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together

October 15 1

Fluorochemical industry

development:

A South African full value chain perspective

Chris Potgieter

Director: BFluor Chemicals

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together

October 15 2

Background

• South African fluorochemical skills and technology portfolio presented as key building block

• Gearing from that into innovation – both in marketing and end-use technology

• BFluor developing new process and products based on fluorine’s functional contribution to end-use applications

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October 15 3

Purpose

• To present a fresh angle – linking science back to industry economics

• Negate bad press around fluorochemical industry

• Review the critical functional role that fluorine plays in end use applications

• Trigger innovative process development and

marketing concepts

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October 15 4

Content

• Why the F?

• Fluorine’s negative press

• The other side of the coin

• Fluorine molecule properties

• Affect on end-use applications

• So…why the F?

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October 15 5

Why the F?• Modern living utilises fluorine in almost

everything that we use or touch in everyday

life

• However “Fluorine” is plagued by a

negative image.

• Fluorine is one of the most beneficial and

often undervalued elements on the periodic

table.

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October 15 6

Fluorine’s Negative Press• Public water utilities continue to poison us with

water fluoridation (Jonathan Benson, Natural News, 2015)

• Mysterious new man-made gases pose threat to

ozone layer (Matt McGrath, BBC News, 2014)

• Fluoride is a Bio-accumulative Poison (Blog)

• Association with nuclear

• Contribution to global warmingNot enough

understanding

about the

difference

between F2/HF

and fluorides/

fluorochemicals

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October 15 7

The other side of the coin

What does Fluorine actually do?

Functional molecule in:

• Fluoropolymers

• Refrigerants

• Fluoro-organics (agrochemicals, pharmaceuticals,

etc.)

• Fluoro-inorganics (fluxes, chemicals, etc.)

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October 15 8

Fluorine Molecule Properties• F reactivity is due to its high electronegativity

• Forms extremely strong bonds with high dipole moments

o Si-F bond is strongest and C-F is second strongest bond in

organic chemistry

• Forms very stable molecules

• Strong bond/Molecule conformation results in reduced

intermolecular van der Waals interactions

• Lowest polarizability of all atoms causing very weak dispersion

forces

• Chemical resistance

• Thermal stability

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October 15 9

How does this affect the end-use

Application? Fluoropolymers

Non stick property

High chemical resistance

Thermal stability

High melting point

Strength of the C-F

bond

Closely bonded

molecules

F position in the molecule

F bond strength“There are few available methods

for other molecules to attach themselves successfully to the

fluoropolymer”

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October 15 10

How does this affect the end-use

Application? Refrigerants

Good heat transfer

Adaptable to various operational

conditions

Non flammable

Lower associated CO2 emissions

Strong C-F bonds

Stable molecule

Reduced intermolecular interactions

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October 15 11

How does this affect the end-use

Application? Pharmaceuticals• Approximately 25% of all marketed drugs contain F

• Drugs containing a C-F bond increases the

probability of having a successful drug by about a

factor of ten.

• F compounds improve drug properties:o Potency (improved efficacy)

o Selectivity (fewer side effects)

o Tissue penetration (better delivery of the drug to target)

o Longer half life (less frequent dosing)

o Metabolism (reduced drug interactions)

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October 15 12

C-F bond in Pharmaceuticals• Generally metabolically stable

• Fluorine acts as a bioisostere of the hydroxyl group

• Adds stability to the carbon framework

• C-F bond is more hydrophobic than the C–H bond -increasing fat solubility and bioavailability.

• Alters the molecule reactivity

Because of this several drugs and agrochemicals need to contain only one fluorine molecule at the centre or one trifluoromethyl group to be effective

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October 15 13

How does this affect the end-use

Application? Metals (Fluxes)• Most commonly used F-based smelting fluxes are

Cryolite (Na3AlF6) Metspar (CaF2)

• Improves the fluidity of the melt

• Lowers the melting temperature of the mixture

• Increases the electrical conductivity

F salt decreases the interfacial tension of

the molecules in the melt

?

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October 15 14

So…Why the F?

• Focus on the way fluorine manages its own energy

(electrons) and that of its surroundings

• Innovation in marketing concepts and slogans -

trigger and support fluorochemical industry growth

and development

• Develop concepts around energy efficiency

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together

October 15 15

Thank You!