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Propionic Acid 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 50 %, 20 °C.

Rated A, very good resistance
PTFE, HDPE, PP, PVDF, PVC Rigid, Viton (FPM), SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium, LDPE, FEP (11)
Rated B, good resistance
none (0)
Rated C, limited resistance
EPDM, Nylon (PA), PVC Flexible (3)
Rated D, not resistant
NBR, Acetal (POM), Polycarbonate, Polystyrene, Polysulfone (5)
No data in the source
ECTFE/ETFE, Silicone, PETG, PMP, SAN
Rated lower at 50 °C than at 20 °C
HDPE (A → C), PVC Rigid (A → C), LDPE (A → C)
Rating changes with concentration (20 °C)
PVC Rigid: A (50 %), D (concentration not stated); EPDM: C (50 %), D (concentration not stated); Viton (FPM): A (50 %), C (concentration not stated); PVC Flexible: C (50 %), D (concentration not stated)

Based on the row for 50 %, 20 °C.

Rating profile by material family

Propionic Acid: Rating profile by material familyThermoplastics: 4 A, 2 C, 4 D, 3 no data. Fluoropolymers: 3 A, 1 no data. Elastomers: 1 A, 1 C, 1 D, 1 no data. Metals: 3 A.Thermoplastics (13)Thermoplastics: 4 × A, very good resistance (HDPE, LDPE, PP, PVC Rigid)A 4Thermoplastics: 2 × C, limited resistance (PVC Flexible, Nylon (PA))C 2Thermoplastics: 4 × D, not resistant (Polystyrene, Polycarbonate, Acetal (POM), Polysulfone)D 4Thermoplastics: 3 × no data (PMP, SAN, PETG)– 3Fluoropolymers (4)Fluoropolymers: 3 × A, very good resistance (PTFE, FEP, PVDF)A 3Fluoropolymers: 1 × no data (ECTFE/ETFE)– 1Elastomers (4)Elastomers: 1 × A, very good resistance (Viton (FPM))A 1Elastomers: 1 × C, limited resistance (EPDM)C 1Elastomers: 1 × D, not resistant (NBR)D 1Elastomers: 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

Propionic Acid: Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °CHDPE A → C; LDPE A → C; PVC Rigid A → C.ABCDHDPE: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CHDPELDPE: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CLDPEPVC Rigid: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CPVC Rigid
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
79-09-4
Formula
C3H6O2
Hazard symbols in the source
C (corrosive) (pre-GHS European symbols; check the current safety data sheet)
Concentrations listed
50 %; concentration not stated
Also listed as
Ethanecarboxylic acid; Propanoic acid
Name in the source (German)
Propionsäure

