Chemical Compatibility Guide

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Get the Most Out of Your Immersion Heater

Select the Right Alloy for Chemical Compatibility

Heaters require careful selection to ensure that they will not fail prematurely—especially immersion heaters, which directly heat liquids. For corrosive solutions, choosing the alloy or material that has the best chemical compatibility and the appropriate watt density will extend a heater's functional lifespan.

Please note: The following information is intended to be used as a general guideline for heater material selection. The information accuracy of these ratings cannot be guaranteed, nor is it a complete list due to the extensive area of this field.
SOLUTIONTYPE OF HEATER
Acetic AcidDerated Titanium or PTFE*
Acetic AnhydrideDerated Titanium or PTFE*
Actane 70, 80PTFE*
Actane SaltPTFE*
Acid SulfatePTFE*
Alstan304 Stainless Steel
AlcoritePTFE*
Alkaline Cleaners (Electrified)304 Stainless Steel
Alkaline Soaking Cleaners304 Stainless Steel
Alodine (most formulas)316 Stainless Steel
Aluminum Bright DipPTFE*
Aluminum CleanersDerated 304 Stainless Steel
Aluminum ChloridePTFE*
Aluminum Sulfate304 Stainless Steel
Aluminum AcetateDerated 316 Stainless Steel or Titanium
Aluminum AnodizingPTFE*
AmmoniaDerated 304 Stainless Steel
Ammonium Acetate316 Stainless Steel
Ammonia PersulfatePTFE*
Ammonium Bi FluoridePTFE*
Ammonium ChlorideTitanium
Ammonium Nitrate316 Stainless Steel
AnodizingPTFE*
ARP 28, 80 Blackening SaltsPTFE*
Arsenic304 Stainless Steel
Barium Chloride316 Stainless Steel or Titanium
Benzoic AcidTitanium or PTFE*
Black NickelPTFE*
Black Oxide (Hi-Temp)Derated 316 Stainless Steel
Black Oxide (Low-Temp)Titanium
Bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite)Titanium or PTFE*
BonderizingDerated 316 Stainless Steel
Boric AcidTitanium
Brass Cyanide304 Stainless Steel
Bright NickelPTFE* or Titanium
Bright Copper Cyanide304 Stainless Steel
Bronze (Alkaline)304 Stainless Steel
Brown OxideTitanium
BurnitePTFE*
Butyric AcidTitanium
Cadmium BlackPTFE*
Cadmium (Alkaline)304 Stainless Steel
Cadmium FluoboratePTFE*
Calcium ChlorideTitanium
Calcium Hydroxide (dilute)316 Stainless Steel
Calcium Hydroxide (concentrated)PTFE
Calcium HypochloriteTitanium
Carbonic AcidTitanium
Caustic EtchDerated 304 Stainless Steel
Caustics304 Stainless Steel
Caustics (highly concentrated 20% and over)Derated Derated 304 Stainless Steel
Chlorine/WetPTFE*
ChloridePTFE* or Titanium
Chlorosulfuric AcidTitanium
Chromic AnodizingPTFE*
Chromic AcetatePTFE*
Chromic NickelPTFE*
Chromium (No Fluorides)PTFE* or Titanium
Chromium (Fluoride)PTFE*
Non-Hexavalent Chromate (No Fluorides)PTFE* or Titanium
Non-Hexavalent Chromate (Fluorides)PTFE*
Citric AcidTitanium
Clear ChromatePTFE*
Cobalt NickelPTFE* or Titanium
Cobalt Plating304 Stainless Steel
Cobra EtchPTFE*
Copper AcidPTFE*
Copper Bright AcidPTFE*
Copper Cyanide304 Stainless Steel
Copper FluoboratePTFE*
Copper Pyrophosphate304 Stainless Steel
Copper Strike304 Stainless Steel
Copper SulfatePTFE*
Cyanide304 Stainless Steel
Degreasing Solutions (vapor)Derated Derated 316 Stainless Steel
Deionized Water316 Stainless Steel or Titanium
Deoxidizer (Etching)PTFE*
Deoxidizer Non-ChromatedDerated 316 Stainless Steel
Dichromic Seal304 Stainless Steel
Diethylene Glycol304 Stainless Steel
Diversey, 511, 514PTFE*
Dow ThermDerated 316 Stainless Steel
Dye Solutions304 Stainless Steel
Ebonal CTitanium
Electroless CopperPTFE*
Electroless NickelPTFE* or Derated Titanium
Electroless Tin (Acid)PTFE*
Electroless Tin (Alkaline)316 Stainless Steel
Electro Cleaner304 Stainless Steel
Electro PolishingPTFE*
Enthone 80 AcidPTFE*
Ethylene GlycolDerated 304 Stainless Steel
Ferric Ammonium Oxide316 Stainless Steel
Ferric ChloridePTFE* or Titanium
Ferric Nitrate304 Stainless Steel
Ferric Sulfate304 Stainless Steel
FluoboratePTFE*
Formic Acid316 Stainless Steel
GlycerolDerated 304 Stainless Steel
Immersion Gold304 Stainless Steel
Gold-AcidPTFE* or Titanium
