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PTFE and Acetonitrile: Chemical Resistance

Polytetrafluoroethylene

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
concentration not statedA*–

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Material comparison at 20 °C

Acetonitrile: Material comparison at 20 °CPTFE: A (highlighted); Aluminium: A; ECTFE/ETFE: A; FEP: A; HDPE: A; LDPE: A.Aluminium: AECTFE/ETFE: AFEP: AHDPE: ALDPE: ANylon (PA): APTFE: APTFEPVDF: ASS 304: ASS 316: AEPDM: CViton (FPM): CPMP: CAcetal (POM): CPP: CNBR: DPolycarbonate: DPETG: DPolystyrene: DPolysulfone: DPVC Rigid: DPVC Flexible: –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

PTFE shows very good resistance (A) to Acetonitrile at 20 °C, meaning the material remains essentially unaffected by this chemical under standard laboratory test conditions. 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

Acetonitrile is commonly encountered in chemical synthesis and coatings and paints. PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) is a fluoropolymer typically used for seals, gaskets, valve seats and lined equipment. Since Acetonitrile is flammable, material selection must also consider the risk of static charge buildup and the need for proper grounding in storage and transfer systems.

Practical recommendation

PTFE can be used with confidence for Acetonitrile containment and handling. The A rating indicates that the material shows no significant change in weight, dimensions, or mechanical properties after prolonged contact under test conditions. This holds true at both 20 °C and 50 °C, giving a good safety margin for typical process environments.

Did you know?

Polytetrafluoroethylene was first developed in the 1940s and remains one of the most widely used fluoropolymers in chemical handling equipment.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, LDPE A, Nylon (PA) A
Fluoropolymers
PVDF A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A
Metals
SS 316 A, SS 304 A, Aluminium A

About PTFE

PTFE is resistant to almost every chemical in this list. The known exceptions are molten alkali metals, elemental fluorine and some fluorinating agents at elevated temperature.

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.