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SS 304 and Hydrobromic Acid: Chemical Resistance

Stainless steel 1.4301 (AISI 304)

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
40 %D*–
50 %D*–
diluteD*–

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Material comparison at 20 °C

Hydrobromic Acid: Material comparison at 20 °CSS 304: D (highlighted); ECTFE/ETFE: A; FEP: A; Viton (FPM): A; HDPE: A; LDPE: A.ECTFE/ETFE: AFEP: AViton (FPM): AHDPE: ALDPE: APP: APTFE: APVC Rigid: APVDF: AEPDM: CPVC Flexible: CAluminium: DNBR: DNylon (PA): DPolycarbonate: DPETG: DPMP: DAcetal (POM): DPolystyrene: DSS 304: D304SS 316: DPolysulfone: –SAN: –Silicone: –
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

SS 304 maintains a consistent rating of D across all 3 tested concentrations (40 %, 50 %, dilute) of Hydrobromic Acid 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

Hydrobromic Acid is commonly encountered in water treatment and chemical processing. SS 304 (Stainless steel 1.4301 (AISI 304)) is a metal typically used for vessels, heat exchangers, fittings and structural components. Because Hydrobromic Acid is classified as corrosive, the choice of containment material is especially critical to prevent leaks, equipment damage, and safety hazards.

Practical recommendation

SS 304 is not recommended for use with Hydrobromic Acid. The D rating indicates that the material will suffer rapid and severe degradation, which may include cracking, dissolution, severe swelling, or complete structural failure. Using this combination risks equipment damage, leaks, and potential safety incidents. Consider using HDPE, LDPE, PP instead, which are rated A for this chemical and offer reliable long-term performance.

Did you know?

In industrial practice, SS 304 components exposed to Hydrobromic Acid 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 50 %, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP A, PVC Rigid A, LDPE A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A
Elastomers
Viton (FPM) A

About SS 304

Stainless steel 304 (1.4301) resists oxidising acids and most organic chemicals. Chlorides cause pitting and stress-corrosion cracking.

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.