PRODUCTS

TRIFLUOROALUMINATE SODIUM

Trifluoroaluminate sodium is a key flux in the Hall-Héroult process, enabling the large-scale and cost-effective production of aluminum by lowering alumina’s melting point and enhancing conductivity.
Discovered in 1799 in Greenland, Trifluoroaluminate sodium played a crucial role in the industrial revolution of aluminum manufacturing during the late 19th century.
Today, synthetic Trifluoroaluminate sodium is widely used not only in aluminum smelting but also in abrasives, ceramics, glassmaking, and welding fluxes due to its excellent thermal and chemical stability.

CAS Number: 13775-53-6
EC Number: 237-410-6
Chemical formula: Na3AlF6
Molar mass: 209.94 g/mol

Synonyms: Cryolite, Aluminate(3-), hexafluoro-, trisodium (8CI), Villiaumite, Sodium aluminum hexafluoride, Trinatriumhexafluoraluminate(3-), synthetic cryolite, aluminate(3-), hexafluoro-, sodium (1:3), Trisodium hexafluoroaluminate(3-), trisodium aluminum hexafluoride, sodium aluminum fluoride, aluminum sodium fluoride, cryolite, synthetic, Aluminate(3-), hexafluoro-, sodium (1:3), (OC-6-11)-, Aluminate(3-), hexafluoro-, trisodium, Aluminum sodium fluoride (Na3AlF6), Aluminum sodium fluoride (Na3AlF6), Aluminum sodium hexafluoride (AlNa3F6), Aluminum sodium hexafluoride (AlNa3F6), Aluminum trisodium hexafluoride, Hexafluoroaluminate de trisodium, Hexafluoroaluminato De Trisodio, Sodium Hexafluoroaluminate, Sodium aluminum fluoride, Sodium aluminum hexafluoride, Sodium fluoaluminate(3-), Sodium fluoroaluminate (Na3AlF6), Sodium fluoroaluminate (Na3AlF6), Sodium hexafluoroaluminate (Na3AlF6), Sodium hexafluoroaluminate (Na3AlF6), Sodium hexafluoroaluminate(3-), Trinatriumhexafluoraluminat, Trisodium Hexafluoroaluminate, Trisodium Hexafluoroaluminate(3-), Trisodium aluminum hexafluoride, Cryolite, Kryolite, Sodium aluminium hexafluoride, Sodium fluoroaluminate, Trisodium hexafluoroaluminate, CRYOLITE, Sodium hexafluoroaluminate, 15096-52-3, 13775-53-6, Aluminum trisodium hexafluoride, sodium hexafluoroaluminate(III), trisodium;hexafluoroaluminum(3-), MFCD00003507, AlF6.3Na, UNII-5ZIS914RQ9, Na3AlF6, Sodium aluminium fluoride, Na3[AlF6], Aluminum sodium hexafluoride, trisodium hexafluoridoaluminate, sodiumhexafluoroaluminate(III), 5ZIS914RQ9, CHEMBL3988899, CHEBI:39289, sodium hexafluoridoaluminate(3-), Sodium hexafluoroaluminate, 97%, trisodium hexafluoroaluminum(3-), sodium hexafluoridoaluminate(III), trisodium hexafluoroaluminate(3-), 5473AF, AKOS025310262, trisodium hexakis(fluoranyl)aluminum(3-), Chromium Boride (Cr2B) Sputtering Targets, Cryolite, synthetic, >=97.0% (from F), FT-0624109, C18816, trisodium (OC-6-11)-hexafluoroaluminate(3-), A809094, Q927885, J-008762, Aluminate(3-), hexafluoro- trisodium, (OC-6-11)-, Sodium hexafluoroaluminate, 99.98% trace metals basis, Cryolite,naturallyoccurringmineral,grains,approximately0.06-19in

Trifluoroaluminate sodium is a biochemical for proteomics research.
Trifluoroaluminate sodium is used as a flux agent or bath material by aluminum smelters in the production of aluminum.
Trifluoroaluminate sodium is also used in the production of synthetic resins for abrasives and in the manufacture of cutting or grinding discs.

Minor uses are as a coloring agent (opacifier) in the glass, ceramic and pyrotechnic industries.
Trifluoroaluminate sodium occurs naturally as the mineral cryolite, which is used extensively in the industrial production of aluminium.

Trifluoroaluminate sodium is an inorganic compound with formula Na₃AlF₆.

Trifluoroaluminate sodium is the sodium salt of the hexafluoroaluminate ion.
Trifluoroaluminate sodium is an inorganic compound with formula Na3AlF6.

