Hydrogen fluoride

Product Specification

Feature

Hydrogen fluoride is the most important compound of fluorine. Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride is used in the production of most fluorine-containing chemicals. It is used in the production of refrigerants, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, high-octane gasoline, aluminum, plastics, electrical components, and fluorescent light bulbs. Aqueous hydrofluoric acid is used in stainless steel pickling, glass etching, metalcoatings, exotic metal extraction, and quartz purification(Hance et al. 1997).The most important use of hydrogen fluoride is in the production of fluorocarbon chemicals, including hydrofluorocarbons, hydrofluorochlorocarbons, and fluoropolymers; 60% of production is used for this purpose. Demand for hydrogen fluoride for fluorocarbons, broadly used as refrigerants, is increasing as a nonchlorinated alternative to ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons.(Production of fluorocarbons uses more hydrogen fluoride than production of chlorofluorocarbons.) The next most important uses of hydrogen fluoride are:chemical derivatives,18%; aluminum manufacturing,6%; stainless steel pickling,5%; petroleum alkylation catalysts, 4%; and uranium chemicals production,3%.Miscellaneous other uses include glassetching, herbicides, and rare metals(CMR 2002).