Ammonium Bifluoride (Ammonium Hydrogen Fluoride)

What is Ammonium Bifluoride (Ammonium Hydrogen Fluoride)?

Molecular Formula (Ammonium Bifluoride (Ammonium Hydrogen Fluoride): NH₄HF₂

Molecular Weight: 57.044 g/mol

Chemical Name: Ammonium Hydrogen Difluoride

CAS Number: 1341-49-7

Ammonium Bifluoride is a water-soluble crystalline solid chemical. It has corrosive properties on metals and tissues.

Other Names for Ammonium Bifluoride are as Follows;

• Ammonium Difluoride
• Ammonium fluoride hydrofluoride
• Ammonium Hydrogen Difluoride, solid
• Ammonium Hydrofluoride
• Acid Ammonium Fluoride
• Ammonium Hydrogen Difluoride
• Ammonium Hydrogen Bifluoride
• Ammonium Fluoride
• Acid ammonium fluoride
• Acid Ammonium Fluoride

How is it Produced?

Ammonium Bifluoride is produced from Hydrofluoric Acid and Ammonia. It is generally formed by dehydrating ammonium fluoride solutions and subsequently thermally decomposing the dry crystals.

What are its Physical and Chemical Properties?

Ammonium Hydrogen Fluoride is an odorless, white crystalline chemical. It is in rhombic or tetragonal form. It can also be in an orthorhombic crystalline form.

Ammonium Bifluoride has corrosive properties.

Melting point is 125.6 °C.

Boiling point is 240 °C.

It has good solubility in water. It is 90% soluble in ethanol.

The density of Ammonium Bifluoride is 1.50 g/cm³.

Upon decomposition, it releases toxic fumes into the environment.

Its 5% solution has a pH of 3.5.

It can react violently with bases. Therefore, contact with bases should be avoided.

In the presence of moisture, it can corrode cement, glass, and most metals.

What are the Uses of Ammonium Bifluoride (Ammonium Hydrogen Fluoride)?

• The most common use of Ammonium Bifluoride is in the glass industry. It is used extensively to make frosted glass smooth.
• The second most common area of use is the electronics industry.
• Ammonium Bifluoride is used for sterilizing milk and some food products.
• It is used for purifying beer distribution tubes and various parts.
• Ammonium Hydrogen Fluoride is used in ceramics manufacturing.
• Ammonium Bifluoride is used in the manufacturing of processing chemicals for petroleum production.
• It is an auxiliary component in the manufacturing of cleaning chemicals designed for degreasing.
• It is used in the manufacturing of coating agents and surface treatment agents.
• In the coating industry, Ammonium Hydrogen Fluoride is used as a key component of bright dip baths for etching and cleaning non-ferrous metal parts.
• Ammonium Bifluoride is used for drilling through silicate rocks.
• It is used as a main component of cleaning and disinfection solutions in power plants.
• In oil and natural gas production fields, it is used to create an acidic environment within the well. When Ammonium Bifluoride dissolves in water, it forms hydrofluoric acid. Since the pKa value of Hydrofluoric Acid is below 1, it increases efficiency in oil and gas production.
• In power plant cooling towers, Calcium-Silica and Silica deposits form. To prevent and clean these deposits, washing chemicals containing Ammonium Bifluoride or Hydrofluoric Acid are used.
• If Hydrofluoric Acid reacts quickly within oil and gas wells, sandstones and silicates can become de-consolidated. To prevent this, ABF can be converted to HF either in the well or on the surface.

What Factors Affect its Price?

Its price varies according to the price list of fluorite rocks used in the production of Ammonium Bifluoride. As the price of fluorite rocks in its production increases, the price of Ammonium Bifluoride will also increase.

The use of Ammonium Bifluoride has been increasing for many years, parallel to the development of the glass industry.

Prices have increased with the expansion of this raw material's application areas.

The most significant factor affecting its price has been the Chinese government's restriction on fluorine production. As fluorine production decreases, its production will also decrease. This, in turn, will increase the price of Ammonium Hydrogen Fluoride.