ChemicalResistance
ChemicalResistance.org

SAN vs SS 316: Chemical Resistance Compared

Of 334 source rows rated for both materials at 20 °C, 213 (64 %) have the same rating. SAN is rated better in 21 rows and SS 316 in 100. A row is one chemical at one concentration.

Summary

SS 316 is rated better with
Esters and ethers (+100 points); Halogenated hydrocarbons (+83 points); Ketones and aldehydes (+79 points); Phenols (+75 points); Amines and nitrogen compounds (+39 points); Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils (+32 points); Alcohols and glycols (+30 points); Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons (+21 points); Organic acids (+19 points); Foods and beverages (+18 points)
Within 10 points of each other
Mineral acids; Alkalis; Salts and salt solutions; Oxidising agents and halogens

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

The two materials

SAN

Styrene-acrylonitrile

Styrene-acrylonitrile resists oils and dilute acids better than polystyrene, but ketones, esters and aromatic and chlorinated solvents still attack it.

Rated rows: 364. A 67 %, B 0 %, C 9 %, D 24 %

All chemicals for SAN

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

SAN, SS 316: Share of rows rated A or B, by chemical classMineral acids: SAN 61 %, SS 316 65 %. Organic acids: SAN 79 %, SS 316 98 %. Alkalis: SAN 100 %, SS 316 100 %. Salts and salt solutions: SAN 100 %, SS 316 93 %. Oxidising agents and halogens: SAN 73 %, SS 316 79 %. Alcohols and glycols: SAN 70 %, SS 316 100 %. Phenols: SAN 25 %, SS 316 100 %. Ketones and aldehydes: SAN 21 %, SS 316 100 %. Esters and ethers: SAN 0 %, SS 316 100 %. Amines and nitrogen compounds: SAN 56 %, SS 316 95 %. Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons: SAN 79 %, SS 316 100 %. Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils: SAN 68 %, SS 316 100 %. Halogenated hydrocarbons: SAN 5 %, SS 316 88 %. Foods and beverages: SAN 82 %, SS 316 100 %.Mineral acidsMineral acids, SAN: 61 % (18)61 %Mineral acids, SS 316: 65 % (60)65 %Organic acidsOrganic acids, SAN: 79 % (24)79 %Organic acids, SS 316: 98 % (55)98 %AlkalisAlkalis, SAN: 100 % (8)100 %Alkalis, SS 316: 100 % (22)100 %Salts and salt solutionsSalts and salt solutions, SAN: 100 % (80)100 %Salts and salt solutions, SS 316: 93 % (175)93 %Oxidising agents and halogensOxidising agents and halogens, SAN: 73 % (26)73 %Oxidising agents and halogens, SS 316: 79 % (57)79 %Alcohols and glycolsAlcohols and glycols, SAN: 70 % (33)70 %Alcohols and glycols, SS 316: 100 % (58)100 %PhenolsPhenols, SAN: 25 % (8)25 %Phenols, SS 316: 100 % (11)100 %Ketones and aldehydesKetones and aldehydes, SAN: 21 % (19)21 %Ketones and aldehydes, SS 316: 100 % (33)100 %Esters and ethersEsters and ethers, SAN: 0 % (19)0 %Esters and ethers, SS 316: 100 % (69)100 %Amines and nitrogen compoundsAmines and nitrogen compounds, SAN: 56 % (9)56 %Amines and nitrogen compounds, SS 316: 95 % (38)95 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbonsFuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, SAN: 79 % (24)79 %Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons, SS 316: 100 % (76)100 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oilsVegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, SAN: 68 % (22)68 %Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils, SS 316: 100 % (48)100 %Halogenated hydrocarbonsHalogenated hydrocarbons, SAN: 5 % (20)5 %Halogenated hydrocarbons, SS 316: 88 % (24)88 %Foods and beveragesFoods and beverages, SAN: 82 % (22)82 %Foods and beverages, SS 316: 100 % (46)100 %
SANSS 316
Rating at 20 °C. Only classes with at least 8 rated rows for both materials are shown.

