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PTFE and Bromine: Chemical Resistance

Polytetrafluoroethylene

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
concentration not statedAC

Material comparison at 20 °C

Bromine: Material comparison at 20 °CPTFE: A (highlighted); ECTFE/ETFE: A; FEP: A; PVDF: A; PVC Rigid: B; Viton (FPM): C.ECTFE/ETFE: AFEP: APTFE: APTFEPVDF: APVC Rigid: BViton (FPM): CAluminium: DEPDM: DHDPE: DLDPE: DNBR: DNylon (PA): DPolycarbonate: DPETG: DPMP: DAcetal (POM): DPP: DPolystyrene: DPolysulfone: DPVC Flexible: DSAN: DSS 304: DSS 316: 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

PTFE shows very good resistance (A) to Bromine 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

Bromine is commonly encountered in chemical processing and pulp and paper. PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) is a fluoropolymer typically used for seals, gaskets, valve seats and lined equipment. Because Bromine is classified as corrosive, the choice of containment material is especially critical to prevent leaks, equipment damage, and safety hazards.

Practical recommendation

PTFE can be used with confidence for Bromine 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 PTFE 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
PVC Rigid B
Fluoropolymers
PVDF A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE 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.