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Salicylic 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 saturated, 20 °C.

Rated A, very good resistance
PTFE, HDPE, PP, PVDF, EPDM, Viton (FPM), SS 316, SS 304, Aluminium, LDPE, FEP, ECTFE/ETFE, Nylon (PA), Polycarbonate, Polystyrene, Polysulfone, PETG, PMP, SAN (19)
Rated B, good resistance
PVC Rigid (1)
Rated C, limited resistance
NBR (1)
Rated D, not resistant
Acetal (POM) (1)
No data in the source
Silicone, PVC Flexible
Rated lower at 50 °C than at 20 °C
PVC Rigid (B → C), Polycarbonate (A → B), Polystyrene (A → B)
Rating changes with concentration (20 °C)
Acetal (POM): C (powder), D (saturated)

Based on the row for saturated, 20 °C.

Rating profile by material family

Salicylic Acid: Rating profile by material familyThermoplastics: 10 A, 1 B, 1 D, 1 no data. Fluoropolymers: 4 A. Elastomers: 2 A, 1 C, 1 no data. Metals: 3 A.Thermoplastics (13)Thermoplastics: 10 × A, very good resistance (HDPE, LDPE, PP, PMP, Polystyrene, SAN, Polycarbonate, PETG, Nylon (PA), Polysulfone)A 10Thermoplastics: 1 × B, good resistance (PVC Rigid)Thermoplastics: 1 × D, not resistant (Acetal (POM))Thermoplastics: 1 × no data (PVC Flexible)Fluoropolymers (4)Fluoropolymers: 4 × A, very good resistance (PTFE, FEP, PVDF, ECTFE/ETFE)A 4Elastomers (4)Elastomers: 2 × A, very good resistance (EPDM, Viton (FPM))A 2Elastomers: 1 × C, limited resistance (NBR)C 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

Salicylic Acid: Effect of temperature, 20 °C to 50 °CPVC Rigid B → C; Polystyrene A → B; Polycarbonate A → B.ABCDPVC Rigid: B at 20 °C, C at 50 °CPVC RigidPolystyrene: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CPolystyrenePolycarbonate: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CPolycarbonate
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
69-72-7
Formula
C7H6O3
Hazard symbols in the source
Xn (harmful), Xi (irritant) (pre-GHS European symbols; check the current safety data sheet)
Concentrations listed
saturated; powder
Also listed as
Hydroxybenzoic acid, 2-; Hydroxybenzenecarboxylic acid, 2-
Name in the source (German)
Salicylsäure

Rating by concentration

Salicylic Acid: Rating by concentrationHDPE: saturated A, powder A. LDPE: saturated A, powder A. PP: saturated A, powder A. PVC Rigid: saturated B→C, powder B→C. PMP: saturated A, powder A→B. Polystyrene: saturated A→B, powder A. SAN: saturated A, powder –. Polycarbonate: saturated A→B, powder A→B. PETG: saturated A, powder A*. Acetal (POM): saturated D, powder C*. Nylon (PA): saturated A, powder A. Polysulfone: saturated A, powder A. PTFE: saturated A, powder A. FEP: saturated A, powder A. PVDF: saturated A, powder A. ECTFE/ETFE: saturated A, powder A. EPDM: saturated A, powder A. Viton (FPM): saturated A, powder A. NBR: saturated C, powder C. SS 316: saturated A, powder A. SS 304: saturated A, powder A. Aluminium: saturated A, powder A.saturatedpowderTHERMOPLASTICSHDPEHDPE, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAHDPE, powder: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CALDPELDPE, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CALDPE, powder: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPPPP, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPP, powder: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVC RigidPVC Rigid, saturated: B at 20 °C, C at 50 °CB→CPVC Rigid, powder: B at 20 °C, C at 50 °CB→CPMPPMP, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPMP, powder: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPolystyrenePolystyrene, saturated: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPolystyrene, powder: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASANSAN, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CASAN, powder: no data–PolycarbonatePolycarbonate, saturated: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPolycarbonate, powder: A at 20 °C, B at 50 °CA→BPETGPETG, saturated: A at 20 °CAPETG, powder: A at 20 °C (estimate)A*Acetal (POM)Acetal (POM), saturated: D at 20 °C, D at 50 °CDAcetal (POM), powder: C at 20 °C (estimate)C*Nylon (PA)Nylon (PA), saturated: A at 20 °CANylon (PA), powder: A at 20 °CAPolysulfonePolysulfone, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPolysulfone, powder: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFLUOROPOLYMERSPTFEPTFE, saturated: A at 20 °CAPTFE, powder: A at 20 °CAFEPFEP, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAFEP, powder: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDFPVDF, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAPVDF, powder: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAECTFE/ETFEECTFE/ETFE, saturated: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAECTFE/ETFE, powder: A at 20 °C, A at 50 °CAELASTOMERSEPDMEPDM, saturated: A at 20 °CAEPDM, powder: A at 20 °CAViton (FPM)Viton (FPM), saturated: A at 20 °CAViton (FPM), powder: A at 20 °CANBRNBR, saturated: C at 20 °C, C at 50 °CCNBR, powder: C at 20 °C, C at 50 °CCMETALSSS 316SS 316, saturated: A at 20 °CASS 316, powder: A at 20 °CASS 304SS 304, saturated: A at 20 °CASS 304, powder: A at 20 °CAAluminiumAluminium, saturated: A at 20 °CAAluminium, powder: A at 20 °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
Materialsaturatedpowder
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC RigidBB
PVC Flexible––
PMPAA
PolystyreneAA
SANA–
PolycarbonateAA
PETGAA*
Acetal (POM)DC*
Nylon (PA)AA
PolysulfoneAA
Fluoropolymers
PTFEAA
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMAA
Viton (FPM)AA
NBRCC
Silicone––
Metals
SS 316AA
SS 304AA
AluminiumAA

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Resistance table: Salicylic Acid, saturated

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC RigidBC
PMPAA
PolystyreneAB
SANAA
PolycarbonateAB
PETGA–
Acetal (POM)DD
Nylon (PA)A–
PolysulfoneAA
Fluoropolymers
PTFEA–
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMA–
Viton (FPM)A–
NBRCC
Metals
SS 316A–
SS 304A–
AluminiumA–

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

Resistance table: Salicylic Acid, powder

Material20 °C50 °CRemark
Thermoplastics
HDPEAA
LDPEAA
PPAA
PVC RigidBC
PMPAB
PolystyreneAA
PolycarbonateAB
PETGA*–
Acetal (POM)C*–
Nylon (PA)A–
PolysulfoneAA
Fluoropolymers
PTFEA–
FEPAA
PVDFAA
ECTFE/ETFEAA
Elastomers
EPDMA–
Viton (FPM)A–
NBRCC
Metals
SS 316A–
SS 304A–
AluminiumA–

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Not rated in the source, so not in the table: PVC Flexible, SAN, 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 Salicylic Acid at high concentrations?

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

Which materials should be avoided with Salicylic Acid?

Materials rated D (not resistant) for Salicylic Acid are: Acetal (POM). These should not be used in contact with Salicylic Acid.

Does temperature affect chemical resistance to Salicylic Acid?

Yes. 3 of 14 tested materials show a worse rating at 50 °C than at 20 °C for Salicylic Acid. Materials affected include: PVC Rigid, Polycarbonate, Polystyrene.

Is PTFE safe for Salicylic Acid?

PTFE is rated A for Salicylic 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 Salicylic Acid?

Yes. Salicylic Acid is tested at 2 concentrations (saturated, powder). 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.