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SAN and Benzaldehyde: Chemical Resistance

Styrene-acrylonitrile

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
concentration not statedAD

Material comparison at 20 °C

Benzaldehyde: Material comparison at 20 °CSAN: A (highlighted); Aluminium: A; ECTFE/ETFE: A; FEP: A; HDPE: A; PMP: A.Aluminium: AECTFE/ETFE: AFEP: AHDPE: APMP: AAcetal (POM): APP: APTFE: APVDF: ASAN: ASANSS 304: ASS 316: AEPDM: CLDPE: CNylon (PA): CPolysulfone: CViton (FPM): DNBR: DPolycarbonate: DPETG: DPolystyrene: DPVC Rigid: DPVC Flexible: DSilicone: –
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 very good resistance (A) to Benzaldehyde at 20 °C, meaning the material remains essentially unaffected by this chemical under standard laboratory test conditions. However, at 50 °C the resistance rating drops, indicating that temperature must be factored into the design. For heated applications, additional testing under actual service conditions is strongly recommended.

Application context

Benzaldehyde is commonly encountered in de-icing and food processing. SAN (Styrene-acrylonitrile) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. The compatibility between these two is therefore an important consideration for engineers and procurement teams selecting containment, transfer, or processing equipment.

Practical recommendation

SAN can be used with confidence for Benzaldehyde 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. At elevated temperatures (50 °C), some reduction in resistance occurs, so periodic inspection is advisable for heated applications. Always verify performance under actual operating conditions before committing to a design.

Did you know?

The chemical resistance of SAN depends not only on the chemical concentration but also on exposure time, mechanical stress, and the presence of other chemicals in the mixture.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP A, Acetal (POM) A, PMP A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A
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.