Rating
| Concentration | 20 °C | 50 °C | Remark |
|---|---|---|---|
| concentration not stated | C | D |
Material comparison at 20 °C
Resistance overview
SAN has limited resistance (C) to Isobutanol 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. However, at 50 °C the resistance rating drops, indicating that temperature must be factored into the design. For heated applications, additional testing under actual service conditions is strongly recommended.
Application context
Isobutanol is commonly encountered in food and beverage processing and pharmaceutical manufacturing. SAN (Styrene-acrylonitrile) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. Since Isobutanol is flammable, material selection must also consider the risk of static charge buildup and the need for proper grounding in storage and transfer systems.
Practical recommendation
SAN has limited resistance to Isobutanol 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, HDPE, LDPE, Polycarbonate offer significantly better resistance and are rated A.
Did you know?
The chemical resistance of SAN depends not only on the chemical concentration but also on exposure time, mechanical stress, and the presence of other chemicals in the mixture.
Materials rated A or B at 20 °C
- Thermoplastics
- HDPE A, PP A, PVC Rigid A, LDPE A, Nylon (PA) B, Acetal (POM) A, Polycarbonate A, Polystyrene B, Polysulfone A, PETG B, PMP A
- Fluoropolymers
- PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A
- Elastomers
- EPDM A, Viton (FPM) A
- Metals
- SS 316 A, SS 304 A, Aluminium 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 very good resistance
- B good resistance
- C limited resistance
- D not resistant
- – no data
- K no general statement possible
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.