Mechanical Fluorine Compression

Pilot plant study of fluorine and its derivatives

“…The mechanical compression of fluorine has so far been successful only in producing pressures of the order of 30 p. s. i. (10). The resistance of most metals to attack by fluorine depends upon the formation of a protective film of metal fluoride which prevents further reaction; therefore, if this layer is ruptured or removed by flection or friction, which is almost unavoidable in mechanical pumps, attack on the metal will continue until the part fails.…”

Halogenation

“…The research leading to the production of fluorine on a commercial scale was paralleled by developments in handling, storage, and disposal of this very reactive and corrosive chemical. A pump suitable for the mechanical compression of fluorine to 40 pounds per square inch pressure was developed by Osborne and Brandegee (149). Froning and co-workers were able to compress fluorine at 400 pounds per square inch following a liquefaction-pressure-distillation technique (67).…”

Nickel and High-Nickel Alloys

“…Packless Monel valves of the diaphragm or bellows-sealed type are used for handling fluorine at pressures up to 100 pounds, and Monel needle valves packed with Teflon or its equivalent with pressures up to 400 pounds. Diaphragm pumps with Monel diaphragms and heads, nickel disk suction valves, and K Monel cone discharge valves were used for compressing fluorine to 50 pounds per square inch gage (74). Several cases of the use of Monel or nickel reactors in carrying out organic fluorinations were cited in papers included in the A.C.S.…”