Stainless steel is pretty much rust free, unless it is exposed to certain conditions. With this guide, we want to give an insight into whether you should choose SS304 or SS316 for your particular production.

The various chemicals are assessed with 5 different comments, which are as follows:

A = Excellent.

B = Good. (Light corrosion or discoloration)

C = Fair. (Moderate effect, not recommended for continuous use)

D = Severe Effect. (Not recommended for use)

N/A = Information Not Available. (Not enough info on the effect of the chemical)

If there is a chemical that is not on the list, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Stainless Steel Chemical Resistance Guide
  SS304 SS316
Acetone A-Excellent A-Excellent
Acetylene A-Excellent A-Excellent
Alcohols: Amyl A-Excellent A-Excellent
Alcohols: Butyl A-Excellent A-Excellent
Alcohols: Ethyl A-Excellent A-Excellent
Alcohols: Isopropyl B-Good B-Good
Alcohols: Methyl A-Excellent A-Excellent
Alcohols: Propyl A-Excellent A-Excellent
Aluminum Chloride B-Good B-Good
Aluminum Chloride 20%l D-Severe Effect C-Fair
Aluminum Nitrate A-Excellent A-Excellent
Ammonia, liquid B-Good A-Excellent
Ammonium Hydroxide A-Excellent A-Excellent
Amyl Acetate A-Excellent A-Excellent
Amyl Alcohol A-Excellent A-Excellent
Antifreeze N/A A-Excellent
Arsenic Acid A-Excellent A-Excellent
Asphalt B-Good A-Excellent
Barium Carbonate B-Good B-Good
Barium Chloride A-Excellent A-Excellent
Beer A-Excellent A-Excellent
Benzene B-Good B-Good
Benzene Sulfonic Acid B-Good B-Good
Bleaching Liquors N/A N/A
Boric Acid B-Good A-Excellent
Brewery Slop N/A A-Excellent
Bromine D-Severe Effect D-Severe Effect
Butane A-Excellent A-Excellent
Butanol (Butyl Alcohol) A-Excellent A-Excellent
Butter C-Fair A-Excellent
Buttermilk A-Excellent A-Excellent
Butyl Phthalate B-Good B-Good
Calcium Carbonate A-Excellent B-Good
Calcium Nitrate C-Fair B-Good
Calgon A-Excellent A-Excellent
Cane Juice A-Excellent A-Excellent
Carbon Dioxide (dry) A-Excellent A-Excellent
Carbon Dioxide (wet) A-Excellent A-Excellent
Carbonated Water A-Excellent A-Excellent
Carbonic Acid A-Excellent A-Excellent
Catsup A-Excellent A-Excellent
Chloric Acid D-Severe Effect C-Fair
Chlorine (dry) A-Excellent B-Good
Chlorine Water C-Fair C-Fair
Chloroform A-Excellent A-Excellent
Chocolate Syrup A-Excellent A-Excellent
Chromic Acid 5% B-Good A-Excellent
Chromic Acid 10% B-Good B-Good
Chromic Acid 30% C-Fair B-Good
Chromic Acid 50% B-Good B-Good
Cider A-Excellent A-Excellent
Clorox® (Bleach) A-Excellent A-Excellent
Coffee A-Excellent A-Excellent
Cream A-Excellent A-Excellent
Cyanic Acid A-Excellent A-Excellent
Detergents A-Excellent A-Excellent
Diacetone Alcohol B-Good B-Good
Diesel Fuel A-Excellent A-Excellent
Diethyl Ether B-Good B-Good
Ethanol A-Excellent A-Excellent
Ethyl Sulfate D-Severe Effect D-Severe Effect
Fatty Acids B-Good A-Excellent
Fluorine C-Fair A-Excellent
Formaldehyde 40% A-Excellent A-Excellent
Formaldehyde 100% C-Fair A-Excellent
Formic Acid B-Good A-Excellent
Freon® 11 A-Excellent A-Excellent
Freon 12 B-Good B-Good
Freon 22 A-Excellent A-Excellent
Freon TF A-Excellent A-Excellent
Fruit Juice A-Excellent A-Excellent
Fuel Oils A-Excellent A-Excellent
Gasoline, leaded, ref. A-Excellent A-Excellent
Gasoline, unleaded A-Excellent A-Excellent
Gelatin A-Excellent A-Excellent
Glucose A-Excellent A-Excellent
Glue, P.V.A. A-Excellent A-Excellent
Glycerin A-Excellent A-Excellent
Glycolic Acid A-Excellent A-Excellent
Grape Juice A-Excellent A-Excellent
Grease N/A A-Excellent
Honey A-Excellent A-Excellent
Hydraulic Oil (Petro) A-Excellent A-Excellent
Hydraulic Oil (Synthetic) A-Excellent A-Excellent
Hydrochloric Acid 20% D-Severe Effect D-Severe Effect
Hydrochloric Acid 37% D-Severe Effect D-Severe Effect
Hydrochloric Acid 100% D-Severe Effect D-Severe Effect
Hydrogen Gas A-Excellent A-Excellent
Ink C-Fair C-Fair
Iodine D-Severe Effect D-Severe Effect
Jet Fuel (JP3, JP4, JP5) A-Excellent A-Excellent
Lacquer Thinners A-Excellent A-Excellent
Lacquers A-Excellent A-Excellent
Lactic Acid B-Good B-Good
Lard A-Excellent A-Excellent
Latex A-Excellent A-Excellent
Lime A-Excellent A-Excellent
Lithium Chloride A-Excellent A-Excellent
Lithium Hydroxide B-Good B-Good
Lubricants A-Excellent A-Excellent
Magnesium Bisulfate A-Excellent A-Excellent
Magnesium Carbonate B-Good B-Good
Magnesium Chloride D-Severe Effect D-Severe Effect
Magnesium Hydroxide B-Good A-Excellent
Magnesium Nitrate B-Good B-Good
Magnesium Oxide A-Excellent A-Excellent
Magnesium Sulfate A-Excellent B-Good
Mash A-Excellent A-Excellent
Mayonnaise C-Fair A-Excellent
Melamine N/A D-Severe Effect
Mercury A-Excellent A-Excellent
Methane A-Excellent A-Excellent
Methanol (Methyl Alcohol) A-Excellent A-Excellent
Milk A-Excellent A-Excellent
Mineral Spirits A-Excellent A-Excellent
Molasses A-Excellent A-Excellent
Motor oil A-Excellent A-Excellent
Mustard A-Excellent A-Excellent
Natural Gas A-Excellent A-Excellent
