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Ethanol Chemical Resistance

Resistance ratings for 24 plastics, elastomers and metals at 20 °C and 50 °C. Listed at 3 concentrations, because the rating depends on it.

At a glance

Based on the row for 96 %, 20 °C.

Rated A, very good resistance
PTFE, HDPE, PP, PVDF, PVC Rigid, EPDM, SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium, LDPE, FEP, ECTFE/ETFE, Nylon (PA), Acetal (POM), Polycarbonate, Polysulfone, PETG, PMP, SAN (19)
Rated B, good resistance
none (0)
Rated C, limited resistance
Viton (FPM), NBR, PVC Flexible, Polystyrene (4)
Rated D, not resistant
none (0)
No data in the source
Silicone
Rated lower at 50 °C than at 20 °C
PVC Rigid (A → C), LDPE (A → C), Acetal (POM) (A → B), Polycarbonate (A → C), Polystyrene (C → D), Polysulfone (A → B), PMP (A → B), SAN (A → C)
Rating changes with concentration (20 °C)
Viton (FPM): A (40 %), C (96 %); NBR: A (40 %), C (96 %); Polystyrene: A (50 %), C (96 %)

Based on the row for 96 %, 20 °C.

Rating profile by material family

Ethanol: Rating profile by material familyThermoplastics: 11 A, 2 C. Fluoropolymers: 4 A. Elastomers: 1 A, 2 C, 1 no data. Metals: 3 A.Thermoplastics (13)Thermoplastics: 11 × A, very good resistance (HDPE, LDPE, PP, PVC Rigid, PMP, SAN, Polycarbonate, PETG, Acetal (POM), Nylon (PA), Polysulfone)A 11Thermoplastics: 2 × C, limited resistance (PVC Flexible, Polystyrene)C 2Fluoropolymers (4)Fluoropolymers: 4 × A, very good resistance (PTFE, FEP, PVDF, ECTFE/ETFE)A 4Elastomers (4)Elastomers: 1 × A, very good resistance (EPDM)A 1Elastomers: 2 × C, limited resistance (Viton (FPM), 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

Ethanol: Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °CLDPE A → C; PVC Rigid A → C; PMP A → B; Polystyrene C → D; SAN A → C; Polycarbonate A → C; Acetal (POM) A → B; Polysulfone A → B.ABCDLDPE: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CLDPEPVC Rigid: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CPVC RigidPMP: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CPMPPolystyrene: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CPolystyreneSAN: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CSANPolycarbonate: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CPolycarbonateAcetal (POM): A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CAcetal (POM)Polysulfone: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CPolysulfone
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
64-17-5
Formula
C2H6O
Hazard symbols in the source
F (flammable) (pre-GHS European symbols; check the current safety data sheet)
Flammable
yes
Concentrations listed
40 %; 50 %; 96 %
Also listed as
Alcohol; Ethyl Alcohol
Name in the source (German)
Ethanol

