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ALCOA WORLD ALUMINA, LLC
ALUMINUM FLUORIDE
CHE 960
June 2003
Produced at Point Comfort, TX Operations
Product Information
Product Applications
Packaging & Shipping
Alcoa Aluminum fluoride (anhydrous) is
an off-white, free-flowing granular material,
insoluble in most organic and inorganic
liquids at room temperatures. It is soluble
in many fused salts.
At ambient
temperatures, it is chemically inactive. It is
readily fluidized and can be transferred
easily by pneumatic transport systems. Its
crystalline structure is similar to that of
alumina.
At Alcoa’s Point Comfort
Operations, it is produced from a reaction
between alumina trihydrate and hydrogen
fluoride gas.
Aluminum fluoride is used by aluminum
producers to lower the melting point of
electrolytes in the smelting process and
increase production efficiency.
Bulk shipments available in railcar, barge or
ship. Standard packaged product available
in 50 and 100 pound bags, 25 kg bags, and
super sacks.
It is also used as a flux ingredient for the
removal of magnesium in the refining of
aluminum scrap.
When magnesiumbearing aluminum alloys are melted,
fluoride reacts with the magnesium and
permits removal of this element.
This
enables remelters to produce aluminum
alloys substantially free of magnesium.
Physical Properties
Aluminum fluoride is considered a non-toxic
o
chemical unless heated to above 932 F
o
(500 C) in the presence of moisture, at
which time a pyrohydrolysis occurs with the
evolution of hydrogen fluoride vapor, a
respiratory irritant. For more details, refer
to Alcoa Material Safety Data Sheet No.
148.
The ceramic industry uses aluminum
fluoride for some body and glaze mixtures
and in the production of specialty refractory
products. Aluminum fluoride is used in the
manufacture of aluminum silicates and in
the glass industry as a filler.
Melting Point
Specific Gravity
Loose Bulk Density
Solubility in H2O
o
o
2300 F (1260 C)
2.88
3
84 - 94 lb/ft
3
(1346 - 1506 kg/m )
Slightly soluble
(0.56 g/100 ml)
Typical Properties of Point Comfort Aluminum Fluoride
Chemical Analysis, wt%
SiO2
Fe2O3
Na2O
AlF3
Free Al2O3
Al2(SO4)3
P2O5
LOI (0 - 480oC)
Particle Size Analysis (cumulative)
% on 100 mesh
% on 200 mesh
% on 325 mesh
Typical Range(1)
0.15
- 0.35
0.005
- 0.015
0.16
- 0.22
90.00
- 94.00
4.00
- 8.00
0.4
- 0.7
0.005
- 0.015
0.15
- 0.80
1
70
95
-
15
95
100
Shipping Limits
0.400 max
0.020 max
0.25 max
90.00 min
10.00 max
0.8 max
0.030 max
1.20 max
-
(1) Approximately 2 Standard Deviations from Average.
Alcoa World Alumina, LLC
P. O. Box 101, Point Comfort, TX 77978-0101
800-562-2635 800-562-2640
Fax 877-987-7260
ISO 9002 Certified