Aluminum Fluoride Is A White Crystalline Solid That Can Be Used As An Additive In Food Processing And Pharmaceuticals

Aluminum Fluoride

Aluminum fluoride is an inorganic compound and it is a colorless solid. It can occur naturally as the minerals rosenbergite and oskarssonite. It is most often produced by treating hydrogen fluoride with alumina or aluminum oxide at around 700 deg C. This is done in the industrial production of primary aluminum metal, where it acts as an additive. Together with cryolite, it lowers the melting point of the alumina feed and increases its conductivity. This allows smaller amounts of electric power to be used, reducing the overall electricity consumption in the electrolysis process.

In the solid state, aluminum fluoride forms several polymeric hydrates. These have distorted octahedra connected by fluoride atoms. The anhydrous form is also found as a crystalline substance. X-ray crystallography reveals that it has D3h symmetry.

According to Coherent Market Insights the Aluminum Fluoride Market Size, Share, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 2022-2028.

There are three methods of commercial preparation of aluminium fluoride. The first involves treating alumina trihydrate with hydrofluoric acid; the second uses ammonium hexafluoroaluminate; and the third is the thermal decomposition of aluminium hydroxide.

Aluminum fluoride can be manufactured synthetically too. It is a white crystalline solid that can be used in a variety of applications, such as metal production, ceramics, and glass manufacturing. It is also a key ingredient in fluoroaluminate glass for optical fiber applications.

Alumina fluoride is widely used in the production of aluminium and as a flux in ceramic glazes and enamels. It is also used as a catalyst for organic synthesis and as an inhibitor of fermentation. It is also used in the manufacture of refractory ceramic products.

Besides these, the aluminum fluoride is also extensively used in various other fields as an industrial chemical. In the field of metallurgy, it is added to the electrolytic bath for the production of aluminum, thereby lowering its melting point and increasing conductivity. The compound is also used as a flux in the production of cast iron and steel, for the manufacture of refractory ceramics, and as an ingredient in smelting glass.

There are various other applications of aluminum fluoride such as coagulant for water treatment, leather tanning, and paper production, as a mordant in dyeing, and as a starting material for the manufacture of other aluminium compounds. Aluminum fluoride is available in a range of purity levels, depending on the application and user requirements.

DuPont entered into a definitive agreement for acquiring acquire Spectrum Plastics Group, from AEA Investors, in May 2023. Spectrum is a key player in advanced manufacturing of specialty medical devices.