9 Aluminum Fluoride Uses: Facts You Should Know!

Aluminum Fluoride is an inorganic chemical compound having molecular formula AlF₃ and molecular mass 83.977g/mol. Let us see various uses of Aluminum Fluoride through this article.

The different uses of Aluminum Fluoride molecule in different fields are mentioned below:

• Manufacturing of Aluminum
• Ceramics Production
• Fermentation
• Optical film
• Medical Technology
• Catalyst in Organic Compound Synthesis
• Enamelling and Pigments
• Phosphoryl transfer reactions in biology

Manufacturing of Aluminum

• AlF₃ is an important additive used during electrolytic production of Aluminum. It is mixed with cryolite and together this mixture helps to reduce the melting point of the solution below 1000^oC. This mixture also increases the conductivity of the solution. And this molten salt helps in production of Al by electrolysis.

Ceramics Production

• AlF₃ is used in manufacturing of ceramics.
• AlF₃ is a main chemical substance used in glaze for finished products which enhances the designs and textures in the ceramics.
• AlF₃ is used in ceramics and also special refractory products since it helps in increasing the high temperature resistivity of the products. Due to this ceramics can withhold high temperature.
• It helps to increase the porosity of the ceramic.
• AlF₃ also help to increase fracture toughness i.e., the ceramic becomes resistant to sudden fracture or breaking.
• AlF₃ also makes the ceramics shock resistant.

Fermentation

• AlF₃ is used in fermentation process during production of beers and wines. AlF₃ inhibits the fermentation process. Hence, can be used to stop the fermentation process when required thereby obtaining the desired product. Since, it is widely available and cost effective it is most feasible inhibitors used in this industry.

Optical film

• AlF₃ is used in making low index material and is a very important one used in UV and DUV coatings.
• Using AlF₃ thin films of thickness around 1480nm are created. These films have high clarity and are moisture resistant. These low index optical films also have good mechanical strength.

Medical Technology

• AlF₃ is an excellent coating material for mirrors that present in Ultraviolet lasers used in angioplasty called as excimer lasers. The AlF₃ present in excimer lasers helps UV light to be well absorbed by biological matter and organic compounds.
• AlF₃ coatings are used in Photolithography in semiconductors.

Catalyst in Organic Compound Synthesis

• AlF₃ is used as a catalyst in synthesis of many organic compounds. It is largely used in an industrial field.
• AlF₃ is used as a catalyst during synthesis of fluorocarbons.
• The combination of Niobium with AlF₃ is used in catalytic conversion of cellulose to lactic acid.
• AlF₃ is used in Heck reaction by enhancing its performance as a co-catalyst.

Enamelling and Pigments

• AlF₃ is used in Enamelling process as well as pigments formation. The industrial waste of ALF₃ is used as fillers in phosphoresins.

Phosphoryl transfer reactions in biology

• AlF₃ is used to study some fundamental aspect of biological system.
• AlF₃ forms a complex with proteins which can be used to study the mechanical aspect of Phosphoryl transfer reactions in biology.
• ATP and GTP are phosphoric acid anhydrides which controls the growth and metabolism.

Conclusion

Aluminum Fluoride is very important inorganic compound. It is widely used in industries, medicinal field as well as research. It is also used as a cathode material in rechargeable Lithium batteries.