Atomic properties
Market data
Raw material sources & pricing
| Raw Material Form | Grade/Quality | Price Range | Major Sources | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Acid Grade Fluorspar | >97% CaF₂ | $450-650/MT | China, Mexico, Mongolia | HF production, aluminum production |
| Metallurgical Grade | 85-95% CaF₂ | $350-450/MT | China, South Africa | Steel production flux |
| Ceramic Grade | 94-96% CaF₂ | $400-500/MT | China, Mexico | Glass, ceramics, cement |
| Optical Grade | >99.9% CaF₂ | $2,000-5,000/MT | China, Japan | Optical lenses, laser windows |
| Phosphate Rock (Secondary) | 3-4% F content | $150-250/MT | Morocco, China, USA | HF as byproduct |
Fluorspar (Fluorite) - Primary Raw Material
Chemical Formula: CaF₂ (Calcium Fluoride) Current Market Price: $450-650/MT (Acid grade, >97% CaF₂) Major Global Reserves: China: 65 million MT (27% of world reserves) Mexico: 32 million MT (13% of world reserves) South Africa: 28 million MT (12% of world reserves) Mongolia: 22 million MT (9% of world reserves) 2025 Production Leaders: China: 5.7 million MT (58% of global production) Mexico: 1.2 million MT (12% of global production) Mongolia: 0.9 million MT (9% of global production) South Africa: 0.8 million MT (8% of global production) Raw Material Form Grade/Quality Price Range Major Sources Primary Use Acid Grade Fluorspar >97% CaF₂ $450-650/MT China, Mexico, Mongolia HF production, aluminum production Metallurgical Grade 85-95% CaF₂ $350-450/MT China, South Africa Steel production flux
⚠️ Seawater Fluorine Extraction
Commercial Viability: NOT ECONOMICALLY VIABLE Concentration: 1.3 ppm (as fluoride ion F⁻) Chemical Form: F⁻ (fluoride ion), some MgF⁺ and CaF⁺ complexes Status: While seawater contains measurable fluoride, no commercial extraction exists due to: Low concentration compared to fluorspar (51% F in CaF₂) High energy requirements for concentration and conversion Abundant and economical terrestrial sources
Commercial forms & specifications
| Product Form | Chemical Formula | Molecular Weight | Typical Purity | Price Range (USD/kg) | Main Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrogen Fluoride (Anhydrous) | HF | 20.01 g/mol | 99.9% | $2.80-3.50 | Fluorochemicals, electronics etching |
| Hydrofluoric Acid (70%) | HF·H₂O | Variable | 70% HF | $1.50-2.00 | Metal pickling, glass etching |
| Sodium Fluoride | NaF | 41.99 g/mol | 98-99% | $1.20-1.80 | Water fluoridation, toothpaste |
| Potassium Fluoride | KF | 58.10 g/mol | 99% | $8.00-12.00 | Organic synthesis, metallurgy |
| Aluminum Fluoride | AlF₃ | 83.98 g/mol | 90-92% | $0.80-1.20 | Aluminum smelting flux |
| Cryolite (Synthetic) | Na₃AlF₆ | 209.94 g/mol | 98% | $0.90-1.30 | Aluminum electrolysis |
| Sulfur Hexafluoride | SF₆ | 146.06 g/mol | 99.9% | $8.00-15.00 | Electrical insulation |
| Nitrogen Trifluoride | NF₃ | 71.00 g/mol | 99.99% | $50.00-80.00 | Electronics cleaning |
| Fluorosilicic Acid | H₂SiF₆ | 144.09 g/mol | 23-25% | $0.30-0.50 | Water fluoridation |
| PTFE (Teflon) | (C₂F₄)ₙ | 100.02 g/mol (monomer) | 99.9% | $12.00-25.00 | Non-stick coatings, seals |
| Calcium Fluoride (Synthetic) | CaF₂ | 78.07 g/mol | 99.9% | $2.00-5.00 | Optical windows, ceramics |
| Uranium Hexafluoride | UF₆ | 352.02 g/mol | 99.9% | Regulated | Nuclear fuel enrichment |
Suppliers by country
🇺🇸 United States
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Honeywell | HF, fluorocarbons, HFCs, HFOs | Refrigerants, electronics chemicals, Solstice® products |
| 3M | Fluoropolymers, specialty fluorochemicals | Novec™ fluids, fluorosurfactants |
| Chemours | PTFE, fluoropolymers, refrigerants | Teflon™, Opteon™ refrigerants, Ti-Pure™ |
| Air Products | NF₃, SF₆, specialty gases | Electronic specialty gases |
🇯🇵 Japan
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Daikin Industries | Fluoropolymers, refrigerants, fluorochemicals | NEOFLON™ PTFE, refrigerants R-32 |
| AGC (Asahi Glass) | Fluoropolymers, ETFE, fluorinated solvents | FLUON™ PTFE, Aflas™ elastomers |
| Kanto Denka Kogyo | HF, NF₃, WF₆, specialty gases | Semiconductor-grade fluorine compounds |
🇩🇪 Germany
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Lanxess | Fluorinated intermediates, HF | Pharmaceutical intermediates |
| Solvay | Fluoropolymers, specialty fluorides | Solef™ PVDF, battery materials |
🇨🇳 China
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Sinochem Lantian | HF, fluoropolymers, refrigerants | Largest HF producer in China |
| Zhejiang Juhua | Refrigerants, fluoropolymers, HF | R-22, R-134a, PTFE |
| Dongyue Group | Refrigerants, PTFE, fluorosilicones | Integrated fluorine chemical producer |
| Do-Fluoride Chemicals | AlF₃, cryolite, specialty fluorides | Aluminum industry fluorides |
🇲🇽 Mexico
| Company | Product Forms | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Mexichem (Orbia) | HF, AlF₃, refrigerants | Integrated fluorspar to fluorochemicals |
| Fluorita de México | Fluorspar, HF | Acid-grade fluorspar mining |
Market trends
HFO Transition: Rapid shift from HFCs to HFOs (hydrofluoroolefins) driven by Kigali Amendment, creating $3B+ market opportunity Semiconductor Boom: Electronic gases (NF₃, WF₆) demand up 15% YoY due to AI chip manufacturing expansion Battery Materials: PVDF binder demand for Li-ion batteries growing at 12% CAGR Supply Chain Concerns: China controls 58% of fluorspar production, prompting supply diversification efforts Environmental Regulations: PFAS restrictions affecting traditional fluoropolymer markets Recycling Technology: HF recovery from spent catalysts and industrial waste gaining traction Price Volatility: Fluorspar prices up 40% since 2023 due to Chinese production controls
Moles per kilogram
| Product Form | Formula | MW (g/mol) | Moles/kg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fluorine Gas | F₂ | 38.00 | 26.32 |
| Hydrogen Fluoride | HF | 20.01 | 49.98 |
| Sodium Fluoride | NaF | 41.99 | 23.81 |
| Calcium Fluoride | CaF₂ | 78.07 | 12.81 |
| Aluminum Fluoride | AlF₃ | 83.98 | 11.91 |
| Cryolite | Na₃AlF₆ | 209.94 | 4.76 |
| Sulfur Hexafluoride | SF₆ | 146.06 | 6.85 |
| PTFE (per monomer unit) | C₂F₄ | 100.02 | 10.00 |
References
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Coverage notes
The following sections are thin or absent in the source document for this element. They will be filled by enrichment passes (NIST atomic, OSHA/NIOSH safety, USGS / IAI environmental).
- Missing section: Energy Consumption