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Benzoic Acid Chemical Resistance

Resistance ratings for 24 plastics, elastomers and metals at 20 °C and 50 °C. Listed at 2 concentrations, because the rating depends on it.

At a glance

Based on the row for saturated, 20 °C.

Rated A, very good resistance
PTFE, HDPE, PP, PVDF, PVC Rigid, Viton (FPM), SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium, LDPE, FEP, ECTFE/ETFE, PVC Flexible, PETG, PMP, SAN (16)
Rated B, good resistance
Acetal (POM), Polystyrene (2)
Rated C, limited resistance
EPDM, NBR, Nylon (PA), Polysulfone (4)
Rated D, not resistant
Polycarbonate (1)
No data in the source
Silicone
Rated lower at 50 °C than at 20 °C
PP (A → C), PVC Rigid (A → B), Aluminium (A → B), Nylon (PA) (C → D), Acetal (POM) (B → D), PMP (A → B)

Based on the row for saturated, 20 °C.

Rating profile by material family

Benzoic Acid: Rating profile by material familyThermoplastics: 8 A, 2 B, 2 C, 1 D. Fluoropolymers: 4 A. Elastomers: 1 A, 2 C, 1 no data. Metals: 3 A.Thermoplastics (13)Thermoplastics: 8 × A, very good resistance (HDPE, LDPE, PP, PVC Rigid, PVC Flexible, PMP, SAN, PETG)A 8Thermoplastics: 2 × B, good resistance (Polystyrene, Acetal (POM))B 2Thermoplastics: 2 × C, limited resistance (Nylon (PA), Polysulfone)C 2Thermoplastics: 1 × D, not resistant (Polycarbonate)Fluoropolymers (4)Fluoropolymers: 4 × A, very good resistance (PTFE, FEP, PVDF, ECTFE/ETFE)A 4Elastomers (4)Elastomers: 1 × A, very good resistance (Viton (FPM))A 1Elastomers: 2 × C, limited resistance (EPDM, NBR)C 2Elastomers: 1 × no data (Silicone)– 1Metals (3)Metals: 3 × A, very good resistance (SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium)A 3
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistantno data
Number of materials in each family with each rating at 20 °C.

Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °C

Benzoic Acid: Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °CPP A → C; PVC Rigid A → B; PMP A → B; Acetal (POM) B → D; Nylon (PA) C → D; Aluminium A → B.ABCDPP: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CPPPVC Rigid: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CPVC RigidPMP: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CPMPAcetal (POM): B at 20 °C, D at 50 °CAcetal (POM)Nylon (PA): C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CNylon (PA)Aluminium: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CAluminium
20 °C50 °C
Materials whose rating differs between 20 °C and 50 °C. Materials not shown keep their rating or have no 50 °C value.

Substance

CAS number
65-85-0
Formula
C7H6O2
Hazard symbols in the source
Xn (harmful), Xi (irritant) (pre-GHS European symbols; check the current safety data sheet)
Concentrations listed
aqueous; saturated
Also listed as
Benzenecarboxylic acid
Name in the source (German)
Benzoesäure

