Potassium aluminium fluoride
Names
IUPAC name
potassium tetrafluoridoaluminate
Other names
potassium tetrafluoroaluminate
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.034.971 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 238-485-8
  • InChI=1S/Al.4FH.K/h;4*1H;/q+3;;;;;+1/p-4
    Key: SKFYTVYMYJCRET-UHFFFAOYSA-J
  • [K+].F[Al-](F)(F)F
Properties
KAlF4
Molar mass 142
Appearance White solid
Density 2.9 g/cm3
Melting point > 600 °C (1,112 °F; 873 K)
2 g/L
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS07: Exclamation markGHS08: Health hazard
Danger
H315, H319, H332, H335, H362, H372, H412
P201, P260, P261, P263, P264, P270, P271, P273, P280, P302+P352, P304+P312, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P308+P313, P312, P314, P321, P332+P313, P337+P313, P362, P403+P233, P405, P501
Safety data sheet (SDS) Solvay MSDS
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Potassium aluminium fluoride (PAF, chemical formula KAlF4) is an inorganic compound.

This compound is used as flux in the smelting of secondary aluminium, to reduce or remove the magnesium content of the melt. The main environmental issue that arises from using PAF is the production of fluoride gases. Calcium hydroxide is widely used to suppress the fluorides produced but in most cases fails to remove it sufficiently.

PAF is also present in a wide range of products for the metals industry as a fluxing agent within additives to help its dispersion within a charge.

It is also used as an insecticide.[1]

A single natural occurrence has been reported at a burning coal bank at Forestville, Pennsylvania, as an unnamed mineral.[2]

References

  1. ^ "potassium aluminium fluoride". AccessScience. Archived from the original on 2011-05-18.
  2. ^ "Unnamed (K-Al Fluoride)". mindat.org.