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SS 304 and Toluene: Chemical Resistance

Stainless steel 1.4301 (AISI 304)

Rating

Concentration20 °C50 °CRemark
concentration not statedAA

Material comparison at 20 °C

Toluene: Material comparison at 20 °CSS 304: A (highlighted); Aluminium: A; ECTFE/ETFE: A; FEP: A; Nylon (PA): A; PETG: A.Aluminium: AECTFE/ETFE: AFEP: ANylon (PA): APETG: AAcetal (POM): APTFE: APVDF: ASS 304: A304SS 316: AViton (FPM): CHDPE: CLDPE: CPMP: CPP: CEPDM: DNBR: DPolycarbonate: DPolystyrene: DPolysulfone: DPVC Rigid: DPVC Flexible: DSAN: DSilicone: –
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 very good resistance (A) to Toluene at 20 °C, meaning the material remains essentially unaffected by this chemical under standard laboratory test conditions. 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

Toluene is commonly encountered in cleaning and degreasing and pharmaceutical manufacturing. SS 304 (Stainless steel 1.4301 (AISI 304)) is a metal typically used for vessels, heat exchangers, fittings and structural components. Since Toluene is flammable, material selection must also consider the risk of static charge buildup and the need for proper grounding in storage and transfer systems.

Practical recommendation

SS 304 can be used with confidence for Toluene 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. This holds true at both 20 °C and 50 °C, giving a good safety margin for typical process environments.

Did you know?

When choosing between metals for Toluene service, engineers consider not just the resistance rating but also factors such as permeation rate, creep resistance, and weldability.

Materials rated A or B at 20 °C

Thermoplastics
Nylon (PA) A, Acetal (POM) A, PETG A
Fluoropolymers
PTFE A, PVDF A, FEP A, ECTFE/ETFE A
Metals
SS 316 A, Aluminium 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.