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Aluminium and Acetic Anhydride: Chemical Resistance

Aluminium

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
technical gradeB*–

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Material comparison at 20 °C

Acetic Anhydride: Material comparison at 20 °CAluminium: B (highlighted); FEP: A; PP: A; PTFE: A; SS 304: A; SS 316: A.FEP: APP: APTFE: ASS 304: ASS 316: AAluminium: BAlAcetal (POM): BEPDM: CLDPE: CNylon (PA): CViton (FPM): DHDPE: DNBR: DPolycarbonate: DPMP: DPolystyrene: DPolysulfone: DPVC Rigid: DPVC Flexible: DPVDF: DECTFE/ETFE: –PETG: –SAN: –Silicone: –
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistantno data
Each bar is one material. Taller bars indicate better resistance. The highlighted bar is the current material.

Resistance overview

Aluminium shows good but limited resistance (B) to Acetic Anhydride at technical grade at 20 °C. The material can be used in contact with this chemical, but minor effects such as slight swelling or a small reduction in mechanical properties may occur over extended exposure periods. Regular inspection of components in service is advisable. The rating remains stable between 20 °C and 50 °C, which means this material can also handle moderately elevated process temperatures without additional risk.

Application context

Acetic Anhydride is commonly encountered in chemical processing and water treatment. Aluminium (Aluminium) is a metal typically used for vessels, heat exchangers, fittings and structural components. Because Acetic Anhydride is classified as corrosive, the choice of containment material is especially critical to prevent leaks, equipment damage, and safety hazards.

Practical recommendation

Aluminium is suitable for use with Acetic Anhydride under normal conditions, but some minor effects on the material are expected over time. Periodic monitoring for swelling, softening, or weight change is recommended, especially for long-service components. For safety-critical or long-life applications, consider PP, FEP, PTFE instead, which are rated A for this chemical.

Did you know?

In industrial practice, Aluminium components exposed to Acetic Anhydride are typically inspected for swelling, discoloration, or loss of mechanical strength as early indicators of chemical attack.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Based on the row for technical grade, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
PP A, Acetal (POM) B
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, FEP A
Metals
SS 316 A, SS 304 A

About Aluminium

Aluminium relies on a thin oxide layer. Strong acids, strong alkalis and mercury compounds destroy that layer.

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.

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.