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SAN and Methyl Isobutyl Ketone (MIBK): Chemical Resistance

Styrene-acrylonitrile

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
concentration not statedDD

Material comparison at 20 °C

Methyl Isobutyl Ketone (MIBK): Material comparison at 20 °CSAN: D (highlighted); Aluminium: A; FEP: A; HDPE: A; Nylon (PA): A; PTFE: A.Aluminium: AFEP: AHDPE: ANylon (PA): APTFE: ASS 304: ASS 316: AECTFE/ETFE: BLDPE: BAcetal (POM): BPP: BPMP: CPVDF: CEPDM: DViton (FPM): DNBR: DPolycarbonate: DPETG: DPolystyrene: DPolysulfone: DPVC Rigid: DPVC Flexible: DSAN: DSANSilicone: –
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 is not resistant (D) to Methyl Isobutyl Ketone (MIBK) 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

Methyl Isobutyl Ketone (MIBK) is commonly encountered in pharmaceutical manufacturing and electronics cleaning. SAN (Styrene-acrylonitrile) is a thermoplastic typically used for tanks, piping, containers and liners. Since Methyl Isobutyl Ketone (MIBK) 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 is not recommended for use with Methyl Isobutyl Ketone (MIBK). 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, Nylon (PA), FEP instead, which are rated A for this chemical and offer reliable long-term performance.

Did you know?

Styrene-acrylonitrile is commonly chosen for tanks, piping, containers and liners because of its combination of chemical resistance, mechanical strength, and cost-effectiveness.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP B, LDPE B, Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) B
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE B
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 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.