ChemicalResistance
ChemicalResistance.org

SAN and Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12): Chemical Resistance

Styrene-acrylonitrile

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
technical gradeCC
concentration not statedCC

Material comparison at 20 °C

Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12): Material comparison at 20 °CSAN: C (highlighted); Nylon (PA): A; Acetal (POM): A; Polysulfone: A; PTFE: A; PVC Rigid: B.Nylon (PA): AAcetal (POM): APolysulfone: APTFE: APVC Rigid: BAluminium: CEPDM: CFEP: CViton (FPM): CLDPE: CNBR: CPVDF: CSAN: CSANHDPE: DPolycarbonate: DPP: DPolystyrene: DPVC Flexible: DECTFE/ETFE: –PETG: –PMP: –Silicone: –SS 304: –SS 316: –
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 maintains a consistent rating of C across all 2 tested concentrations (technical grade) of Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12) 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

Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12) is commonly encountered in water disinfection and chemical 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 has limited resistance to Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12) and should only be used for short-term or intermittent contact at ambient temperature. The C rating means the material undergoes noticeable changes — swelling, loss of strength, or surface degradation — that make it unsuitable for permanent installations. For prolonged or continuous exposure, Nylon (PA), Acetal (POM), Polysulfone offer significantly better resistance and are rated A.

Did you know?

In industrial practice, SAN components exposed to Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12) are typically inspected for swelling, discoloration, or loss of mechanical strength as early indicators of chemical attack.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Based on the row for technical grade, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
PVC Rigid B, Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) A, Polysulfone A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE 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.