Bring it all
together
October 15 1
Fluorochemical industry
development:
A South African full value chain perspective
Chris Potgieter
Director: BFluor Chemicals
Bring it all
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
Bring it all
together
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
Bring it all
together
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?
Bring it all
together
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.
Bring it all
together
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
Bring it all
together
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.)
Bring it all
together
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
Bring it all
together
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”
Bring it all
together
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
Bring it all
together
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)
Bring it all
together
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
Bring it all
together
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
?
Bring it all
together
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