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Acetaldehyde Chemical Resistance

Resistance ratings for 24 plastics, elastomers and metals at 20 °C and 50 °C. Listed at 2 concentrations, because the rating depends on it.

At a glance

Based on the row for 40 %, 20 °C.

Rated A, very good resistance
PTFE, SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium, FEP (5)
Rated B, good resistance
LDPE, ECTFE/ETFE, Nylon (PA), Acetal (POM), PMP (5)
Rated C, limited resistance
HDPE, PP, EPDM (3)
Rated D, not resistant
PVDF, PVC Rigid, Viton (FPM), NBR, Polycarbonate, Polystyrene, Polysulfone, PETG, SAN (9)
No data in the source
Silicone, PVC Flexible
Rated lower at 50 °C than at 20 °C
PP (C → D), LDPE (B → D), ECTFE/ETFE (B → C), PMP (B → D)

Based on the row for 40 %, 20 °C.

Rating profile by material family

Acetaldehyde: Rating profile by material familyThermoplastics: 4 B, 2 C, 6 D, 1 no data. Fluoropolymers: 2 A, 1 B, 1 D. Elastomers: 1 C, 2 D, 1 no data. Metals: 3 A.Thermoplastics (13)Thermoplastics: 4 × B, good resistance (LDPE, PMP, Acetal (POM), Nylon (PA))B 4Thermoplastics: 2 × C, limited resistance (HDPE, PP)C 2Thermoplastics: 6 × D, not resistant (PVC Rigid, Polystyrene, SAN, Polycarbonate, PETG, Polysulfone)D 6Thermoplastics: 1 × no data (PVC Flexible)Fluoropolymers (4)Fluoropolymers: 2 × A, very good resistance (PTFE, FEP)A 2Fluoropolymers: 1 × B, good resistance (ECTFE/ETFE)B 1Fluoropolymers: 1 × D, not resistant (PVDF)D 1Elastomers (4)Elastomers: 1 × C, limited resistance (EPDM)C 1Elastomers: 2 × D, not resistant (Viton (FPM), NBR)D 2Elastomers: 1 × no data (Silicone)– 1Metals (3)Metals: 3 × A, very good resistance (SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium)A 3
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistantno data
Number of materials in each family with each rating at 20 °C.

Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °C

Acetaldehyde: Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °CLDPE B → D; PP C → D; PMP B → D; ECTFE/ETFE B → C.ABCDLDPE: B at 20 °C, D at 50 °CLDPEPP: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CPPPMP: B at 20 °C, D at 50 °CPMPECTFE/ETFE: B at 20 °C, C at 50 °CECTFE/ETFE
20 °C50 °C
Materials whose rating differs between 20 °C and 50 °C. Materials not shown keep their rating or have no 50 °C value.

Substance

CAS number
75-07-0
Formula
C2H4O
Hazard symbols in the source
F+ (extremely flammable), Xn (harmful) (pre-GHS European symbols; check the current safety data sheet)
Flammable
yes
Concentrations listed
40 %; technical grade
Name in the source (German)
Acetaldehyd