Rating by concentration

Ethanol: Rating by concentrationHDPE: 40 % A, 50 % A, 96 % A. LDPE: 40 % A→B, 50 % A, 96 % A→C. PP: 40 % A, 50 % A, 96 % A. PVC Rigid: 40 % A, 50 % A, 96 % A→C. PVC Flexible: 40 % –, 50 % C, 96 % C. PMP: 40 % A→B, 50 % A, 96 % A→B. Polystyrene: 40 % B→C, 50 % A, 96 % C→D. SAN: 40 % A, 50 % –, 96 % A→C. Polycarbonate: 40 % A→B, 50 % A, 96 % A→C. PETG: 40 % A, 50 % A, 96 % A. Acetal (POM): 40 % A→B, 50 % A→B, 96 % A→B. Nylon (PA): 40 % A, 50 % A, 96 % A. Polysulfone: 40 % A→B, 50 % A, 96 % A→B. PTFE: 40 % A, 50 % A, 96 % A. FEP: 40 % A, 50 % A, 96 % A. PVDF: 40 % A, 50 % A, 96 % A. ECTFE/ETFE: 40 % A, 50 % –, 96 % A. EPDM: 40 % A, 50 % A, 96 % A. Viton (FPM): 40 % A, 50 % B*, 96 % C. NBR: 40 % A, 50 % A, 96 % C. SS 316: 40 % A, 50 % A, 96 % A. SS 304: 40 % A, 50 % A, 96 % A. Aluminium: 40 % A, 50 % A, 96 % A.40 %50 %96 %THERMOPLASTICSHDPEHDPE, 40 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAHDPE, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAHDPE, 96 %: A at 20 °CALDPELDPE, 40 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BLDPE, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CALDPE, 96 %: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CPPPP, 40 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPP, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPP, 96 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVC RigidPVC Rigid, 40 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVC Rigid, 50 %: A at 20 °CAPVC Rigid, 96 %: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CPVC FlexiblePVC Flexible, 40 %: no data–PVC Flexible, 50 %: C at 20 °CCPVC Flexible, 96 %: C at 20 °CCPMPPMP, 40 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPMP, 50 %: A at 20 °CAPMP, 96 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPolystyrenePolystyrene, 40 %: B at 20 °C, C at 50 °CB→CPolystyrene, 50 %: A at 20 °CAPolystyrene, 96 %: C at 20 °C, D at 50 °CC→DSANSAN, 40 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASAN, 50 %: no data–SAN, 96 %: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CPolycarbonatePolycarbonate, 40 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPolycarbonate, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPolycarbonate, 96 %: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CPETGPETG, 40 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPETG, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPETG, 96 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAAcetal (POM)Acetal (POM), 40 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BAcetal (POM), 50 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BAcetal (POM), 96 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BNylon (PA)Nylon (PA), 40 %: A at 20 °CANylon (PA), 50 %: A at 20 °CANylon (PA), 96 %: A at 20 °CAPolysulfonePolysulfone, 40 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPolysulfone, 50 %: A at 20 °CAPolysulfone, 96 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BFLUOROPOLYMERSPTFEPTFE, 40 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPTFE, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPTFE, 96 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEPFEP, 40 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEP, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEP, 96 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDFPVDF, 40 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDF, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDF, 96 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAECTFE/ETFEECTFE/ETFE, 40 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAECTFE/ETFE, 50 %: no data–ECTFE/ETFE, 96 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAELASTOMERSEPDMEPDM, 40 %: A at 20 °CAEPDM, 50 %: A at 20 °CAEPDM, 96 %: A at 20 °CAViton (FPM)Viton (FPM), 40 %: A at 20 °CAViton (FPM), 50 %: B at 20 °C (estimate)B*Viton (FPM), 96 %: C at 20 °CCNBRNBR, 40 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CANBR, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CANBR, 96 %: C at 20 °C, C at 50 °CCMETALSSS 316SS 316, 40 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 316, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 316, 96 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 304SS 304, 40 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 304, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 304, 96 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAAluminiumAluminium, 40 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAAluminium, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAAluminium, 96 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CA
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
Material40 %50 %96 %
Thermoplastics
HDPEAAA
LDPEAAA
PPAAA
PVC RigidAAA
PVC Flexible–CC
PMPAAA
PolystyreneBAC
SANA–A
PolycarbonateAAA
PETGAAA
Acetal (POM)AAA
Nylon (PA)AAA
PolysulfoneAAA
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAAA
FEPAAA
PVDFAAA
ECTFE/ETFEA–A
Elastomers
EPDMAAA
Viton (FPM)AB*C
NBRAAC
Silicone–––
Metals
SS 316AAA
SS 304AAA
AluminiumAAA

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Resistance table: Ethanol, 40 %

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAB
PPAA
PVC RigidAA
PMPAB
PolystyreneBC
SANAA
PolycarbonateAB
PETGAA
Acetal (POM)AB
Nylon (PA)A–
PolysulfoneAB
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMA–
Viton (FPM)A–
NBRAA
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumAA

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

Resistance table: Ethanol, 50 %

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC RigidA–
PVC FlexibleC–
PMPA–
PolystyreneA–
PolycarbonateAA
PETGAA
Acetal (POM)AB
Nylon (PA)A–
PolysulfoneA–
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
Elastomers
EPDMA–
Viton (FPM)B*–
NBRAA
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumAA

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: SAN, ECTFE/ETFE, Silicone

Resistance table: Ethanol, 96 %

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEA–
LDPEAC
PPAA
PVC RigidACdisputed, see below
PVC FlexibleC–
PMPAB
PolystyreneCD
SANAC
PolycarbonateAC
PETGAA
Acetal (POM)AB
Nylon (PA)A–
PolysulfoneAB
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMA–
Viton (FPM)C–
NBRCC
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumAA

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.

Corrected and disputed values

Source values use the scale 1 (very good) to 4 (not resistant); 1 = A, 4 = D.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which materials resist Ethanol at high concentrations?

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

Does temperature affect chemical resistance to Ethanol?

Yes. 8 of 18 tested materials show a worse rating at 50 °C than at 20 °C for Ethanol. Materials affected include: PVC Rigid, LDPE, Acetal (POM), Polycarbonate, Polystyrene, Polysulfone.

Is PTFE safe for Ethanol?

PTFE is rated A for Ethanol 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 Ethanol?

Yes. Ethanol is tested at 3 concentrations (40 %, 50 %, 96 %). 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.

Hydrogen Sulfide 95 %Sodium Acetate 91 %Vinegar 91 %Silicone Oil 90 %Propanol 90 %Potassium Acetate 89 %