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Chemical Compatibility Guide for Fluoropolymer Coatings
Chemical resistance reference for the industrial coatings AST applies — PTFE, PFA, FEP, ETFE (Tefzel), ECTFE (Halar) and Xylan — across 30+ commonly specified industrial chemicals. Data sourced directly from Chemours, Solvay and PPG/Whitford technical literature.
Use this guide as a starting point for material selection. For critical service AST will verify against the latest manufacturer TDS and — where needed — run a coupon test.
Last updated: April 2026
How to Read This Guide
Each rating represents the manufacturer-stated chemical resistance of the coating at ambient temperature (20–25 °C) with a typical industrial coating thickness. Temperature and concentration caveats are shown in the cell where the rating changes significantly under elevated conditions.
AExcellent
Fully resistant — unlimited service at ambient, with manufacturer-stated hot service capability.
BGood
Recommended — suitable for service with known limits on concentration or temperature.
CLimited
Conditional — acceptable for specific concentrations or temperatures only. Contact AST for review.
DNot Recommended
Attack, swelling, permeation or failure expected. Select a different coating.
—No Data
No published manufacturer data for this combination.
Chemical Compatibility Table
Scroll horizontally on mobile to view all columns. Hover or tap a cell for temperature and concentration caveats where applicable.
| Chemical | PTFE | PFA | FEP | ETFE | ECTFE | Xylan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Mineral Acids | ||||||
| Hydrochloric acid (HCl) 37% | A | A | A | A conc., max 150°C | A 37%, max 150°C | B 1424 no effect at pH 2; 1014 blisters at conc. |
| Sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄) 98% concentrated | A | A | A | A conc., max 150°C | A 98%, max 125°C | D |
| Nitric acid (HNO₃) 70% | A | A | A | C Short-term to 120°C; degrades under sustained hot service | C 65% max 66°C — not a hot nitric coating | D |
| Hydrofluoric acid (HF) 48% | A | A | A | A 50%, max 120°C | A 50%, max 150°C | — |
| Phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) 85% | A | A | A | A 85%, max 135°C | A 85%, max 150°C | — |
| Strong Bases / Caustics | ||||||
| Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) 50% | A | A | A | A 50%, max 110°C | A 50%, max 121°C | B 1424/1400 no effect; 1014 fails |
| Potassium hydroxide (KOH) 50% | A | A | A | A 50%, max 100°C | A 30%, max 121°C | B |
| Ammonium hydroxide (NH₄OH) | A | A | A | A max 150°C | A 30%, max 150°C | B |
| Oxidisers | ||||||
| Sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) / bleach | B Chemically resistant, but permeation to substrate is the failure mode | B | B | A max 150°C | A Best fluoropolymer for NaOCl service — 5% stabilised pH 12, to 150°C | C |
| Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) 30% | A | A | A | A 30%, max 120°C | A 30%, above 88°C | — |
| Chlorine — dry gas (Cl₂) | A | A | A | A dry, max 100°C | A | — |
| Chlorine — wet | A | A | A | A wet, max 120°C | A | — |
| Bromine (Br₂) | B | B | B | C dry max 65°C; wet 10% max 110°C | A | — |
| Organic Solvents | ||||||
| Acetone | A | A | A | B max 65°C — swells at elevated temp | B max 66°C — swells at elevated temp | C Slight marks on spot test |
| Methanol | A | A | A | A 100%, max 150°C | B 100%, max 65°C | — |
| Ethanol | A | A | A | A 100%, max 150°C | A 100%, max 140°C | — |
| Toluene | A | A | A | A max 120°C | B 100%, max 66°C | C Slight marks on spot test |
| Xylene | A | A | A | A max 120°C | B | — |
| Methylene chloride (DCM) | A | A | A | B max 100°C | D Not resistant — use PTFE or PFA | — |
| Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) | A | A | A | A max 110°C | C Swells at temp | C Slight marks on spot test |
| Hexane | A | A | A | A 100%, max 150°C | A 100%, max 150°C | — |
| Fuels & Hydrocarbons | ||||||
| Petrol / gasoline | A | A | A | A max 150°C | A 100%, max 150°C | B Used extensively in oil & gas service |
| Diesel | A | A | A | A max 150°C | A 100%, max 150°C | B |
| Jet fuel / kerosene | A | A | A | A JP4/JP5, max 110°C | A | B |
| Crude oil | A | A | A | A max 150°C | A 100%, max 150°C | A Xylan 1070 — North Sea offshore standard |
| Salts & Brines | ||||||
| Sodium chloride / seawater | A | A | A | A max 150°C | A | A Xylan 1070/1424 — 3,000+ hr ASTM B117 salt spray |
| Ferric chloride (FeCl₃) | A | A | A | A 50%, max 150°C | A | — |
| Aluminium chloride (AlCl₃) | A | A | A | A max 150°C | A | — |
| Food Contact & Process | ||||||
| Lactic acid (dairy) | A | A | A | A max 120°C | A | A Xylan 8840/8870 — engineered for dairy |
