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Aluminium vs SS 316: Chemical Resistance Compared

Of 858 source rows rated for both materials at 20 °C, 593 (69 %) have the same rating. Aluminium is rated better in 17 rows and SS 316 in 248. A row is one chemical at one concentration.

Summary

SS 316 is rated better with
Alkalis (+76 points); Halogenated hydrocarbons (+61 points); Mineral acids (+49 points); Salts and salt solutions (+41 points); Oxidising agents and halogens (+34 points); Organic acids (+31 points); Phenols (+14 points)
Within 10 points of each other
Alcohols and glycols; Ketones and aldehydes; Esters and ethers; Amines and nitrogen compounds; Aromatic hydrocarbons; Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons; Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils; Foods and beverages

Points are the difference in the share of rows rated A or B.

The two materials

Aluminium

Aluminium

Aluminium relies on a thin oxide layer. Strong acids, strong alkalis and mercury compounds destroy that layer.

Rated rows: 968. A 60 %, B 9 %, C 16 %, D 16 %

All chemicals for Aluminium

SS 316

Stainless steel 1.4401 (AISI 316)

Stainless steel 316 (1.4401) contains molybdenum, which improves resistance to chlorides over 304. Hydrochloric acid and other halide acids still cause pitting.

Rated rows: 868. A 89 %, B 4 %, C 2 %, D 4 %

All chemicals for SS 316

Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical class

Aluminium, SS 316: Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical classMineral acids: Aluminium 16 %, SS 316 65 %. Organic acids: Aluminium 67 %, SS 316 98 %. Alkalis: Aluminium 24 %, SS 316 100 %. Salts and salt solutions: Aluminium 52 %, SS 316 93 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: Aluminium 45 %, SS 316 79 %. Alcohols and glycols: Aluminium 98 %, SS 316 100 %. Phenols: Aluminium 86 %, SS 316 100 %. Ketones and aldehydes: Aluminium 97 %, SS 316 100 %. Esters and ethers: Aluminium 94 %, SS 316 100 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: Aluminium 95 %, SS 316 95 %. Aromatic hydrocarbons: Aluminium 100 %, SS 316 100 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: Aluminium 100 %, SS 316 100 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: Aluminium 100 %, SS 316 100 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: Aluminium 27 %, SS 316 88 %. Foods and beverages: Aluminium 96 %, SS 316 100 %.Mineral acidsMineral acids, Aluminium: 16 % (63)16 %Mineral acids, SS 316: 65 % (60)65 %Organic acidsOrganic acids, Aluminium: 67 % (64)67 %Organic acids, SS 316: 98 % (55)98 %AlkalisAlkalis, Aluminium: 24 % (21)24 %Alkalis, SS 316: 100 % (22)100 %Salts and salt solutionsSalts and salt solutions, Aluminium: 52 % (194)52 %Salts and salt solutions, SS 316: 93 % (175)93 %Oxidising agents and halogensOxidising agents and halogens, Aluminium: 45 % (62)45 %Oxidising agents and halogens, SS 316: 79 % (57)79 %Alcohols and glycolsAlcohols and glycols, Aluminium: 98 % (59)98 %Alcohols and glycols, SS 316: 100 % (58)100 %PhenolsPhenols, Aluminium: 86 % (14)86 %Phenols, SS 316: 100 % (11)100 %Ketones and aldehydesKetones and aldehydes, Aluminium: 97 % (35)97 %Ketones and aldehydes, SS 316: 100 % (33)100 %Esters and ethersEsters and ethers, Aluminium: 94 % (71)94 %Esters and ethers, SS 316: 100 % (69)100 %Amines and nitrogen compoundsAmines and nitrogen compounds, Aluminium: 95 % (39)95 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, SS 316: 95 % (38)95 %Aromatic hydrocarbonsAromatic hydrocarbons, Aluminium: 100 % (14)100 %Aromatic hydrocarbons, SS 316: 100 % (14)100 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbonsFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, Aluminium: 100 % (78)100 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, SS 316: 100 % (76)100 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oilsVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, Aluminium: 100 % (48)100 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, SS 316: 100 % (48)100 %Halogenated hydrocarbonsHalogenated hydrocarbons, Aluminium: 27 % (71)27 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, SS 316: 88 % (24)88 %Foods and beveragesFoods and beverages, Aluminium: 96 % (46)96 %Foods and beverages, SS 316: 100 % (46)100 %
AluminiumSS 316
Rating at 20 °C. Only classes with at least 8 rated rows for both materials are shown.