Trifluoroaluminate sodium, discovered in 1799 by Peder Christian Abildgaard (1740–1801), occurs naturally as the mineral cryolite and is used extensively in the industrial production of aluminium metal.
Trifluoroaluminate sodium is the sodium (Na+) salt of the hexafluoroaluminate (AlF63−) ion.

Trifluoroaluminate sodium is an inorganic compound with formula Na3AlF6.
The mineral form of Trifluoroaluminate sodium, which is called cryolite is a biochemical for proteomics research.
Trifluoroaluminate sodium is also used in the production of synthetic resins for abrasives and in the manufacture of cutting or grinding discs

Sodium aluminum hexafluoride is used as a solvent (or flux) for electrolysis aluminum oxides such as bauxite, whitener for enamels and an opacifier for glass and in the industrial production of aluminum.

Trifluoroaluminate sodium is a chemical compound of sodium, fluorine, and aluminum that occurs naturally as the mineral cryolite.
Trifluoroaluminate sodium is used in the production of insecticides, in the glass and enamel industries, as well as being a solvent for bauxite in the electrolytic manufacture of aluminium.
Aluminum is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust and is always found combined with other elements such as oxygen, silicon, and fluorine.

Trifluoroaluminate sodium is also called cryolite, which molecular formula is Na3AlF6.
With excellent properties, Trifluoroaluminate sodium is not only an indispensable co-solvent in the aluminum smelting industry, but also widely used in other industries, such as opalizers in the enamel industry, opacifiers in the glass industry, and wear-resistant fillers in the rubber and grinding wheel industries.

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Trifluoroaluminate sodium was historically used as an ore of aluminium and later in the electrolytic processing of the aluminium-rich oxide ore bauxite (itself a combination of aluminium oxide minerals such as gibbsite, boehmite and diaspore).

The difficulty of separating aluminium from oxygen in the oxide ores was overcome by the use of Trifluoroaluminate sodium as a flux to dissolve the oxide mineral(s).
Pure Trifluoroaluminate sodium itself melts at 1012 °C (1285 K), and Trifluoroaluminate sodium can dissolve the aluminium oxides sufficiently well to allow easy extraction of the aluminium by electrolysis.

Substantial energy is still needed for both heating the materials and the electrolysis, but Trifluoroaluminate sodium is much more energy-efficient than melting the oxides themselves.
As natural Trifluoroaluminate sodium is too rare to be used for this purpose, synthetic sodium aluminium fluoride is produced from the common mineral fluorite.

Trifluoroaluminate sodium occurs as glassy, colorless, white-reddish to gray-black prismatic monoclinic crystals.
Trifluoroaluminate sodium has a Mohs hardness of 2.5 to 3 and a specific gravity of about 2.95 to 3.0.
Trifluoroaluminate sodium is translucent to transparent with a very low refractive index of about 1.34, which is very close to that of water; thus if immersed in water, Trifluoroaluminate sodium becomes essentially invisible.

Trifluoroaluminate sodium was first described in 1799 by Danish veterinarian and physician Peder Christian Abildgaard (1740-1801).
Trifluoroaluminate sodium was obtained from a deposit of Trifluoroaluminate sodium in Ivigtut and nearby Arsuk Fjord, Southwest Greenland.
The name is derived from the Greek language words κρνος (cryos) = ice, and λιθος (lithos) = stone.

Due to Trifluoroaluminate sodiums rarity Trifluoroaluminate sodium is possibly the only mineral on Earth ever to be mined to commercial extinction.

Trifluoroaluminate sodium is used as an insecticide and a pesticide.
Trifluoroaluminate sodium is also used to give fireworks a yellow color.
Trifluoroaluminate sodium is used as a solvent for aluminium oxide (Al2O3) in the Hall–Héroult process, used in the refining of aluminum.

Trifluoroaluminate sodium is a white crystalline powder manufactured from hydrofluoric acid, sodium carbonate, and aluminium.
Trifluoroaluminate sodium is used chiefly as a flux in the electrolytic production of aluminum as Trifluoroaluminate sodium effectively lowers down the melting point of alumina.

Trifluoroaluminate sodium is used in the glass and enamel industries, in bonded abrasives as a filler, in making salts of sodium and aluminum and porcelaneous glass and in the manufacture of insecticides.
Trifluoroaluminate sodium is a relatively safe fruit and vegetable insecticide.

The fluoride ion inhibits many enzymes that contain iron, calcium, and magnesium.
Trifluoroaluminate sodium is a white or colorless mineral form of sodium aluminofluoride, which crystallizes in the monoclinic system but has a pseudocubic aspect; found in masses of waxy luster; hardness is 2.5 on Mohs scale, and specific gravity is 3.0.

