB
Acetic Anhydride
Essigsäureanhydrid
techn. reinAAB
Acetyl Chloride
Acetylchlorid
100 %AAD
Adipic Acid
Adipinsäure
gesättigtBBA
Alkaline Exhaust Gases
Abgase, alkalisch
—AAB
Aluminum Chloride
Aluminiumchlorid
10 %CDD
Aluminum Chloride
Aluminiumchlorid
gesättigtCDD
Aluminum Chloride
Aluminiumchlorid
festCDD
Aluminum Nitrate
Aluminiumnitrat
wässrigAAD
Aluminum Sulfate
Aluminiumsulfat
gesättigtABA
Ammonium Acetate
Ammoniumacetat
gesättigtBBA
Ammonium Bifluoride
Ammoniumhydrogendifluorid
50 %AAC
Ammonium Chloride
Ammoniumchlorid
wässrigAAC
Ammonium Chloride
Ammoniumchlorid
festAAC
Ammonium Dihydrogen Phosphate
Ammoniumdihydrogenphosphat
jedeAAD
Ammonium Fluoride
Ammoniumfluorid
wässrigAAD
Ammonium Fluoride
Ammoniumfluorid
gesättigtAAD
Ammonium Hydrosulfide
Ammoniumhydrosulfid
jedeAAB
Ammonium Iron(II) Sulfate
Ammoniumeisen-(II)-sulfat
—AAD
Ammonium Metaphosphate
Ammoniummetaphosphat
—AAC
Ammonium Nitrate
Ammoniumnitrat
gesättigtAAB
Ammonium Nitrite
Ammoniumnitrit
wässrigAAB
Ammonium Persulfate
Ammoniumperoxodisulfat
wässrigCDD
Ammonium Persulfate
Ammoniumperoxodisulfat
gesättigtCDD
Ammonium Thiocyanate
Ammoniumthiocyanat
—AAB
Antimony Pentachloride
Antimonpentachlorid
—DDC
Antimony Trichloride
Antimontrichlorid
wasserfreiDDA
Apple Juice
Apfelsaft
—AAB
Arsenic Acid
Arsensäure
wässrigAAD
Arsenic Acid
Arsensäure
—AAD
Arsenic Pentoxide
Arsenpentoxid
—AAC
Atropine Sulfate
Atropinsulfat
—AAB
Barium Hydroxide
Bariumhydroxid
wässrigAAC
Barium Hydroxide
Bariumhydroxid
gesättigtAAC
Barium Sulfide
Bariumsulfid
gesättigtAAC
Battery Acid
Akkusäure
38 %BBC
Beef Tallow Emulsion
Rindertalg-Emulsion
sulfuriertAAB
Benzenesulfonic Acid
Benzolsulfonsäure
gesättigtANRC
Benzoyl Chloride
Benzoylchlorid
100 %BBA
Benzyl Chloride
Benzylchlorid
100 %AAD
Bisulfite Liquor
Bisulfitlauge
—AAC
Bisulfite Liquor with SO2
Bisulfitlauge, S02-haltig
gesättigtAAC
Bromine Pentafluoride
Brompentafluorid
—DDC
Bromine Trifluoride
Bromtrifluorid
—DDC
Bromine Vapors
Bromdämpfe
—DDC
Bromomethane
Brommethan
techn. reinAAD
Calcium Acetate
Calciumacetat
wässrigAAB
Calcium Bicarbonate
Calciumbicarbonat
gesättigtAAB
Calcium Bisulfite
Calciumbisulfit
wässrigAAC
Calcium Bisulfite
Calciumbisulfit
gesättigtAAC
Calcium Carbide
Calciumcarbid
—AAC
Calcium Chloride
Calciumchlorid
wässrigAAC
Calcium Chloride
Calciumchlorid
alkoholischAAC
Calcium Hydroxide
Calciumhydroxid
wässrigAAC
Calcium Hydroxide
Calciumhydroxid
konz.AAC
Calcium Hypochlorite
Calciumhypochlorit
wässrigBCD
Calcium Hypochlorite
Calciumhypochlorit
gesättigtBCD
Calcium Hypochlorite
Chlorkalk
wässrigBBD
Calcium Hypochlorite
Chlorkalk
—BBD
Calcium Oxide
Calciumoxid
PulverAAC
Caraway
Kümmel
gemahlenAAD
Carbolineum
wässrigAAB
Carbon Dioxide
Kohlendioxid
gesättigtAAC
Carbon Dioxide
Kohlendioxid, feucht
techn. reinAAC
Carbon Dioxide
Kohlendioxid, trocken
techn. reinAAC
Chloramine-T
Chloramin T
verdünntABC
Chloric Acid
Chlorsäure
1 %DDC
Chlorine
Chlor
97 %AAC
Chlorine Gas
Chlorgas
—AAC
Chlorine Water
Chlorwasser
—BBD
Chloroacetic Acid
Chloressigsäure
50 %BBD
Chloroethane
Chlorethan
—AAC
Chloroethanol
Chlorethanol
techn. reinAAC
Chloroform
100 %AAC
Chloromethane
Chlormethan
techn. reinAAD
Chlorotoluene
Chlortoluol
—AAC
Chrome Alum
Chromalaun
gesättigtAAC
Chromic Acid
Chromsäure
20 %BBA

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 316 or 304 stainless steel better for chemical resistance?
316 SS is better for most chemical environments, especially those involving chlorides, acids, and marine conditions. The molybdenum in 316 provides significantly better pitting and crevice corrosion resistance. 304 is adequate for mild chemicals and food processing.
Can aluminium be used with acids?
Aluminium has good resistance to some organic acids and dilute mineral acids, but is attacked by strong alkalis (NaOH, KOH) and hydrochloric acid. It performs well with many organic solvents and fuels.

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