How often the two ratings agree

SAN, SS 316: How often the two ratings agreeSAN A, SS 316 A: 210; SAN A, SS 316 B: 8; SAN A, SS 316 C: 3; SAN A, SS 316 D: 7; SAN B, SS 316 A: 1; SAN C, SS 316 A: 22; SAN C, SS 316 B: 3; SAN C, SS 316 D: 3; SAN D, SS 316 A: 70; SAN D, SS 316 B: 2; SAN D, SS 316 C: 2; SAN D, SS 316 D: 3.SS 316ABCDSANASAN A, SS 316 A: 210210SAN A, SS 316 B: 88SAN A, SS 316 C: 33SAN A, SS 316 D: 77BSAN B, SS 316 A: 11SAN B, SS 316 B: 00SAN B, SS 316 C: 00SAN B, SS 316 D: 00CSAN C, SS 316 A: 2222SAN C, SS 316 B: 33SAN C, SS 316 C: 00SAN C, SS 316 D: 33DSAN D, SS 316 A: 7070SAN D, SS 316 B: 22SAN D, SS 316 C: 22SAN D, SS 316 D: 33
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 classSAN: rated A or BSS 316: rated A or B
Mineral acids61 % (18 rows)65 % (60 rows)
Organic acids79 % (24 rows)98 % (55 rows)
Alkalis100 % (8 rows)100 % (22 rows)
Salts and salt solutions100 % (80 rows)93 % (175 rows)
Oxidising agents and halogens73 % (26 rows)79 % (57 rows)
Alcohols and glycols70 % (33 rows)100 % (58 rows)
Phenols25 % (8 rows)100 % (11 rows)
Ketones and aldehydes21 % (19 rows)100 % (33 rows)
Esters and ethers0 % (19 rows)100 % (69 rows)
Amines and nitrogen compounds56 % (9 rows)95 % (38 rows)
Aromatic hydrocarbons–100 % (14 rows)
Fuels, mineral oils and aliphatic hydrocarbons79 % (24 rows)100 % (76 rows)
Vegetable and animal oils, fats, essential oils68 % (22 rows)100 % (48 rows)
Halogenated hydrocarbons5 % (20 rows)88 % (24 rows)
Foods and beverages82 % (22 rows)100 % (46 rows)

Where the ratings differ most

Rows where the two ratings at 20 °C are at least two grades apart: 104 in total, the first 40 shown.

ChemicalConcentrationSANSS 316
1-PentanethiolDA
5-HydroxymethylfurfuralDA
Acetaldehyde40 %DA
Acetaldehydetechnical gradeDA
Acetic Acid90 %DA
AcetoneDA
Allyl Alcohol96 %DA
Allyl Mustard OilDA
Amyl AcetateDA
Amyl CinnamaldehydeDA
Anise OilDA
Benzyl AcetateDA
Benzyl AlcoholDA
Brake FluidDA
Butyl Acetate100 %DA
Butyl Acrylate100 %DA
Butyric AcidDA
CarbazoleDA
Carbon DisulfideDA
Carbon TetrachlorideDA
Chlorine97 %DA
Chlorine GasDA
ChlorobenzeneDA
Chloroethane (Ethyl Chloride)DA
Chloroform100 %DA
Chloromethane (Methyl Chloride)technical gradeDA
CinnamaldehydeDA
ClovesgroundDA
Cyclohexanonetechnical gradeDA
Diacetone AlcoholDA
Dibutyl Sebacatetechnical gradeDA
DichloromethaneDA
Diethyl Ethertechnical gradeDA
Diethyl KetoneDA
Dimethyl Phthalate (DMP)100 %DA
Dimethylformamide (DMF)DA
DioxaneDA
Diphenyl EtherDA
DiphenylamineDA
Ethyl Acetate100 %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

HDPE vs SANHDPE vs SS 316LDPE vs SANLDPE vs SS 316PP vs SANPP vs SS 316PVC Rigid vs SANPVC Rigid vs SS 316PVC Flexible vs SANPVC Flexible vs SS 316PMP vs SANPMP vs SS 316Polystyrene vs SANPolystyrene vs SS 316SAN vs PolycarbonateSAN vs PETGSAN vs Acetal (POM)SAN vs Nylon (PA)SAN vs PolysulfoneSAN vs PTFE

Frequently Asked Questions

Is SAN or SS 316 more chemical-resistant?

Of 334 chemicals rated for both materials at 20 °C, SAN and SS 316 share the same rating in 213 rows (64 %). SAN is rated better in 21 rows and SS 316 in 100 rows.

How do SAN and SS 316 compare for chemical resistance?

Based on 334 chemicals tested for both: SAN is rated better with –. SS 316 is rated better with Esters and ethers, Halogenated hydrocarbons, Ketones and aldehydes, Phenols. They perform similarly with Mineral acids, Alkalis, Salts and salt solutions, Oxidising agents and halogens.

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.