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SS 304 and Sodium Cyanide: Chemical Resistance

Stainless steel 1.4301 (AISI 304)

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
aqueousB*–
saturatedB*–

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Material comparison at 20 °C

Sodium Cyanide: Material comparison at 20 °CSS 304: B (highlighted); EPDM: A; FEP: A; Viton (FPM): A; HDPE: A; LDPE: A.EPDM: AFEP: AViton (FPM): AHDPE: ALDPE: ANBR: ANylon (PA): APETG: APP: APTFE: APVDF: ASS 304: B304SS 316: BPolycarbonate: CAcetal (POM): CAluminium: DECTFE/ETFE: –PMP: –Polystyrene: –Polysulfone: –PVC Rigid: –PVC Flexible: –SAN: –Silicone: –
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

SS 304 maintains a consistent rating of B across all 2 tested concentrations (aqueous, saturated) of Sodium Cyanide at 20 °C. The fact that the rating does not change with concentration within the tested range simplifies material selection, though the boundary conditions beyond this range remain untested. 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

Sodium Cyanide is commonly encountered in electroplating and de-icing. SS 304 (Stainless steel 1.4301 (AISI 304)) is a metal typically used for vessels, heat exchangers, fittings and structural components. The compatibility between these two is therefore an important consideration for engineers and procurement teams selecting containment, transfer, or processing equipment.

Practical recommendation

SS 304 is suitable for use with Sodium Cyanide under normal conditions, but some minor effects on the material are expected over time. Periodic monitoring for swelling, softening, or weight change is recommended, especially for long-service components. For safety-critical or long-life applications, consider HDPE, LDPE, Nylon (PA) instead, which are rated A for this chemical.

Did you know?

Stainless steel 1.4301 (AISI 304) was first developed in the 1910s and remains one of the most widely used metals in chemical handling equipment.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Based on the row for aqueous, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP A, LDPE A, Nylon (PA) A, PETG A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A
Elastomers
EPDM A, Viton (FPM) A, NBR A
Metals
SS 316 B

About SS 304

Stainless steel 304 (1.4301) resists oxidising acids and most organic chemicals. Chlorides cause pitting and stress-corrosion cracking.

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.