Gold Cyanide304 Stainless Steel
Grey NickelPTFE* or Titanium
Hot Seal Dichromate316 Stainless Steel
Hydrochloric AcidPTFE*
Hydrofluoric AcidPTFE*
Hydrogen PeroxidePTFE*
IndiumPTFE*
Iridite (4-75,4-73,14,14-2,14-9)316 Stainless Steel
Iridite (1,2,3,4-C,7,8,15)PTFE*
Iron FluoboratePTFE*
Iron PhosphateDerated 316 Stainless Steel or Incoloy 800
Isoprep (186,187,188)316 Stainless Steel
Isoprep Acid SaltsPTFE*
Jetal304 Stainless Steel
Fatty AcidsDerated Derated 316 Stainless Steel
Lactic AcidDerated Derated 316 Stainless Steel, or PTFE
Lead AcetateIncoloy 800
Lime Saturated Water (Alkaline)Derated Derated 316 Stainless Steel
Lye (Caustic)316 Stainless Steel or PTFE
Linseed Oil304 Stainless Steel
Manganese ChloridePTFE*
Magnesium HydroxideDerated 304 Stainless Steel
Magnesium NitratePTFE*
Manganese PhosphateDerated 316 Stainless Steel or Incoloy 800
McDermid 629PTFE*
Mercuric ChlorideTitanium
Methane Sulfonic AcidPTFE*
Molten Salt BathDerated Incoloy 800
Muriatic AcidPTFE*
Nickel (Plating Solution) (Watts)PTFE* or Titanium
Nickel Acetate Seal316 Stainless Steel
Nickel ChlorideTitanium
Nitric AcidPTFE*
Nitric Hydrochloric AcidsPTFE*
Nitric & (6%) PhosphoricPTFE*, Derated 316 Stainless Steel or Incoloy 800
OilDerated 304 Stainless Steel
Oleic AcidPTFE*
Oxalic AcidPTFE*
Paint Stripper (Alkaline)316 Stainless Steel
Paint Stripper (with Solvent or high PH)Derated Derated 316 Stainless Steel
PerchlorethyleneDerated 316 Stainless Steel
Phosphoric Acid (No Fluoride)PTFE*
Phosphate CleanerDerated Derated 304 Stainless Steel
PhosphateDerated 316 Stainless Steel
Potassium Acid SulfatePTFE*
Potassium Cyanide304 Stainless Steel
Potassium HydroxideDerated 316 Stainless Steel or Incoloy 800
Potassium HydrochloricPTFE*
Potassium PermanganatePTFE* or Derated Titanium
RhodiumPTFE*
Rochelle Salt Cyanide304 Stainless Steel
Ruthenium PlatingPTFE*
Salt (Actine)PTFE*
Sea WaterTitanium
Salt Water/BrineTitanium
Silver Bromide316 Stainless Steel
Silver Cyanide304 Stainless Steel
Silver Lume304 Stainless Steel
Silver Nitrate316 Stainless Steel
Sodium BisulfatePTFE*
Sodium CarbonateTitanium
Sodium ChlorateTitanium
Sodium ChlorideIncoloy 800 or Titanium
Sodium Cyanide304 Stainless Steel
Sodium Dichromate (Hot Seal)316 Stainless Steel
Sodium Hydroxide304 Stainless Steel
Sodium Hydroxide (concentrated)Derated 304 Stainless Steel
Sodium HypochloriteTitanium or PTFE*
Sodium PersulfatePTFE*
Sodium NitrateDerated Incoloy 800 or PTFE*
Stannate304 Stainless Steel
Stanic ChloridePTFE*
StanostarPTFE*
Sulfamate NickelPTFE* or Titanium
SulfurPTFE*
Sulfur PeroxidePTFE*
Sulfuric AcidPTFE*
Sulphamic AcidPTFE*
Tannic AcidTitanium
Tin NickelPTFE*
Tin Plating (Acid)(Stanus/Sulphate)Derated PTFE*
Tin Plating Acid (Fluoborate)PTFE*
Tin Plating (Alkaline)304 Stainless Steel
Trichlorethylene316 Stainless Steel
Trioxide (Pickle)PTFE*
Turco (4181, 4338)316 Stainless Steel
UnichromePTFE*
Water316 Stainless Steel
Wood's Nickel StrikePTFE* or Titanium,
Yellow DichromatePTFE*
Zinc AcidPTFE* or Titanium
Zinc Ammonium ChlorideDerated Titanium
Zinc Cyanide304 Stainless Steel
Zinc PhosphateDerated 316 Stainless Steel or Incoloy 800 / Check SDS
Zinc Phosphate (Fluoride)PTFE* / Check SDS
Zinc Sulfate316 Stainless Steel
Zincate304 Stainless Steel
Solutions required derated heaters are indicated in bold type.
*PTFE is a polytetrafluoroethylene fluoropolymer

This information is provided as a courtesy election guide only. Due to the complexities of solutions and applications, Heatmax Heaters cannot assume responsibility for any advice furnished. We do not guarantee heaters against premature failure due to corrosion caused by unusual conditions including excessively high solution temperatures, solution concentration, presence of inhibitors, presence of other acids, and excessive sludge build up. It is solely the customer’s obligation to contact his chemical supplier for heater material compatibility and recommendations.
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