Uses of hydrofluoric acid

Hydrofluoric acid (HF) is the core raw material of fluorine chemical industry, with downstream coverage of fluorine chemical basic raw materials, electronic semiconductors, new energy, metal/glass processing, petrochemicals, nuclear industry, etc. Among them, fluorine chemical industry (refrigerant/fluoropolymer) accounts for the highest proportion (about 50%), and electronics and new energy are the fastest growing fields.
1、 Fluorine chemical basic raw materials (maximum downstream)
Refrigerants (accounting for over 50%): Produce HFCs (such as R134a), HCFCs, and HFOs (fourth generation low GWP refrigerants) for use in air conditioning, refrigerators, and automotive air conditioning.
Fluoride salt: manufacturing cryolite and aluminum fluoride (electrolytic aluminum flux, reducing melting point); Sodium/potassium fluoride, lithium fluoride (electrolyte for lithium batteries), sulfur hexafluoride (high-voltage insulation).
Fluorinated polymers: synthetic PTFE (Teflon) PVDF、FEP、 Fluororubber is used for non stick coating, pipeline sealing, lithium battery separator, cable insulation, and anti-corrosion lining.
Fluorinated fine products: Fluorinated pharmaceutical/pesticide intermediates, fluorinated surfactants, electronic grade fluorinated wet chemicals.
2、 Electronics and Semiconductors (High end Core)
Semiconductor wafers: Electronic grade HF (ultra-high purity) cleaning of silicon wafers to remove oxide layers/metal impurities; Etching silicon dioxide/silicon to produce nanoscale circuits (key to 7/5nm process).
Photovoltaic silicon wafer: Clean and cut the silicon wafer to remove metal residues and damaged layers, improving the photoelectric conversion efficiency by 0.5% -1%; Preparation of suede anti reflection structure.
Display panel: LCD/OLED glass substrate etching and cleaning; Etching of touch screen sensor pattern.
PCB and electronic components: circuit board etching, cleaning flux; Precision machining of quartz crystals and ceramic components.
3、 New energy (high growth sector)
Lithium batteries: production of lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF ₆) (electrolyte core salt); Purification of lithium iron phosphate/ternary precursor to remove metal impurities.
Photovoltaic: silicon wafer cleaning and velvet production; Etching anti reflective layer on photovoltaic glass to enhance light transmittance.
Energy storage/hydrogen energy: surface treatment of some electrode materials, preparation of high-purity fluorine gas.
4、 Metal Surface Treatment and Metallurgy
Aluminum/aluminum alloy: acid washing to remove oxide film, degreasing; Anodizing pre-treatment to improve film uniformity (aluminum profiles, photovoltaic frames, automotive wheels).
Stainless steel/carbon steel: acid pickling for rust removal, silicon/iron scale removal, passivation for corrosion prevention; Boiler, heat exchanger, and pipeline cleaning (without causing stress corrosion).
Rare metals: titanium/zirconium/niobium/tantalum acid pickling and passivation; Rare earth ore leaching and separation; Graphite purification (removal of silicate impurities, fixed carbon ≥ 99%).
Electroplating: Activate and remove oxides before plating to enhance the adhesion of the coating.
5、 Glass, Ceramics, and Optics
Glass etching/frosted: carved glass, architectural frosted glass, anti glare for mobile phone screens, instrument scales; Mirror/lamp etching; Photovoltaic glass anti reflection layer.
Optical components: precision cleaning and etching of lenses, prisms, and fiber optic connectors; Polishing and purification of quartz glass (high-purity quartz for semiconductor/photovoltaic applications).
Ceramics: acid washing to remove impurities and flux; Precision machining of ceramic substrates.
6、 Petrochemical industry
Alkylation catalyst: Alkylation of isobutane with butene to produce high octane gasoline (increasing octane value and reducing olefins).
Oilfield acidification: combined with hydrochloric acid to dissolve sandstone/limestone blockages and improve oil well permeability and recovery rate.
Industrial cleaning: Remove silicate/sulfate scaling from heat exchangers, reactors, and pipelines to restore thermal efficiency.
7、 Nuclear industry and others
Nuclear fuel processing: Uranium oxide is converted into UF ₄/UF ₆ for isotope separation and nuclear fuel preparation.
Analytical chemistry: dissolution of silicates/ores, decomposition of geological samples; Mask Fe ³ ⁺ and use quantitative analysis reagents.
Dentistry: Low concentration (2% -5%) etching of enamel enhances the adhesion of dental resin.