Views: 155 Author: SEPPE Publish Time: 2021-08-20 Origin: SEPPE
Half of the world’s fluorspar production is used to make hydrofluoric acid, and it has been developed to make cryolite and used in the aluminum industry. Fluorspar is also used to make coolant(Freon) in refrigerators and air conditioners, and in 1986, the first generation of artificial blood in China was to be made from fluorspar.
I. Chemical Industry
An important use of fluorspar is the production of hydrofluoric acid is produced by acid grade fluorspar with sulfuric acid in a heated furnace or tank, and is divided into anhydrous and aqueous hydrofluoric acid, both of which are colorless liquids that are volatile, as well as have a strong pungent odour and are strongly corrosive. It is the key raw material for the production of various organic and inorganic fluorides and fluorine.
In the aluminum industry, hydrofluoric acid is used to produce aluminum fluoride, artificial cryolite, sodium fluoride and magnesium fluoride.
In the aviation and aerospace industry, hydrofluoric acid is mainly used to produce liquid propellant for jet aircraft and jet fuel propellant for missiles. In the atomic energy industry, hydrofluoric acid is mainly used to produce UF4, which is then fluorinated to produce UF6 and separated from 235U by the gas diffusion method or gas centrifugation.
Hydrofluoric acid is reacted with carbon tetrachloride to make Freon. In addition to being used as a refrigerant, Freon is also widely used as a spray, fire extinguishing agent and fluorine plastic.
In medicine, fluorinated organic compounds can also be used to make fluorinated anti-cancer drugs, fluorinated cortisone, fluorocarbon-containing artificial blood, artificial hearts and bones.
In the Inorganic fluoride industry, fluorspar is used to produce insecticides, antiseptics, protective agents, additives, fluxes and antioxidants.
II. Construction Material Industry
Fluorspar is also widely used in the glass, ceramic, cement and other building material industries.
In the glass industry, fluorspar is added as a fluxing and opacifying agent, which promotes the melting of glass raw materials. The amount of fluorspar added varies for different types of glass. The specific dosage is as follows:
① Ordinary glass plates: 1% of furnace burden.
② Alkaline glass ball: 1~2% of furnace burden.
③ Oxide glass: 3% of furnace burden.
④ Colored glass: 10~20% of furnace burden.
Glass industry on the quality of fluorspar requirements are more stringent (requiring calcium fluoride more than 80%; iron oxide less than 0.2%).
In cement industry, fluorspar is added as a mineralising agent. Fluorspar reduces the sintering temperature of the furnace charge, simultaneously, it also reduces fuel consumption and also enhances the viscosity of the clinker liquid phase during sintering. Furthermore, promoting the formation of tricalcium silicate is one of its characters. In the production process of cement, the amount of fluorspar added is 4%~5%. The cement industry does not have strict requirements on the quality of fluorspar, generally the CaF2 content is above 40%, and there are no specific requirements on the impurity content.
In the ceramic industry, fluorspar is mainly used as porcelain glaze, it is also added as dyeing assistant and fluxing agent. For example, after adding the fluorspar in the red porcelain, its surface could become more bright and delicate. 10%~20% dosage is exactly good in the production of porcelain.