How often the two ratings agree

Aluminium, SS 316: How often the two ratings agreeAluminium A, SS 316 A: 554; Aluminium A, SS 316 B: 6; Aluminium A, SS 316 C: 2; Aluminium A, SS 316 D: 3; Aluminium B, SS 316 A: 61; Aluminium B, SS 316 B: 5; Aluminium C, SS 316 A: 77; Aluminium C, SS 316 B: 5; Aluminium C, SS 316 C: 6; Aluminium C, SS 316 D: 6; Aluminium D, SS 316 A: 71; Aluminium D, SS 316 B: 23; Aluminium D, SS 316 C: 11; Aluminium D, SS 316 D: 28.SS 316ABCDAluminiumAAluminium A, SS 316 A: 554554Aluminium A, SS 316 B: 66Aluminium A, SS 316 C: 22Aluminium A, SS 316 D: 33BAluminium B, SS 316 A: 6161Aluminium B, SS 316 B: 55Aluminium B, SS 316 C: 00Aluminium B, SS 316 D: 00CAluminium C, SS 316 A: 7777Aluminium C, SS 316 B: 55Aluminium C, SS 316 C: 66Aluminium C, SS 316 D: 66DAluminium D, SS 316 A: 7171Aluminium D, SS 316 B: 2323Aluminium D, SS 316 C: 1111Aluminium D, SS 316 D: 2828
Number of source rows for each pair of ratings at 20 °C. Outlined cells are rows where both materials have the same rating.

Chemical classes were assigned by this site, not by the source. Mixtures and trade products without a clear class are not counted.

By chemical class

Chemical classAluminium: rated A or BSS 316: rated A or B
Mineral acids16 % (63 rows)65 % (60 rows)
Organic acids67 % (64 rows)98 % (55 rows)
Alkalis24 % (21 rows)100 % (22 rows)
Salts and salt solutions52 % (194 rows)93 % (175 rows)
Oxidising agents and halogens45 % (62 rows)79 % (57 rows)
Alcohols and glycols98 % (59 rows)100 % (58 rows)
Phenols86 % (14 rows)100 % (11 rows)
Ketones and aldehydes97 % (35 rows)100 % (33 rows)
Esters and ethers94 % (71 rows)100 % (69 rows)
Amines and nitrogen compounds95 % (39 rows)95 % (38 rows)
Aromatic hydrocarbons100 % (14 rows)100 % (14 rows)
Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons100 % (78 rows)100 % (76 rows)
Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils100 % (48 rows)100 % (48 rows)
Halogenated hydrocarbons27 % (71 rows)88 % (24 rows)
Foods and beverages96 % (46 rows)100 % (46 rows)

Where the ratings differ most

Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 176 in total, the first 40 shown.

ChemicalConcentrationAluminiumSS 316
Acetyl Chloride100 %DA
Aluminum NitrateaqueousDA
Ammonium Dihydrogen Phosphateany concentrationDA
Ammonium FluoridesaturatedDA
Ammonium FluorideaqueousDA
Ammonium Iron(II) SulfateDA
Antimony TrichlorideanhydrousAD
Arsenic AcidDA
Arsenic AcidaqueousDA
Benzyl Chloride100 %DA
Bromomethanetechnical gradeDA
CarawaygroundDA
Chloromethane (Methyl Chloride)technical gradeDA
Copper AcetateaqueousDA
Copper Sulfate (Copper Vitriol)aqueousDA
Copper(II) NitratesaturatedDA
Copper(II) NitrateaqueousDA
Dehydroacetic AcidDA
Fluorosilicic Acid32 %DA
Hydroxylammonium Sulfate12 %DA
Hydroxylammonium Sulfateany concentrationDA
Iron NitratesaturatedDA
Iron NitrateaqueousDA
Ferrous Chloride (Iron(II) Chloride)saturatedDA
Ferrous Sulfate (Iron(II) Sulfate)DA
Ferrous Sulfate (Iron(II) Sulfate)saturatedDA
Ferrous Sulfate (Iron(II) Sulfate)aqueousDA
Iron(III) SulfatesaturatedDA
Lead(II) AcetateDA
Lead(II) AcetateaqueousDA
Mercury NitratesaturatedDA
Mercury(II) CyanidesaturatedDA
Nickel NitratesaturatedDA
Nickel SulfatesaturatedDA
Nickel SulfateaqueousDA
Nitric Acid50 %DA
Nitric Acid66 %DA
Nitric Acid70 %DA
Phosphoric Acid1-5 %DA
Phosphoric Acid20 %DA

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.

More comparisons

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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.