| There are many uses for fluorochemicals and | | | | and other compounds (liquid fluorine and chlorine |
| organic halocarbon compounds in industry and | | | | trifluoride) that don't play well with these synthetic |
| commerce. Sometimes fluoro-chemicals are the | | | | oils. |
| safer alternative to chemicals that were designed | | | | Other industrial uses for fluorochemical lubricants |
| to use chlorine instead. There are many medical | | | | involve those with the longest chains - synthetic |
| applications of halocarbon chemicals, too, such as | | | | waxes. These are very often used in conjunction |
| a wide range of anaesthetic compounds. | | | | with the metals industry as coatings. While waxes |
| However, the most directly industrial use is as the | | | | are most often used with finished products, oils |
| wide range of synthetic, inert oils available today. | | | | are sometimes used to coat the inside of pumps |
| Perhaps most notably, these oils are entirely | | | | that may be used with highly reactive substances. |
| synthetic - using no hydrocarbon constituents - | | | | Many industries that routinely use dangerous |
| these synthetic oils are totally inert and able to be | | | | chemicals rely upon inert oils and lubricants. The |
| used in applications with pure high pressure | | | | bleaching of wood pulp for paper and (ironically |
| oxygen or chlorine. They are also unusually | | | | perhaps) the treatment of water sources with |
| resistant to degradation, even under extreme | | | | chlorine and are two examples of industries that |
| conditions such as those encountered at a | | | | are dependent upon halocarbon oils to keep safe. |
| foundry, as in the case of metalworking fluids. | | | | Many chemical firms rely upon such inert oils as |
| Of course, fluorine is a remarkable and dangerous | | | | inert solvents. |
| substance. Utterly toxic in its native form, it tightly | | | | There are several "aggressive" substances that |
| bonds with other atoms. Its reactions are intense | | | | require equipment to be coated or lubricated with |
| and unique. In the case of inert oils or lubricants, | | | | a substance that will stand up to chemical attack. |
| the hydrogens of a typical petrochemical lubricant | | | | Fluorochemicals are especially good at resisting |
| are all removed, leaving only fluorine and chlorine | | | | chemicals such as full-strength hydrogen peroxide, |
| tightly in their place. | | | | chlorine and liquid oxygen. Many labs choose to |
| It is no wonder that the use of fluorochemical | | | | use inert lubricants as high temperature grease to |
| lubricants has been so widespread in industry. | | | | lubricate lab equipment. |
| Possibly, the only thing keeping synthetic oil from | | | | Just as synthetic lubricants are suitable for high |
| being far more widely adopted is the price | | | | temperature applications, they are also ideally |
| associated with them. This is a consequence of | | | | suited to very low temperature applications |
| the danger and complexity inherent with | | | | because the viscosity can be very finely tailored |
| fluorochemical manufacture. Some industries have | | | | to the job. As you might expect from the same |
| a choice and prefer to stick with other options, | | | | element that is at the core of non-stick coatings |
| though recycling halocarbon oils can make the | | | | for frying pans, these inert lubricants remain quite |
| cost of their use lower. | | | | slippery even under adverse conditions. |
| However, at the turn of the 21st century, there | | | | Because fluorinated synthetic lubricants are fully |
| are plenty of industries and trades where fully | | | | oxygen compatible, they are safe to use in even |
| synthetic lubricants are absolutely necessary, such | | | | the most intense applications, such as situations |
| as the machining of zirconium, tungsten, tantalum | | | | where pure oxygen is kept under high pressure |
| or niobium. These exotic metals have become far | | | | and when other lubricants and sealants would |
| more widespread since the widespread adoption | | | | have been oxidized away. Anyone who has ever |
| of metalworking fluids. At this time, they cannot | | | | worked with compressed or liquid oxygen knows |
| be reliably fabricated in the same manner without | | | | that practicing oxygen safety is the first and |
| high temperature, inert oils. | | | | foremost concern working with such systems. |
| Synthetic oils are also used in high temperature | | | | Having inert lubricants you can rely upon is a relief |
| and high performance automobile applications, | | | | for professionals that didn't enjoy such a degree |
| though their major use in transportation is with | | | | of safety in the past. |
| aerospace. Bearings and gears are especially likely | | | | In addition to its use as a synthetic lubricant, |
| to use inert lubricants because of high | | | | fluorochemical oils and compounds can also be |
| temperatures and oxygen. Many such synthetic | | | | used to repel water and soil and is often used on |
| lubricants have been inspected and approved by | | | | high traffic fabrics as a repellent. |
| NASA, among others. | | | | The use of inert oils as synthetic lubricants and |
| That said, there are some instances where the | | | | metalworking fluids, suitable for high or low |
| usual benefits of using a synthetic lubricant are | | | | temperature use with some of the most reactive |
| negated by an unfortunate reaction. As is typical | | | | chemicals on Earth make fluorochemical oils a |
| for a fluorochemical compound, when something | | | | very important part of several important |
| doesn't work, it is readily or painfully obvious. | | | | industries. |
| There are several metals (sodium and potassium) | | | | |