Rating by concentration

Propionic Acid: Rating by concentrationHDPE: 50 % A→C, concentration not stated A→C. LDPE: 50 % A→C, concentration not stated A→C. PP: 50 % A, concentration not stated A→C. PVC Rigid: 50 % A→C, concentration not stated D. PVC Flexible: 50 % C, concentration not stated D. Polystyrene: 50 % D, concentration not stated D. Polycarbonate: 50 % D, concentration not stated D. Acetal (POM): 50 % D, concentration not stated D. Nylon (PA): 50 % C, concentration not stated C. Polysulfone: 50 % D, concentration not stated D. PTFE: 50 % A, concentration not stated A. FEP: 50 % A*, concentration not stated A. PVDF: 50 % A, concentration not stated A. EPDM: 50 % C, concentration not stated D. Viton (FPM): 50 % A, concentration not stated C. NBR: 50 % D, concentration not stated D. SS 316: 50 % A*, concentration not stated A. SS 304: 50 % A*, concentration not stated A→B. Aluminium: 50 % A, concentration not stated A.50 %concentrationnot statedTHERMOPLASTICSHDPEHDPE, 50 %: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CHDPE, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CLDPELDPE, 50 %: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CLDPE, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CPPPP, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPP, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CPVC RigidPVC Rigid, 50 %: A at 20 °C, C at 50 °CA→CPVC Rigid, concentration not stated: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPVC FlexiblePVC Flexible, 50 %: C at 20 °C, C at 50 °CCPVC Flexible, concentration not stated: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolystyrenePolystyrene, 50 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolystyrene, concentration not stated: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolycarbonatePolycarbonate, 50 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolycarbonate, concentration not stated: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDAcetal (POM)Acetal (POM), 50 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDAcetal (POM), concentration not stated: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDNylon (PA)Nylon (PA), 50 %: C at 20 °C, C at 50 °CCNylon (PA), concentration not stated: C at 20 °C, C at 50 °CCPolysulfonePolysulfone, 50 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDPolysulfone, concentration not stated: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDFLUOROPOLYMERSPTFEPTFE, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPTFE, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEPFEP, 50 %: A at 20 °C (estimate)A*FEP, concentration not stated: A at 20 °CAPVDFPVDF, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDF, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAELASTOMERSEPDMEPDM, 50 %: C at 20 °CCEPDM, concentration not stated: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDViton (FPM)Viton (FPM), 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAViton (FPM), concentration not stated: C at 20 °CCNBRNBR, 50 %: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDNBR, concentration not stated: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDMETALSSS 316SS 316, 50 %: A at 20 °C (estimate)A*SS 316, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASS 304SS 304, 50 %: A at 20 °C (estimate)A*SS 304, concentration not stated: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BAluminiumAluminium, 50 %: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAAluminium, concentration not stated: 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
Material50 %concentration not stated
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC RigidAD
PVC FlexibleCD
PMP––
PolystyreneDD
SAN––
PolycarbonateDD
PETG––
Acetal (POM)DD
Nylon (PA)CC
PolysulfoneDD
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPA*A
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFE––
Elastomers
EPDMCD
Viton (FPM)AC
NBRDD
Silicone––
Metals
SS 316A*A
SS 304A*A
AluminiumAA

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Resistance table: Propionic Acid, 50 %

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAC
LDPEAC
PPAA
PVC RigidAC
PVC FlexibleCC
PolystyreneDD
PolycarbonateDD
Acetal (POM)DD
Nylon (PA)CC
PolysulfoneDD
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPA*–
PVDFAA
Elastomers
EPDMC–
Viton (FPM)AA
NBRDD
Metals
SS 316A*–
SS 304A*–
AluminiumAA

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

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

Resistance table: Propionic Acid, concentration not stated

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAC
LDPEAC
PPAC
PVC RigidDD
PVC FlexibleDD
PolystyreneDD
PolycarbonateDD
Acetal (POM)DD
Nylon (PA)CC
PolysulfoneDD
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPA–
PVDFAA
Elastomers
EPDMDD
Viton (FPM)C–
NBRDD
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AB
AluminiumAA

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: PMP, SAN, PETG, ECTFE/ETFE, 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 Propionic Acid at high concentrations?

The materials with an A rating (resistant) for Propionic Acid at 20 °C are: PTFE, HDPE, PP, PVDF, PVC Rigid, Viton (FPM), SS 316, SS 304. These can generally be used in direct contact.

Which materials should be avoided with Propionic Acid?

Materials rated D (not resistant) for Propionic Acid are: NBR, Acetal (POM), Polycarbonate, Polystyrene, Polysulfone. These should not be used in contact with Propionic Acid.

Does temperature affect chemical resistance to Propionic Acid?

Yes. 3 of 15 tested materials show a worse rating at 50 °C than at 20 °C for Propionic Acid. Materials affected include: HDPE, PVC Rigid, LDPE.

Is PTFE safe for Propionic Acid?

PTFE is rated A for Propionic Acid 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 Propionic Acid?

Yes. Propionic Acid is tested at 2 concentrations (50 %, concentration not stated). 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.

Hydrobromic Acid 78 %Hydrocyanic Acid (Hydrogen Cyanide) 78 %Picric Acid 76 %Hydrazine 75 %Acetic Acid 74 %Benzoic Acid 74 %