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Phenol Chemical Resistance

Resistance ratings for 24 plastics, elastomers and metals at 20 °C and 50 °C. Listed at 2 concentrations, because the rating depends on it.

At a glance

Based on the row for 100 %, 20 °C.

Rated A, very good resistance
PTFE, PP, PVDF, SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium, FEP, ECTFE/ETFE, PMP (9)
Rated B, good resistance
HDPE (1)
Rated C, limited resistance
Viton (FPM), LDPE, PVC Flexible, Polysulfone (4)
Rated D, not resistant
PVC Rigid, EPDM, NBR, Nylon (PA), Acetal (POM), Polycarbonate, Polystyrene, PETG, SAN (9)
No data in the source
Silicone
Rated lower at 50 °C than at 20 °C
HDPE (B → C), PP (A → B), SS 304 (A → B)
Rating changes with concentration (20 °C)
HDPE: A (10 %), B (100 %); PVC Rigid: A (10 %), D (100 %); Viton (FPM): B (10 %), C (100 %); LDPE: A (10 %), C (100 %); Polysulfone: C (100 %), D (10 %); SAN: C (10 %), D (100 %)

Based on the row for 100 %, 20 °C.

Rating profile by material family

Phenol: Rating profile by material familyThermoplastics: 2 A, 1 B, 3 C, 7 D. Fluoropolymers: 4 A. Elastomers: 1 C, 2 D, 1 no data. Metals: 3 A.Thermoplastics (13)Thermoplastics: 2 × A, very good resistance (PP, PMP)A 2Thermoplastics: 1 × B, good resistance (HDPE)Thermoplastics: 3 × C, limited resistance (LDPE, PVC Flexible, Polysulfone)C 3Thermoplastics: 7 × D, not resistant (PVC Rigid, Polystyrene, SAN, Polycarbonate, PETG, Acetal (POM), Nylon (PA))D 7Fluoropolymers (4)Fluoropolymers: 4 × A, very good resistance (PTFE, FEP, PVDF, ECTFE/ETFE)A 4Elastomers (4)Elastomers: 1 × C, limited resistance (Viton (FPM))C 1Elastomers: 2 × D, not resistant (EPDM, NBR)D 2Elastomers: 1 × no data (Silicone)– 1Metals (3)Metals: 3 × A, very good resistance (SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium)A 3
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistantno data
Number of materials in each family with each rating at 20 °C.

Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °C

Phenol: Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °CHDPE B → C; PP A → B; SS 304 A → B.ABCDHDPE: B at 20 °C, C at 50 °CHDPEPP: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CPPSS 304: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CSS 304
20 °C50 °C
Materials whose rating differs between 20 °C and 50 °C. Materials not shown keep their rating or have no 50 °C value.

Substance

CAS number
108-95-2
Formula
C6H6O
Hazard symbols in the source
T (toxic) (pre-GHS European symbols; check the current safety data sheet)
Concentrations listed
10 %; 100 %
Also listed as
Carbolic Acid
Name in the source (German)
Phenol