Rating by concentration

Acetaldehyde: Rating by concentrationHDPE: 40 % C, technical grade C. LDPE: 40 % B→D, technical grade B→D. PP: 40 % C→D, technical grade C→D. PVC Rigid: 40 % D, technical grade D. PMP: 40 % B→D, technical grade B→D. Polystyrene: 40 % D, technical grade D. SAN: 40 % D, technical grade D. Polycarbonate: 40 % D, technical grade D. PETG: 40 % D*, technical grade D*. Acetal (POM): 40 % B, technical grade B. Nylon (PA): 40 % B, technical grade B. Polysulfone: 40 % D, technical grade D. PTFE: 40 % A, technical grade A. FEP: 40 % A*, technical grade A*. PVDF: 40 % D, technical grade D. ECTFE/ETFE: 40 % B→C, technical grade B→C. EPDM: 40 % C, technical grade C. Viton (FPM): 40 % D, technical grade D. NBR: 40 % D, technical grade D. SS 316: 40 % A*, technical grade A*. SS 304: 40 % A*, technical grade A*. Aluminium: 40 % A*, technical grade A*.40 %technical gradeTHERMOPLASTICSHDPEHDPE, 40 %: C at 20 °C, C at 50 °CCHDPE, technical grade: C at 20 °C, C at 50 °CCLDPELDPE, 40 %: B at 20 °C, D at 50 °CB→DLDPE, technical grade: B at 20 °C, D at 50 °CB→DPPPP, 40 %: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CC→DPP, technical grade: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CC→DPVC RigidPVC Rigid, 40 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPVC Rigid, technical grade: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPMPPMP, 40 %: B at 20 °C, D at 50 °CB→DPMP, technical grade: B at 20 °C, D at 50 °CB→DPolystyrenePolystyrene, 40 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolystyrene, technical grade: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDSANSAN, 40 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDSAN, technical grade: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolycarbonatePolycarbonate, 40 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolycarbonate, technical grade: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPETGPETG, 40 %: D at 20 °C (estimate)D*PETG, technical grade: D at 20 °C (estimate)D*Acetal (POM)Acetal (POM), 40 %: B at 20 °CBAcetal (POM), technical grade: B at 20 °CBNylon (PA)Nylon (PA), 40 %: B at 20 °CBNylon (PA), technical grade: B at 20 °CBPolysulfonePolysulfone, 40 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolysulfone, technical grade: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDFLUOROPOLYMERSPTFEPTFE, 40 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPTFE, technical grade: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEPFEP, 40 %: A at 20 °C (estimate)A*FEP, technical grade: A at 20 °C (estimate)A*PVDFPVDF, 40 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPVDF, technical grade: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDECTFE/ETFEECTFE/ETFE, 40 %: B at 20 °C, C at 50 °CB→CECTFE/ETFE, technical grade: B at 20 °C, C at 50 °CB→CELASTOMERSEPDMEPDM, 40 %: C at 20 °CCEPDM, technical grade: C at 20 °CCViton (FPM)Viton (FPM), 40 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDViton (FPM), technical grade: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDNBRNBR, 40 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDNBR, technical grade: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDMETALSSS 316SS 316, 40 %: A at 20 °C (estimate)A*SS 316, technical grade: A at 20 °C (estimate)A*SS 304SS 304, 40 %: A at 20 °C (estimate)A*SS 304, technical grade: A at 20 °C (estimate)A*AluminiumAluminium, 40 %: A at 20 °C (estimate)A*Aluminium, technical grade: A at 20 °C (estimate)A*
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistantno data
Each cell shows the rating at 20 °C. Where the rating at 50 °C differs, it follows the arrow. * marks an estimate in the source.
Show as a table
Material40 %technical grade
Thermoplastics
HDPECC
LDPEBB
PPCC
PVC RigidDD
PVC Flexible––
PMPBB
PolystyreneDD
SANDD
PolycarbonateDD
PETGD*D*
Acetal (POM)BB
Nylon (PA)BB
PolysulfoneDD
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPA*A*
PVDFDD
ECTFE/ETFEBB
Elastomers
EPDMCC
Viton (FPM)DD
NBRDD
Silicone––
Metals
SS 316A*A*
SS 304A*A*
AluminiumA*A*

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Resistance table: Acetaldehyde, 40 %

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPECC
LDPEBD
PPCD
PVC RigidDD
PMPBD
PolystyreneDD
SANDD
PolycarbonateDD
PETGD*–
Acetal (POM)B–
Nylon (PA)B–
PolysulfoneDD
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPA*–
PVDFDD
ECTFE/ETFEBC
Elastomers
EPDMC–
Viton (FPM)DD
NBRDD
Metals
SS 316A*–
SS 304A*–
AluminiumA*–

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: PVC Flexible, Silicone

Resistance table: Acetaldehyde, technical grade

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPECC
LDPEBD
PPCD
PVC RigidDD
PMPBD
PolystyreneDD
SANDD
PolycarbonateDD
PETGD*–
Acetal (POM)B–
Nylon (PA)B–
PolysulfoneDD
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPA*–
PVDFDD
ECTFE/ETFEBC
Elastomers
EPDMC–
Viton (FPM)DD
NBRDD
Metals
SS 316A*–
SS 304A*–
AluminiumA*–

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: PVC Flexible, Silicone

Rating scale

A rating marked * is an estimate in the source, not a test result. An estimate is given as one value without a temperature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which materials resist Acetaldehyde at high concentrations?

The materials with an A rating (resistant) for Acetaldehyde at 20 °C are: PTFE, SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium, FEP. These can generally be used in direct contact.

Which materials should be avoided with Acetaldehyde?

Materials rated D (not resistant) for Acetaldehyde are: PVDF, PVC Rigid, Viton (FPM), NBR, Polycarbonate, Polystyrene, Polysulfone, PETG. These should not be used in contact with Acetaldehyde.

Does temperature affect chemical resistance to Acetaldehyde?

Yes. 4 of 14 tested materials show a worse rating at 50 °C than at 20 °C for Acetaldehyde. Materials affected include: PP, LDPE, ECTFE/ETFE, PMP.

Is PTFE safe for Acetaldehyde?

PTFE is rated A for Acetaldehyde at 20 °C. A rating of A means resistant, B means limited resistance, C means partly resistant, and D means not resistant.

Does concentration affect chemical resistance to Acetaldehyde?

Yes. Acetaldehyde is tested at 2 concentrations (40 %, technical grade). Some materials change their rating depending on the concentration.

About this data

The ratings come from the chemical resistance list published by Bürkle GmbH, which compiled them from raw-material manufacturers’ data. They describe laboratory tests on the raw material at 20 °C and 50 °C.

A finished part also sees pressure, mechanical stress, welds and mixtures that a laboratory test does not. Treat the rating as a first filter and test under your own conditions before relying on it.

Chemicals with a similar resistance profile

Same 20 °C rating on the share of materials shown.

Amyl Acetate 77 %Diethyl Ketone 77 %Methyl Propyl Ketone (2-Pentanone) 77 %Methyl Methacrylate (MMA) 76 %Methyl Acrylate 75 %Butyl Acetate 73 %