Common metals and their corrosion resistance to aggressive fluids as acids, bases and more
A major problem in the process industry is the corrosion of metals in pipes, valves and other parts of the constructions. This guide indicates acceptable combinations of more or less aggressive fluids and commonly used materials.
Note! Remember that corrosion is a complicated issue, depending on the combinations of materials and the fluids, the fluid temperatures, the surrounding environment and the galvanic currents in the constructions. The table below must be used with care. Always check with the producer of the material.
| Corrosion Resistance 1)Good 2) Be Careful 3) Not Useable | ||||||||||||
| Fluid | Metal | |||||||||||
| Carbon Steel | Cast Iron | 302 and 304 Stainless Steel | 316 Stainless Steel | Bronze | Durimet | Monel | Hasteloy B | Hasteloy C | Titanium | Cobalt base alloy 6 | 416 Stainless Steel | |
| Acetaldehyde | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | na | 1 | na | na | 1 |
| Acetic acid, air free | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Acetic acid, aerated | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Acetic acid, vapors | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | na | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Acetone | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Acetylene | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | na | 1 | 1 | |
| Alcohols | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Aluminum Sulfate | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | na | 3 |
| Ammonia | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Ammonium chloride | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Ammonium Nitrate | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Ammonium Phosphate | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Ammonium Sulfate | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Ammonium Sulfite | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | na | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Aniline | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Asphalt | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | na | 1 | 1 |
| Beer | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Benzene (benzol) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Benzoic acid | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Boric acid | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Butane | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Calcium Chloride (alkaline) | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | na | 3 |
| Calcium hypochlorite | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | na | 3 |
| Carbolic acid | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Carbon dioxide, dry | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Carbon dioxide, wet | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Carbon disulfide | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Carbon tetrachloride | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | na | 3 |
| Carbonic acid | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Chlorine gas | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Chlorine gas, wet | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Chlorine, liquid | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Chromic acid | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Citric acid | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Coke oven gas | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Copper sulfate | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | na | 1 | 1 | na | 1 |
| Cottonseed oil | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Creosote | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Ethane | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Ether | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Ethyl chloride | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Ethylene | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Ethylene glycol | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | na | na | na | 1 | 1 |
| Ferric chloride | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Formaldehyde | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Formic acid | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Freon wet | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | na |
| Freon dry | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | na |
| Furfural | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Gasoline | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Glucose | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Hydrochloric acid, aerated | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1/2 | 2 | 3 |
| Hydrochloric acid, air free | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1/2 | 2 | 3 |
| Hydrofluoric acid, aerated | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Hydrofluoric acid, air free | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | na | 3 |
| Hydrogen | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Hydrogen peroxide | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | na | 2 | |
| Hydrogen sulfide, liquid | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Magnesium Hydroxide | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Mercury | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Methanol | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Methyl ethyl ketone | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Milk | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Natural gas | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Nitric acid | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Oleic acid | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Oxalic acid | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Oxygen | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Petroleum oils | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Phosphoric acid, aerated | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Phosphoric acid, air free | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Phosphoric acid vapors | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | |
| Picric acid | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | na | na | 2 |
| Potassium chloride | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | na | 3 |
| Potassium hydroxide | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | na | 2 |
| Propane | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Rosin | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Silver Nitrate | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Sodium acetate | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sodium carbonate | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Sodium chloride | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Sodium chromate | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sodium hydroxide | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Sodium hypochloride | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | na | 3 |
| Sodium thiosulfate | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | na | 2 |
| Stannous chloride | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | na | 3 |
| Stearic acid | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Sulfate liquor | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| Sulfur | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sulfur dioxide, dry | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Sulfur trioxide, dry | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Sulfuric acid, aerated | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Sulfuric acid, air free | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| Sulfurous acid | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Tar | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Trichloroethylene | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Turpentine | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Vinegar | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | na | 1 | 3 |
| Water, steam boiler feeding system | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Water, distilled | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Water, sea | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Whiskey | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Wine | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Zinc chloride | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Zinc sulfate | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
- na - data not available
