Last post from the two hours digging into Fluorspar - uses...

Last post from the two hours digging into Fluorspar - uses include :

METSpar (<97% CaF2)

• Uses:
  • Iron & Steel Casting: Enhances mold fluidity and helps reduce slag.
  • Steelmaking: Acts as a flux to remove impurities and improve slag fluidity, which improves steel quality.

Acidspar (>97% CaF2)

• Uses:
  • Glassmaking: Increases the strength and durability of glass products.
  • Hydrofluoric Acid (HF): Central to many industrial processes, including:
    • Fluorocarbons Production: Key in refrigerants and propellants manufacturing.
      • HCFCs and HFCs: Include HCFC-123, HCFC-124, and HFC-134a among others, used in air conditioning and refrigeration for their lower ozone-depleting potential.
      • Polymers: CTFE-VDF, PVDF for coatings, films, and pipes due to their chemical resistance.
      • Specialty Gases: FC-14, FC-116 for electronics cleaning and processing.
    • Petroleum Alkylation: HF acts as a catalyst in producing high-octane petroleum derivatives.
    • Metal Pickling: Cleans metal surfaces by removing oxides and scales.
    • Aluminium Fluoride Production: From HF, crucial in aluminum smelting as a flux.
    • Other Chemical Derivatives: Including uses in pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals.
    • Advanced Fluoropolymers:
      • TFE: Tetrafluoroethylene, the monomer for PTFE.
      • PFA, FEP, PTFE: Used in applications requiring high chemical resistance and thermal stability.
      • E-TFE and E-CTFE: Ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene and ethylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymers for wire insulation and films.

These applications demonstrate the critical role of fluorspar and its derivatives in a wide range of industrial processes and products, from basic materials like steel and glass to advanced polymers and refrigerants that support modern technologies and industries.