Rating by concentration

Phenol: Rating by concentrationHDPE: 10 % A, 100 % B→C. LDPE: 10 % A, 100 % C. PP: 10 % A, 100 % A→B. PVC Rigid: 10 % A→C, 100 % D. PVC Flexible: 10 % C, 100 % C. PMP: 10 % A, 100 % A. Polystyrene: 10 % D, 100 % D. SAN: 10 % C, 100 % D. Polycarbonate: 10 % D, 100 % D. PETG: 10 % D, 100 % D. Acetal (POM): 10 % D, 100 % D. Nylon (PA): 10 % D, 100 % D. Polysulfone: 10 % D, 100 % C. PTFE: 10 % A, 100 % A. FEP: 10 % A, 100 % A. PVDF: 10 % A, 100 % A. ECTFE/ETFE: 10 % –, 100 % A. EPDM: 10 % D, 100 % D. Viton (FPM): 10 % B→C, 100 % C. NBR: 10 % D, 100 % D. SS 316: 10 % A, 100 % A. SS 304: 10 % A→B, 100 % A→B. Aluminium: 10 % A, 100 % A.10 %100 %THERMOPLASTICSHDPEHDPE, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAHDPE, 100 %: B at 20 °C, C at 50 °CB→CLDPELDPE, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CALDPE, 100 %: C at 20 °C, C at 50 °CCPPPP, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPP, 100 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPVC RigidPVC Rigid, 10 %: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CPVC Rigid, 100 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPVC FlexiblePVC Flexible, 10 %: C at 20 °C, C at 50 °CCPVC Flexible, 100 %: C at 20 °CCPMPPMP, 10 %: A at 20 °CAPMP, 100 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPolystyrenePolystyrene, 10 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolystyrene, 100 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDSANSAN, 10 %: C at 20 °C, C at 50 °CCSAN, 100 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolycarbonatePolycarbonate, 10 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolycarbonate, 100 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPETGPETG, 10 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPETG, 100 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDAcetal (POM)Acetal (POM), 10 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDAcetal (POM), 100 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDNylon (PA)Nylon (PA), 10 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDNylon (PA), 100 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolysulfonePolysulfone, 10 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolysulfone, 100 %: C at 20 °C, C at 50 °CCFLUOROPOLYMERSPTFEPTFE, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPTFE, 100 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEPFEP, 10 %: A at 20 °CAFEP, 100 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDFPVDF, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDF, 100 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAECTFE/ETFEECTFE/ETFE, 10 %: no data–ECTFE/ETFE, 100 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAELASTOMERSEPDMEPDM, 10 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDEPDM, 100 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDViton (FPM)Viton (FPM), 10 %: B at 20 °C, C at 50 °CB→CViton (FPM), 100 %: C at 20 °CCNBRNBR, 10 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDNBR, 100 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDMETALSSS 316SS 316, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 316, 100 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 304SS 304, 10 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BSS 304, 100 %: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BAluminiumAluminium, 10 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAAluminium, 100 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CA
A very good resistanceB good resistanceC limited resistanceD not resistantno data
Each cell shows the rating at 20 °C. Where the rating at 50 °C differs, it follows the arrow. * marks an estimate in the source.
Show as a table
Material10 %100 %
Thermoplastics
HDPEAB
LDPEAC
PPAA
PVC RigidAD
PVC FlexibleCC
PMPAA
PolystyreneDD
SANCD
PolycarbonateDD
PETGDD
Acetal (POM)DD
Nylon (PA)DD
PolysulfoneDC
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFE–A
Elastomers
EPDMDD
Viton (FPM)BC
NBRDD
Silicone––
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumAA

Resistance table: Phenol, 10 %

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC RigidAC
PVC FlexibleCC
PMPA–
PolystyreneDD
SANCC
PolycarbonateDD
PETGDD
Acetal (POM)DD
Nylon (PA)DD
PolysulfoneDD
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPA–
PVDFAA
Elastomers
EPDMDD
Viton (FPM)BC
NBRDD
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AB
AluminiumAA

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: ECTFE/ETFE, Silicone

Resistance table: Phenol, 100 %

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEBC
LDPECC
PPAB
PVC RigidDD
PVC FlexibleC–
PMPAA
PolystyreneDD
SANDD
PolycarbonateDD
PETGDD
Acetal (POM)DD
Nylon (PA)DD
PolysulfoneCC
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMDD
Viton (FPM)C–
NBRDD
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AB
AluminiumAA

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: Silicone

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which materials resist Phenol at high concentrations?

The materials with an A rating (resistant) for Phenol at 20 °C are: PTFE, PP, PVDF, SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium, FEP, ECTFE/ETFE. These can generally be used in direct contact.

Which materials should be avoided with Phenol?

Materials rated D (not resistant) for Phenol are: PVC Rigid, EPDM, NBR, Nylon (PA), Acetal (POM), Polycarbonate, Polystyrene, PETG. These should not be used in contact with Phenol.

Does temperature affect chemical resistance to Phenol?

Yes. 3 of 21 tested materials show a worse rating at 50 °C than at 20 °C for Phenol. Materials affected include: HDPE, PP, SS 304.

Is PTFE safe for Phenol?

PTFE is rated A for Phenol at 20 °C. A rating of A means resistant, B means limited resistance, C means partly resistant, and D means not resistant.

Does concentration affect chemical resistance to Phenol?

Yes. Phenol is tested at 2 concentrations (10 %, 100 %). Some materials change their rating depending on the concentration.

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.

Chemicals with a similar resistance profile

Same 20 °C rating on the share of materials shown.

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