Ultrasonic Sensor Chemical Compatibility Charts

This resource is created to help you in deciding the chemical compatibility of our sensors for your application.

We’ve cross referenced user data and published documents for the chemical compatibility of our materials used in our sensors.

Please review the table below for insight on some of the most popular liquid/chemical environments our sensors are used in.

Rating By Chemical and MaxBotix Protection Level

Chemical

 

Protected By Standard Sensor

 

Protected by F-Option

 

Protected by P-Option

 

Water

C

C

C

Toluene

NC

NC

NC

Sulfuric acid

NC

NC

<10% F

Sewer

NC

R

R

Salt Water

NC

NC

R

NaOH solution

C

C

C

Hydrogen peroxide water

C

C

C

Hydrofluoric acid

NC

C

R

Hydrochloric acid

NC

NC

R

Gasoline

NC

R

C

Diesel

NC

R

C

Cooking / Vegetable Oil*

C

C

C

Chlorobenzene (Mono)

NC

R

C

Chlorine

NC

R

R

Acetone

NC

NC

NC

Key

NC = Not Compatible

C = Compatible

R = Required

F = Fair

Individual Sensor Material Rating

Chemical

PVC

Silicone

Fluorosilicone

Aluminum

Parylene

Hydrocholoric Acid

<37% C

37% C

<37% C

NC

10% C

Sulfuric acid

<75% C

<10% F

NC

NC (*cold concentrated – C)

10% C

Hydrofluoric acid

<50% C, 75-100% F

NC

NC

NC

10% C

NaOH solution

<80% C

≤80% C

C

NC

10% C

Hydrogen peroxide water

C

C

C

C

C

Toluene

NC

NC

NC

C

C

Acetone

NC

NC

NC

C

C

Chlorobenzene (Mono)

NC

NC

C

C

C

Diesel

C

NC

C

C

C

Gasoline

C, Unleaded F

NC

C

leaded, unleaded – C, high aromatic – NC

C

Salt Water

C

C

C

F

R

Water

C

C

C

C

C

Cooking / Vegetable Oil*

C

C

C

C

C

 

Key

NC = Not Compatible

C = Compatible

R = Required

F = Fair

*The sensor temperature range is -40C to +65C

One resource we’ve referenced is Cole-Parmer’s Chemical Compatibility Database.

In reference to Cole-Parmer’s rating system, we equate their ratings as follows:

Excellent or Good: Compatible

Fair: Assess. May have moderate effects and not recommended for continuous use. Softening or loss of strength and swelling may occur.

Severe: Not Compatible

Our standard WR sensors are composed of PVC (the sensor housing), Aluminum (the transducer), and Silicone (the O-ring).

The table above will allow you to determine if our standard sensor will work with the listed chemical/liquid’s environment.

We have also added the compatibility of our fluorosilicone (F-Option) and parylene (P-Option) add-ons which offer extra protection to the sensor in certain environments.

F-Option

Extremely corrosive gases or liquids can degrade or compromise the operation of the unit. We offer a chemically inert seal that will allow our sensors to operate in all but the harshest of chemical environments. In addition to chemical resistance, the sensor has improved performance in wet or dust environments.

The exposed materials of a properly mounted MaxSonar‑WR sensor with the F-Option (IP68) added are:

  • Aluminum (oxidized surface)
  • PVC
  • Fluorosilicone (with an additional back up FEP Teflon® seal).

 

P-Option

Add this Parylene coating to the surface of your aluminum transducer to improve the corrosion resistance of the transducer.

The exposed materials of a properly mounted MaxSonar WR sensor with the P-Option added are:

  • Parylene
  • PVC
  • Silicone rubber

 

If you have any questions about our sensors being used in chemical environments. Contact our technical support team at techsupport@maxbotix.com for assistance.