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SS 304 and Aluminum Chloride: Chemical Resistance

Stainless steel 1.4301 (AISI 304)

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
10 %DD
saturatedDD
solidDD

Material comparison at 20 °C

Aluminum Chloride: Material comparison at 20 °CSS 304: D (highlighted); EPDM: A; FEP: A; Viton (FPM): A; HDPE: A; LDPE: A.EPDM: AFEP: AViton (FPM): AHDPE: ALDPE: ANBR: ANylon (PA): APolycarbonate: APMP: APP: APolystyrene: APTFE: APVC Rigid: APVDF: ASAN: AECTFE/ETFE: BPETG: BAcetal (POM): CSS 316: CAluminium: DSS 304: D304Polysulfone: –PVC Flexible: –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

SS 304 maintains a consistent rating of D across all 3 tested concentrations (10 %, saturated, solid) of Aluminum Chloride at 20 °C. The fact that the rating does not change with concentration within the tested range simplifies material selection, though the boundary conditions beyond this range remain untested. 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

Aluminum Chloride is commonly encountered in bleaching and waste treatment. SS 304 (Stainless steel 1.4301 (AISI 304)) is a metal typically used for vessels, heat exchangers, fittings and structural components. Because Aluminum Chloride is classified as corrosive, the choice of containment material is especially critical to prevent leaks, equipment damage, and safety hazards.

Practical recommendation

SS 304 is not recommended for use with Aluminum Chloride. The D rating indicates that the material will suffer rapid and severe degradation, which may include cracking, dissolution, severe swelling, or complete structural failure. Using this combination risks equipment damage, leaks, and potential safety incidents. Consider using HDPE, LDPE, Nylon (PA) instead, which are rated A for this chemical and offer reliable long-term performance.

Did you know?

When choosing between metals for Aluminum Chloride service, engineers consider not just the resistance rating but also factors such as permeation rate, creep resistance, and weldability.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Based on the row for 10 %, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP A, PVC Rigid A, LDPE A, Nylon (PA) A, Polycarbonate A, Polystyrene A, PETG B, PMP A, SAN A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE B
Elastomers
EPDM A, Viton (FPM) A, NBR A

About SS 304

Stainless steel 304 (1.4301) resists oxidising acids and most organic chemicals. Chlorides cause pitting and stress-corrosion cracking.

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.