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Aluminium and Mercury Nitrate: Chemical Resistance

Aluminium

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
saturatedDD

Material comparison at 20 °C

Mercury Nitrate: Material comparison at 20 °CAluminium: D (highlighted); ECTFE/ETFE: A; EPDM: A; FEP: A; Viton (FPM): A; HDPE: A.ECTFE/ETFE: AEPDM: AFEP: AViton (FPM): AHDPE: ALDPE: ANBR: ANylon (PA): APP: APolystyrene: APTFE: APVC Rigid: APVC Flexible: APVDF: ASS 304: ASS 316: APolycarbonate: BPETG: BAcetal (POM): CAluminium: DAlPMP: –Polysulfone: –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

Aluminium is not resistant (D) to Mercury Nitrate at saturated and should not be used in direct contact. The chemical is expected to cause rapid degradation, which can include dissolution, cracking, severe swelling, or complete structural failure of the material.

Application context

Mercury Nitrate is commonly encountered in water treatment and food processing. Aluminium (Aluminium) is a metal typically used for vessels, heat exchangers, fittings and structural components. The compatibility between these two is therefore an important consideration for engineers and procurement teams selecting containment, transfer, or processing equipment.

Practical recommendation

Aluminium is not recommended for use with Mercury Nitrate. 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, Nylon (PA) instead, which are rated A for this chemical and offer reliable long-term performance.

Did you know?

The chemical resistance of Aluminium 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

Based on the row for saturated, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP A, PVC Rigid A, LDPE A, Nylon (PA) A, Polycarbonate B, PVC Flexible A, Polystyrene A, PETG B
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A
Elastomers
EPDM A, Viton (FPM) A, NBR A
Metals
SS 316 A, SS 304 A

About Aluminium

Aluminium relies on a thin oxide layer. Strong acids, strong alkalis and mercury compounds destroy that layer.

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.