Nickel Chloride D-Severe Effect C-Fair
Nickel Nitrate B-Good B-Good
Nickel Sulfate B-Good B-Good
Nitric Acid (5-10%) A-Excellent A-Excellent
Nitric Acid (20%) A-Excellent A-Excellent
Nitric Acid (50%) A-Excellent A-Excellent
Nitrobenzene B-Good B-Good
Nitrogen Fertilizer N/A N/A
Oils: Aniline A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Anise N/A A-Excellent
Oils: Bay N/A A-Excellent
Oils: Bone N/A A-Excellent
Oils: Castor A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Cinnamon A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Citric A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Clove A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Coconut A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Cod Liver A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Corn A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Cottonseed A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Creosote B-Good B-Good
Oils: Diesel Fuel (20, 30, 40, 50) A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Fuel (1, 2, 3, 5A, 5B, 6) A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Ginger D-Severe Effect D-Severe Effect
Oils: Lemon A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Linseed A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Mineral A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Olive A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Orange A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Palm A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Peanut A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Peppermint A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Pine A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Rapeseed A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Rosin A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Sesame Seed A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Silicone A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Soybean A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Tanning A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Transformer A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Turbine A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oleic Acid A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oleum 100% A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oleum 25% B-Good B-Good
Oxalic Acid (cold) B-Good A-Excellent
Ozone B-Good A-Excellent
Palmitic Acid B-Good A-Excellent
Paraffin A-Excellent A-Excellent
Pentane C-Fair C-Fair
Perchloric Acid C-Fair C-Fair
Petroleum A-Excellent A-Excellent
Phenol (10%) B-Good B-Good
Potash (Potassium Carbonate) B-Good B-Good
Propane (liquefied) A-Excellent A-Excellent
Propylene B-Good A-Excellent
Propylene Glycol B-Good B-Good
Rosins A-Excellent A-Excellent
Rum A-Excellent A-Excellent
Rust Inhibitors A-Excellent A-Excellent
Salad Dressings A-Excellent A-Excellent
Salicylic Acid B-Good B-Good
Salt Brine (NaCl saturated) B-Good A-Excellent
Sea Water C-Fair C-Fair
Shellac (Bleached) A-Excellent A-Excellent
Shellac (Orange) A-Excellent A-Excellent
Silicone A-Excellent A-Excellent
Soap Solutions A-Excellent A-Excellent
Soy Sauce A-Excellent A-Excellent
Stannic Chloride N/A D-Severe Effect
Stannic Fluoborate A-Excellent A-Excellent
Starch A-Excellent A-Excellent
Stoddard Solvent A-Excellent A-Excellent
Styrene A-Excellent A-Excellent
Sugar (Liquids) A-Excellent A-Excellent
Sulfate (Liquors) B-Good B-Good
Sulfuric Acid (<10%) D-Severe Effect B-Good
Sulfuric Acid (10-75%) D-Severe Effect D-Severe Effect
Sulfuric Acid (75-100%) C-Fair D-Severe Effect
Sulfuric Acid (cold concentrated) C-Fair B-Good
Sulfuric Acid (hot concentrated) D-Severe Effect C-Fair
Tallow A-Excellent A-Excellent
Tannic Acid B-Good A-Excellent
Tanning Liquors A-Excellent A-Excellent
Tin Salts N/A D-Severe Effect
Tomato Juice A-Excellent A-Excellent
Turpentine A-Excellent A-Excellent
Urea B-Good B-Good
Uric Acid B-Good B-Good
Urine A-Excellent A-Excellent
Varnish A-Excellent A-Excellent
Vegetable Juice A-Excellent A-Excellent
Oils: Vinegar A-Excellent A-Excellent
Vinyl Acetate B-Good B-Good
Vinyl Chloride B-Good A-Excellent
Water, Acid, Mine B-Good B-Good
Water, Deionized A-Excellent A-Excellent
Water, Distilled A-Excellent A-Excellent
Water, Fresh A-Excellent A-Excellent
Water, Salt B-Good B-Good
Weed Killers A-Excellent A-Excellent
Whey A-Excellent A-Excellent
Whiskey & Wines A-Excellent A-Excellent
White Liquor (Pulp Mill) A-Excellent A-Excellent
White Water (Paper Mill) A-Excellent A-Excellent
Xylene B-Good B-Good
Zinc Chloride B-Good B-Good
Zinc Hydrosulfite A-Excellent A-Excellent
Zinc Sulfate B-Good A-Excellent

The information in this guide has been obtained from various reliable sources and should only be used as an aid to the choice to be made. We recommend that you test the chemical together with the product from time to time so that you can see the reaction before making a permanent installation.