| Citric acid | A | A | A | A | A | B |
| Acetic acid 10% (vinegar) | A | A | A | A 50%, max 120°C | A 50%, above 121°C | — |
| Vegetable / edible oils | A | A | A | A max 150°C | A | A Xylan 8840/8870 — food processing |
Material Notes & Selection Logic
PTFE (Teflon)
ChemoursMax continuous: 260°C continuous
Strengths
- ✓Near-universal chemical inertness at ambient
- ✓Lowest coefficient of friction of any coating (0.04)
- ✓FDA-compliant grades for food contact
- ✓Highest continuous operating temperature (260°C)
Watch-outs
- !Not recommended for molten alkali metals (sodium, potassium, lithium)
- !Not recommended for elemental fluorine (F₂) at elevated temperature
- !Not recommended for fluorinating agents (ClF₃, OF₂, BrF₃, XeF₂)
- !Can be microporous — not the best permeation barrier
PFA
ChemoursMax continuous: 260°C continuous
Strengths
- ✓Same chemical resistance envelope as PTFE
- ✓Nonporous melt-flow film — excellent permeation barrier
- ✓FDA-compliant for demanding food service
- ✓Premium choice for chemical + permeation + high temperature
Watch-outs
- !Same exceptions as PTFE (molten alkali metals, fluorine, fluorinating agents)
- !2–3× cost of PTFE — only specify where the performance is needed
FEP
ChemoursMax continuous: 200°C continuous
Strengths
- ✓Same chemical resistance as PTFE/PFA at ambient
- ✓Nonporous melt-flow film
- ✓Cost-effective compared with PFA
Watch-outs
- !Max 200°C continuous — 60°C lower than PTFE/PFA
- !Same chemical exceptions as PTFE (molten alkali metals, fluorine)
- !De-rate for hot chemical service vs PTFE/PFA
ETFE (Tefzel)
ChemoursMax continuous: 150°C continuous
Strengths
- ✓Toughest fluoropolymer — best abrasion and mechanical strength
- ✓Thick-film builds up to 2,000 µm
- ✓Ideal for heavy-duty lining where chemistry is moderate
- ✓Excellent in hydrocarbons, salt brines, strong acids and bases
Watch-outs
- !Max 150°C continuous — do not quote for high-temp duty
- !Not recommended for hot concentrated nitric acid (degrades under sustained service)
- !Not recommended for hot amines or strong organic bases
- !Swells in hot ketones, esters and aromatic hydrocarbons
ECTFE (Halar)
Solvay / SyensqoMax continuous: 150°C continuous
Strengths
- ✓Best fluoropolymer for sodium hypochlorite (bleach) service
- ✓10–100× better permeation barrier than PTFE/PFA/FEP/ETFE
- ✓Full pH 1–14 resistance
- ✓Thick-film barrier linings up to 2,000 µm
Watch-outs
- !Max 150°C continuous — not a high-temp coating
- !Not resistant to hot amines, molten alkali metals or fluorine gas
- !Not resistant to methylene chloride or chloroform
- !65% nitric acid limited to 66°C
Xylan (Composite)
PPG / formerly WhitfordMax continuous: 260°C continuous (grade dependent)
Strengths
- ✓Dominant choice for fastener corrosion and torque control
- ✓3,000+ hour ASTM B117 salt spray (1070/1424 over zinc phosphate)
- ✓Thin-film dry lubricant — cures at lower temperatures than sintered PTFE
- ✓FDA-compliant food-contact grades (8840/8870) for dairy and food hardware
Watch-outs
- !Composite coating — chemical resistance is limited by the organic resin binder, not the fluoropolymer lubricant
- !Chemical performance varies dramatically by grade — 1424/1427/1300 are engineered for chemical service, 1014/1010 are not
- !Not recommended for chemical immersion linings or thick barrier service — pure fluoropolymers only
- !Not recommended for aggressive oxidising acids
Quick Selection by Application
| Application Need | AST Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium hypochlorite (bleach) lining | Halar ECTFE | Best fluoropolymer for NaOCl; 150 °C rated |
| Hot concentrated nitric acid | PTFE or PFA | ETFE and Halar are not rated for hot concentrated HNO₃ |
| Permeation barrier / vessel lining | Halar ECTFE or PFA | 10–100× better permeation barrier than PTFE |
| Heavy-duty thick lining (abrasion + chemical) | ETFE (Tefzel) | Thick-film builds to 2,000 µm; toughest fluoropolymer |
| Non-stick / release / cleanability | PTFE | Lowest coefficient of friction; most cost-effective |
| High temp > 200 °C chemical service | PTFE or PFA | 260 °C continuous — highest of the fluoropolymers |
| Fastener corrosion / salt spray | Xylan 1070 / 1424 | 3,000+ hr ASTM B117 salt spray over zinc phosphate |
| FDA food contact — premium | PFA | Nonporous melt-flow film, broad chemical resistance |
AST is the only licensed industrial fluoropolymer applicator in Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia. As a licensed Chemours applicator AST has direct access to Chemours Global technical support for unusual chemical media and non-standard service conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does this chemical compatibility data come from?
