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SAN and Hydrofluoric Acid: Chemical Resistance

Styrene-acrylonitrile

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
4 %––
50 %CC
70 %––
100 %––

Material comparison at 20 °C

Hydrofluoric Acid: Material comparison at 20 °CSAN: – (highlighted); FEP: A; LDPE: A; PP: A; PTFE: A; PVC Rigid: A.FEP: ALDPE: APP: APTFE: APVC Rigid: APVDF: AEPDM: CViton (FPM): CPVC Flexible: CAluminium: DNBR: DNylon (PA): DPolycarbonate: DPETG: DAcetal (POM): DPolystyrene: DPolysulfone: DSS 304: DSS 316: DECTFE/ETFE: –HDPE: –PMP: –SAN: –SANSilicone: –
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 has limited resistance (C) to Hydrofluoric Acid at 50 % at 20 °C. This indicates that the chemical has a noticeable effect on the material, which may include visible swelling, softening, or a measurable loss of tensile strength. Use is generally limited to short-term or intermittent contact where full structural integrity is not required. 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

Hydrofluoric Acid is commonly encountered in water treatment and metal finishing. SAN (Styrene-acrylonitrile) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. Because Hydrofluoric Acid is classified as corrosive, the choice of containment material is especially critical to prevent leaks, equipment damage, and safety hazards.

Practical recommendation

No resistance data is available for SAN in contact with Hydrofluoric Acid. Before using this combination, consult the material manufacturer or conduct independent testing.

Did you know?

When choosing between thermoplastics for Hydrofluoric Acid service, engineers consider not just the resistance rating but also factors such as permeation rate, creep resistance, and weldability.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Based on the row for 70 %, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
PP A, PVC Rigid A, LDPE A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP 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.