Rating by concentration

Benzoic Acid: Rating by concentrationHDPE: aqueous A, saturated A. LDPE: aqueous A, saturated A. PP: aqueous A→C, saturated A→C. PVC Rigid: aqueous –, saturated A→B. PVC Flexible: aqueous –, saturated A. PMP: aqueous –, saturated A→B. Polystyrene: aqueous –, saturated B. SAN: aqueous –, saturated A. Polycarbonate: aqueous D, saturated D. PETG: aqueous A, saturated A. Acetal (POM): aqueous B→D, saturated B→D. Nylon (PA): aqueous C→D, saturated C→D. Polysulfone: aqueous –, saturated C. PTFE: aqueous A, saturated A. FEP: aqueous A, saturated A. PVDF: aqueous A, saturated A. ECTFE/ETFE: aqueous A, saturated A. EPDM: aqueous C, saturated C. Viton (FPM): aqueous A, saturated A. NBR: aqueous C, saturated C. SS 316: aqueous A, saturated A. SS 304: aqueous A, saturated A. Aluminium: aqueous A→B, saturated A→B.aqueoussaturatedTHERMOPLASTICSHDPEHDPE, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAHDPE, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CALDPELDPE, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CALDPE, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPPPP, aqueous: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CPP, saturated: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CPVC RigidPVC Rigid, aqueous: no data–PVC Rigid, saturated: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPVC FlexiblePVC Flexible, aqueous: no data–PVC Flexible, saturated: A at 20 °CAPMPPMP, aqueous: no data–PMP, saturated: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPolystyrenePolystyrene, aqueous: no data–Polystyrene, saturated: B at 20 °C, B at 50 °CBSANSAN, aqueous: no data–SAN, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPolycarbonatePolycarbonate, aqueous: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolycarbonate, saturated: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPETGPETG, aqueous: A at 20 °CAPETG, saturated: A at 20 °CAAcetal (POM)Acetal (POM), aqueous: B at 20 °C, D at 50 °CB→DAcetal (POM), saturated: B at 20 °C, D at 50 °CB→DNylon (PA)Nylon (PA), aqueous: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CC→DNylon (PA), saturated: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CC→DPolysulfonePolysulfone, aqueous: no data–Polysulfone, saturated: C at 20 °C, C at 50 °CCFLUOROPOLYMERSPTFEPTFE, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPTFE, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEPFEP, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEP, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDFPVDF, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDF, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAECTFE/ETFEECTFE/ETFE, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAECTFE/ETFE, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAELASTOMERSEPDMEPDM, aqueous: C at 20 °CCEPDM, saturated: C at 20 °CCViton (FPM)Viton (FPM), aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAViton (FPM), saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CANBRNBR, aqueous: C at 20 °CCNBR, saturated: C at 20 °CCMETALSSS 316SS 316, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 316, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 304SS 304, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 304, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAAluminiumAluminium, aqueous: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BAluminium, saturated: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→B
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistantno data
Each cell shows the rating at 20 °C. Where the rating at 50 °C differs, it follows the arrow. * marks an estimate in the source.
Show as a table
Materialaqueoussaturated
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC Rigid–A
PVC Flexible–A
PMP–A
Polystyrene–B
SAN–A
PolycarbonateDD
PETGAA
Acetal (POM)BB
Nylon (PA)CC
Polysulfone–C
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMCC
Viton (FPM)AA
NBRCC
Silicone––
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumAA

Resistance table: Benzoic Acid, aqueous

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAC
PolycarbonateDD
PETGA–
Acetal (POM)BD
Nylon (PA)CD
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMC–
Viton (FPM)AA
NBRC–
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumAB

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: PVC Rigid, PVC Flexible, PMP, Polystyrene, SAN, Polysulfone, Silicone

Resistance table: Benzoic Acid, saturated

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAC
PVC RigidAB
PVC FlexibleA–
PMPAB
PolystyreneBB
SANAA
PolycarbonateDD
PETGA–
Acetal (POM)BD
Nylon (PA)CD
PolysulfoneCC
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMC–
Viton (FPM)AA
NBRC–
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumAB

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: Silicone

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which materials resist Benzoic Acid at high concentrations?

The materials with an A rating (resistant) for Benzoic Acid at 20 °C are: PTFE, HDPE, PP, PVDF, PVC Rigid, Viton (FPM), SS 316, SS 304. These can generally be used in direct contact.

Which materials should be avoided with Benzoic Acid?

Materials rated D (not resistant) for Benzoic Acid are: Polycarbonate. These should not be used in contact with Benzoic Acid.

Does temperature affect chemical resistance to Benzoic Acid?

Yes. 6 of 19 tested materials show a worse rating at 50 °C than at 20 °C for Benzoic Acid. Materials affected include: PP, PVC Rigid, Aluminium, Nylon (PA), Acetal (POM), PMP.

Is PTFE safe for Benzoic Acid?

PTFE is rated A for Benzoic Acid at 20 °C. A rating of A means resistant, B means limited resistance, C means partly resistant, and D means not resistant.

Does concentration affect chemical resistance to Benzoic Acid?

Yes. Benzoic Acid is tested at 2 concentrations (aqueous, saturated). Some materials change their rating depending on the concentration.

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.

Chemicals with a similar resistance profile

Same 20 °C rating on the share of materials shown.