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SS 304 and Sodium Sulfide: Chemical Resistance

Stainless steel 1.4301 (AISI 304)

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
aqueousAB
saturatedA*–

* estimated rating, given in the source without a temperature

Material comparison at 20 °C

Sodium Sulfide: Material comparison at 20 °CSS 304: A (highlighted); EPDM: A; FEP: A; Viton (FPM): A; HDPE: A; LDPE: A.EPDM: AFEP: AViton (FPM): AHDPE: ALDPE: ANylon (PA): APETG: APMP: AAcetal (POM): APP: APolystyrene: APolysulfone: APTFE: APVC Rigid: APVC Flexible: ASAN: ASS 304: A304SS 316: ANBR: BAluminium: CPolycarbonate: CPVDF: CECTFE/ETFE: –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 shows excellent resistance to Sodium Sulfide across all 2 tested concentrations (aqueous, saturated) at 20 °C, making it a reliable choice for storage, transfer, and handling applications involving this chemical at any of the tested strengths. However, at 50 °C the resistance rating drops, indicating that temperature must be factored into the design. For heated applications, additional testing under actual service conditions is strongly recommended.

Application context

Sodium Sulfide is commonly encountered in water treatment and metal finishing. SS 304 (Stainless steel 1.4301 (AISI 304)) is a metal typically used for vessels, heat exchangers, fittings and structural components. Because Sodium Sulfide is classified as corrosive, the choice of containment material is especially critical to prevent leaks, equipment damage, and safety hazards.

Practical recommendation

SS 304 can be used with confidence for Sodium Sulfide containment and handling. The A rating indicates that the material shows no significant change in weight, dimensions, or mechanical properties after prolonged contact under test conditions. At elevated temperatures (50 °C), some reduction in resistance occurs, so periodic inspection is advisable for heated applications. Always verify performance under actual operating conditions before committing to a design.

Did you know?

In industrial practice, SS 304 components exposed to Sodium Sulfide are typically inspected for swelling, discoloration, or loss of mechanical strength as early indicators of chemical attack.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Based on the row for saturated, 20 °C.

Thermoplastics
HDPE A, PP A, PVC Rigid A, LDPE A, Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) A, PVC Flexible A, Polystyrene A, Polysulfone A, PETG A, PMP A, SAN A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, FEP A
Elastomers
EPDM A, Viton (FPM) A, NBR B
Metals
SS 316 A

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.