Ozone Compatible Materials and Their Resistance Grades

Ozone-Compatible Materials | Aqueous vs Gaseous | Ozcon

Ozone is highly reactive. Picking ozone compatible materials protects performance and service life. The table below separates aqueous and gaseous ozone ratings (A–D) and provides conservative design envelopes for typical conditions. Always verify against supplier datasheets for your exact formulation, temperature and pH.

A Excellent B Good C Conditional D Not recommended
Material Aqueous O₃
Continuous • short limits
Gaseous O₃
Continuous • short limits
Notes
Stainless Steel 316L A ≥5 ppm / 10 ppm A ≤12 %wt / 12 %wt Industry standard in water and gas; passivate welds.
Stainless Steel 304 B 2–5 ppm / 8 ppm A ≤8 %wt / 10 %wt Good overall; 316L preferred for long immersion.
Aluminium B ≥2 ppm / 5 ppm B ≤12 %wt / 12 %wt Stable oxide; avoid high pH and galvanic pairs.
Titanium A ≥5 ppm / 10+ ppm A ≤12 %wt / 12 %wt Exceptional compatibility; often unnecessary cost.
Glass (Borosilicate) A ≥5 ppm / 10+ ppm A ≤12 %wt / 12 %wt Chemically inert; mind thermal shock.
Carbon Steel D 0 / 0 D 0 / 0 Rapid oxidation; avoid.
Galvanised Steel D 0 / 0 D 0 / 0 Zinc white rust and flaking.
Cast Iron D 0 / 0 D 0 / 0 Severe oxidation and scaling.
Copper D 0.1 ppm / 0.2 ppm D 0 / 0 Oxidises quickly; avoid in ozone service.
Brass D 0.1 ppm / 0.2 ppm D 0 / 0 Dezincification risk; avoid.
EPDM A ≥5 ppm / 10 ppm A ≤12 %wt / 12 %wt Go‑to elastomer for seals and gaskets.
FKM (Viton / Fluoroelastomer) A ≥5 ppm / 10 ppm A ≤12 %wt / 12 %wt Excellent chemical resistance; broad temp range.
Silicone Rubber B ≥2 ppm / 5 ppm B ≤8 %wt / 10 %wt Generally good; check tear strength.
Butyl Rubber (IIR) B ≥2 ppm / 5 ppm B ≤8 %wt / 10 %wt Good ozone resistance; verify grade.
Neoprene (CR) D 0 / 0 D 0 / 0 Ozone cracking; unsuitable.
Nitrile (Buna‑N, NBR) D 0 / 0 D 0 / 0 Poor ozone resistance.
Natural Rubber (NR) D 0 / 0 D 0 / 0 Rapid cracking and embrittlement.
PTFE (Teflon) A ≥5 ppm / 10+ ppm A ≤12 %wt / 12 %wt Ideal for seats, seals, liners.
PVDF A ≥5 ppm / 10+ ppm A ≤12 %wt / 12 %wt Top thermoplastic for ozone gas and water.
ECTFE (Halar) A ≥5 ppm / 10+ ppm A ≤12 %wt / 12 %wt Excellent barrier; robust option.
PVF (Polyvinyl Fluoride) B ≥2 ppm / 5 ppm B ≤10 %wt / 10 %wt Good within typical temperatures.
PEEK A ≥5 ppm / 10 ppm A ≤12 %wt / 12 %wt High‑performance, mechanically strong.
Polypropylene (PP) A ≥5 ppm / 10 ppm A ≤10 %wt / 10 %wt Reliable for tanks and pipework.
Polyethylene (HDPE/LDPE) A 2–5 ppm / 8 ppm C ≤1 %wt / 1 %wt Good in water; limit prolonged dry‑gas exposure.
PVC (Rigid) C 0.2–0.5 ppm / 1 ppm D 0 / 0 Use at low residuals; avoid gas ozone.
ABS D 0 / 0 D 0 / 0 Stress cracking and oxidation.
Nylon (Polyamide) C 0.2–0.5 ppm / 1 ppm C ≤1 %wt / 1 %wt Moisture and oxidation affect properties.
Polycarbonate (PC) C 0.2–0.5 ppm / 1 ppm C ≤1 %wt / 1 %wt Environmental stress cracking risk.
Acetal (POM) C 0.2–0.5 ppm / 1 ppm C ≤1 %wt / 1 %wt Watch oxidation on machined edges.
PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate) B ≥1 ppm / 2 ppm B ≤5 %wt / 5 %wt Balanced strength and resistance.
Polysulfone (PSU) B ≥2 ppm / 5 ppm B ≤8 %wt / 10 %wt Good; verify at elevated temperatures.
Phenolic Resin C 0.2 ppm / 0.5 ppm D 0 / 0 Formulation dependent; tends to chalk/brittle.
EVA (Ethylene‑Vinyl Acetate) C 0.2 ppm / 0.5 ppm C ≤1 %wt / 1 %wt Short exposures only.
Polyimide A ≥5 ppm / 10 ppm A ≤12 %wt / 12 %wt Excellent, high‑temperature capable.

Need help picking materials?

Share your operating temperature, target dissolved ozone or gas concentration, and any elastomer sizes. We’ll verify compatibility and propose a bill of materials.

NEED HELP WITH AN
OZONE SOLUTION?

Tell us a bit about your process and we will come back with a practical, tailored solution.

Prefer to contact us directly?
Phone: +44 (0) 121 661 8368
Email: info@ozcon.co.uk