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Hydrocyanic Acid (Hydrogen Cyanide) 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 aqueous, 20 °C.

Rated A, very good resistance
PTFE, HDPE, PP, PVDF, PVC Rigid, EPDM, Viton (FPM), SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium, LDPE, FEP, PVC Flexible, Polystyrene (14)
Rated B, good resistance
none (0)
Rated C, limited resistance
NBR, Nylon (PA) (2)
Rated D, not resistant
Acetal (POM), Polycarbonate, PMP (3)
No data in the source
ECTFE/ETFE, Silicone, Polysulfone, PETG, SAN

Based on the row for aqueous, 20 °C.

Rating profile by material family

Hydrocyanic Acid (Hydrogen Cyanide): Rating profile by material familyThermoplastics: 6 A, 1 C, 3 D, 3 no data. Fluoropolymers: 3 A, 1 no data. Elastomers: 2 A, 1 C, 1 no data. Metals: 3 A.Thermoplastics (13)Thermoplastics: 6 × A, very good resistance (HDPE, LDPE, PP, PVC Rigid, PVC Flexible, Polystyrene)A 6Thermoplastics: 1 × C, limited resistance (Nylon (PA))Thermoplastics: 3 × D, not resistant (PMP, Polycarbonate, Acetal (POM))D 3Thermoplastics: 3 × no data (SAN, PETG, Polysulfone)– 3Fluoropolymers (4)Fluoropolymers: 3 × A, very good resistance (PTFE, FEP, PVDF)A 3Fluoropolymers: 1 × no data (ECTFE/ETFE)– 1Elastomers (4)Elastomers: 2 × A, very good resistance (EPDM, Viton (FPM))A 2Elastomers: 1 × C, limited resistance (NBR)C 1Elastomers: 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

No material with a rating at both temperatures changes grade between 20 °C and 50 °C.

Substance

CAS number
74-90-8
Formula
HCN
Hazard symbols in the source
F+ (extremely flammable), T+ (very toxic) (pre-GHS European symbols; check the current safety data sheet)
Flammable
yes
Concentrations listed
aqueous; technical grade
Name in the source (German)
Blausäure

Rating by concentration

Hydrocyanic Acid (Hydrogen Cyanide): Rating by concentrationHDPE: aqueous A, technical grade A. LDPE: aqueous A, technical grade A. PP: aqueous A, technical grade A. PVC Rigid: aqueous A, technical grade A→C. PVC Flexible: aqueous A, technical grade A. PMP: aqueous D*, technical grade –. Polystyrene: aqueous A, technical grade A. Polycarbonate: aqueous D, technical grade D. Acetal (POM): aqueous D, technical grade D. Nylon (PA): aqueous C*, technical grade C*. PTFE: aqueous A, technical grade A. FEP: aqueous A, technical grade A. PVDF: aqueous A, technical grade A. EPDM: aqueous A, technical grade A. Viton (FPM): aqueous A, technical grade A. NBR: aqueous C, technical grade C. SS 316: aqueous A, technical grade A. SS 304: aqueous A, technical grade A. Aluminium: aqueous A*, technical grade A.aqueoustechnical gradeTHERMOPLASTICSHDPEHDPE, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAHDPE, technical grade: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CALDPELDPE, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CALDPE, technical grade: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPPPP, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPP, technical grade: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVC RigidPVC Rigid, aqueous: A at 20 °CAPVC Rigid, technical grade: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CPVC FlexiblePVC Flexible, aqueous: A at 20 °CAPVC Flexible, technical grade: A at 20 °CAPMPPMP, aqueous: D at 20 °C (estimate)D*PMP, technical grade: no data–PolystyrenePolystyrene, aqueous: A at 20 °CAPolystyrene, technical grade: A at 20 °CAPolycarbonatePolycarbonate, aqueous: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolycarbonate, technical grade: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDAcetal (POM)Acetal (POM), aqueous: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDAcetal (POM), technical grade: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDNylon (PA)Nylon (PA), aqueous: C at 20 °C (estimate)C*Nylon (PA), technical grade: C at 20 °C (estimate)C*FLUOROPOLYMERSPTFEPTFE, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPTFE, technical grade: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEPFEP, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEP, technical grade: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDFPVDF, aqueous: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDF, technical grade: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAELASTOMERSEPDMEPDM, aqueous: A at 20 °CAEPDM, technical grade: A at 20 °CAViton (FPM)Viton (FPM), aqueous: A at 20 °CAViton (FPM), technical grade: A at 20 °CANBRNBR, aqueous: C at 20 °CCNBR, technical grade: C at 20 °CCMETALSSS 316SS 316, aqueous: A at 20 °CASS 316, technical grade: A at 20 °CASS 304SS 304, aqueous: A at 20 °CASS 304, technical grade: A at 20 °CAAluminiumAluminium, aqueous: A at 20 °C (estimate)A*Aluminium, technical grade: 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
Materialaqueoustechnical grade
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC RigidAA
PVC FlexibleAA
PMPD*–
PolystyreneAA
SAN––
PolycarbonateDD
PETG––
Acetal (POM)DD
Nylon (PA)C*C*
Polysulfone––
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFE––
Elastomers
EPDMAA
Viton (FPM)AA
NBRCC
Silicone––
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumA*A

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Resistance table: Hydrocyanic Acid (Hydrogen Cyanide), aqueous

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC RigidA–
PVC FlexibleA–
PMPD*–
PolystyreneA–
PolycarbonateDD
Acetal (POM)DD
Nylon (PA)C*–
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
Elastomers
EPDMA–
Viton (FPM)A–
NBRC–
Metals
SS 316A–
SS 304A–
AluminiumA*–

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

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

Resistance table: Hydrocyanic Acid (Hydrogen Cyanide), technical grade

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC RigidAC
PVC FlexibleA–
PolystyreneA–
PolycarbonateDD
Acetal (POM)DD
Nylon (PA)C*–
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
Elastomers
EPDMA–
Viton (FPM)A–
NBRC–
Metals
SS 316A–
SS 304A–
AluminiumAA

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: PMP, SAN, PETG, Polysulfone, ECTFE/ETFE, 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.

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.