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SAN and Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution): Chemical Resistance

Styrene-acrylonitrile

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
5 %––
30 %––
concentration not statedBB

Material comparison at 20 °C

Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution): Material comparison at 20 °CSAN: – (highlighted); Aluminium: A; ECTFE/ETFE: A; EPDM: A; FEP: A; HDPE: A.Aluminium: AECTFE/ETFE: AEPDM: AFEP: AHDPE: ALDPE: APMP: AAcetal (POM): APP: APTFE: APVC Rigid: ASS 304: ASS 316: ANBR: BPETG: BPolystyrene: BPolysulfone: BPVDF: BViton (FPM): CNylon (PA): CPolycarbonate: DPVC Flexible: –SAN: –SANSilicone: –
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

SAN shows good but limited resistance (B) to Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution) 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

Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution) is commonly encountered in pulp and paper and cleaning and sanitation. SAN (Styrene-acrylonitrile) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. Because Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution) is classified as corrosive, the choice of containment material is especially critical to prevent leaks, equipment damage, and safety hazards.

Practical recommendation

No resistance data is available for SAN in contact with Ammonium Hydroxide (Ammonia Solution). Before using this combination, consult the material manufacturer or conduct independent testing.

Did you know?

Chemical resistance testing according to DIN and ISO standards typically evaluates weight change, dimensional change, and retention of tensile strength after immersion.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Based on the row for 30 %, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP A, PVC Rigid A, LDPE A, Acetal (POM) A, Polystyrene B, Polysulfone B, PETG B, PMP A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, PVDF B, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A
Elastomers
EPDM A, NBR B
Metals
SS 316 A, SS 304 A, Aluminium A

About SAN

Styrene-acrylonitrile resists oils and dilute acids better than polystyrene, but ketones, esters and aromatic and chlorinated solvents still attack it.

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.