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PTFE and Methanol: Chemical Resistance

Polytetrafluoroethylene

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
concentration not statedAA

Material comparison at 20 °C

Methanol: Material comparison at 20 °CPTFE: A (highlighted); Aluminium: A; ECTFE/ETFE: A; EPDM: A; FEP: A; HDPE: A.Aluminium: AECTFE/ETFE: AEPDM: AFEP: AHDPE: ALDPE: APETG: APMP: AAcetal (POM): APP: APTFE: APTFEPVC Rigid: APVDF: ASS 304: ASS 316: ANylon (PA): BViton (FPM): CNBR: CPolystyrene: CPolysulfone: CPVC Flexible: CSAN: CPolycarbonate: DSilicone: –
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

PTFE shows very good resistance (A) to Methanol at 20 °C, meaning the material remains essentially unaffected by this chemical under standard laboratory test conditions. 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

Methanol is commonly encountered in pharmaceutical manufacturing and cosmetics production. PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) is a fluoropolymer typically used for seals, gaskets, valve seats and lined equipment. Since Methanol 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

PTFE can be used with confidence for Methanol containment and handling. The A rating indicates that the material shows no significant change in weight, dimensions, or mechanical properties after prolonged contact under test conditions. This holds true at both 20 °C and 50 °C, giving a good safety margin for typical process environments.

Did you know?

Polytetrafluoroethylene is commonly chosen for seals, gaskets, valve seats and lined equipment because of its combination of chemical resistance, mechanical strength, and cost-effectiveness.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP A, PVC Rigid A, LDPE A, Nylon (PA) B, Acetal (POM) A, PETG A, PMP A
Fluoropolymers
PVDF A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A
Elastomers
EPDM A
Metals
SS 316 A, SS 304 A, Aluminium A

About PTFE

PTFE is resistant to almost every chemical in this list. The known exceptions are molten alkali metals, elemental fluorine and some fluorinating agents at elevated temperature.

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.