The ratings in this guide are compiled directly from coating manufacturer technical literature: Solvay/Syensqo Halar ECTFE Design & Processing Guide (Table 14), DuPont/Chemours Tefzel ETFE Chemical Use Temperature Guide, Chemours Teflon PTFE/PFA product bulletins, and Whitford/PPG Xylan technical documents including the ASTM D1308-79 spot test data. Where a manufacturer does not publish explicit data for a particular chemical, the rating is inferred conservatively from polymer chemistry and called out in the material notes.
What rating scale does this guide use?
A = Excellent / fully resistant at ambient and at the manufacturer-stated hot service temperature. B = Good / recommended, suitable for service with known limits. C = Limited / conditional, acceptable only for specific concentrations or temperatures. D = Not recommended, attack or failure expected. Dash (—) = no published manufacturer data. Ratings assume ambient (20–25 °C) unless a temperature caveat is noted in the cell.
Which fluoropolymer coating has the best chemical resistance overall?
PTFE and PFA share the broadest chemical resistance envelope — both are resistant to nearly every industrial chemical except molten alkali metals, elemental fluorine and highly reactive fluorinating agents. PFA adds a nonporous melt-flow film, making it the best choice for combined chemical and permeation barrier service at temperatures up to 260 °C. Halar (ECTFE) has slightly narrower chemical resistance than PTFE/PFA, but is the best fluoropolymer for sodium hypochlorite (bleach) service and offers 10–100× better permeation resistance.
Which coating should I use for hot concentrated nitric acid?
PTFE or PFA (Chemours Teflon). ETFE/Tefzel can be used for short-term nitric exposure, but destructive immersion testing shows ETFE degrades significantly in 70 % nitric acid at 120 °C over seven days. Halar (ECTFE) is limited to 66 °C in 65 % nitric. For sustained hot concentrated nitric service AST will recommend PTFE or PFA.
Can Xylan be used for chemical immersion service?
No. Xylan is a composite coating — a fluoropolymer lubricant bound in an organic resin matrix. The organic binder dictates chemical resistance, which is substantially lower than a pure fluoropolymer coating. Xylan is engineered for fastener corrosion protection, torque control and dry lubrication — not for chemical lining, thick-build barriers or immersion service. For those applications AST applies pure Chemours fluoropolymers (PTFE, PFA, FEP, ETFE) or Solvay Halar (ECTFE).
My chemical is not listed — can AST still help?
Yes. This guide covers 30+ of the most commonly specified industrial chemicals. AST maintains full manufacturer reference data across the Chemours, Solvay and PPG product lines and can check any specific chemical, concentration, temperature and exposure regime against the latest technical data sheets. As a licensed Chemours industrial applicator AST also has direct access to Chemours technical support for unusual media.
Does coating thickness affect chemical resistance?
Yes, significantly. Chemical resistance ratings in manufacturer tables typically assume a practical coating thickness — usually 200–500 µm for chemical service and up to 2,000 µm for heavy-duty lining. A thin PTFE one-coat at 20 µm offers far less practical chemical service life than a 500 µm Halar barrier lining at the same nominal rating. For aggressive chemical duty, film thickness and build quality matter as much as the underlying polymer.
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