The powder becomes almost invisible in water due to Trifluoroaluminate sodiums low refractive index.
Trifluoroaluminate sodium is mined in significant quantities in Greenland ( so also known as Greenland spar; ice stone), and in small amounts in elsewhere.

Trifluoroaluminate sodium is manufactured from hydrofluoric acid, sodium carbonate, and aluminium.
Trifluoroaluminate sodium is used chiefly as a flux in the electrolytic production of aluminum from bauxite as Trifluoroaluminate sodium effectively lowers down the melting point of alumina.

The fluoride ion inhibits many enzymes that contain iron, calcium, and magnesium.
Several of these enzymes are involved in energy production in cells, as in the case of phosphatases and phosphorylases.

Uses of Trifluoroaluminate Sodium:
Sodium trifluoroaluminate is primarily used as a flux in the Hall-Héroult process for aluminum production, where it lowers the melting point of alumina and enhances electrical conductivity during electrolysis.
Beyond metallurgy, it is also employed in abrasives, ceramics, and glass manufacturing to improve surface properties, reduce melting temperatures, and enhance product quality.
Due to its fluoride content, cryolite has been historically used as a pesticide and in pyrotechnics, but its agricultural applications have declined because of environmental and health concerns, leaving its dominant role in industrial and metallurgical processes.

The main application of Trifluoroaluminate sodium is as a solvent (or flux) for electrolysis of aluminium oxides such as bauxite.
The conversion of aluminium oxides into metallic aluminium requires that the metal ions be dissolved so that they can accept the electrons provided in the electrolysis cell.
A mixture of Trifluoroaluminate sodium and some aluminium trifluoride is used as that solvent.

Unlike typical solutions, this one requires temperatures approaching 1000 °C to melt.
Trifluoroaluminate sodium is also used as a pesticide.
Other uses include a whitener for enamels and an opacifier for glass.

Abrasives:
Trifluoroaluminate sodium serves as a component in grinding wheels and other abrasive materials due to its hardness and chemical stability.

Ceramics and Glass Manufacturing:
Trifluoroaluminate sodium is used as an opacifying agent and flux to improve the melting behavior and appearance of glass and ceramic products.

Metallurgical Applications:
Trifluoroaluminate sodium acts as a flux for metal refining and welding, assisting in removing impurities and preventing oxidation.

Insecticides and Pesticides:
Historically used as an insecticide (especially for citrus crops), although its use has declined due to fluoride toxicity concerns.

Fireworks and Pyrotechnics:
Trifluoroaluminate sodium is used to produce certain colors and effects due to its aluminum and fluoride content.

Applications of Trifluoroaluminate Sodium:
Trifluoroaluminate sodium is mainly used as a flux for aluminum electrolysis, and also as a wear-resistant additive for grinding products, which can effectively improve the wear-resistant cutting force of the grinding wheel and prolong Trifluoroaluminate sodiums service life and storage time.
Trifluoroaluminate sodium is a flux for ferroalloy and boiling steel, non-ferrous metals and soldering materials, a deoxidizer for casting, a catalyst for olefin polymerization, and an anti-reflective coating and opacifierfor glass, an emulsifier for enamel, a filler for ceramic industry, and a pesticide for agriculture, etc.

Preparation of Trifluoroaluminate Sodium:

Trifluoroaluminate sodium is produced by reacting sodium hydroxide with aluminium oxide and hydrofluoric acid.
6 NaOH + Al2O3 + 12 HF → 2 Na3AlF6 + 9 H2O

Trifluoroaluminate sodium precipitates out of the solution, due to Trifluoroaluminate sodiums very low solubility in water.

Production of Trifluoroaluminate Sodium:
Most Trifluoroaluminate sodium is manufactured by a variety of related pathways.

One route entails combining sodium aluminate and hydrofluoric acid:
Na3Al(OH)6 + 6 HF → Na3AlF6 + 6 H2O

Often the hexafluorosilicic acid, which is recovered from phosphate mining, is the precursor in a two-step process beginning with neutralization with ammonia to give ammonium hexafluorosilicate:
H3AlF6 + 3 NH3 → (NH4)3AlF6
(NH4)3AlF6 + 3 NaOH → Na3AlF6 + 3 NH3 + 3 H2O

The mineral form of Trifluoroaluminate sodium, which is called cryolite, was mined at Ivigtût on the west coast of Greenland until the deposit was depleted in 1987.

Properties of Trifluoroaluminate Sodium:

Chemical Properties:
Trifluoroaluminate sodium will dissolve aluminium oxide and the electrolysis of this mixture will give aluminium metal.
Trifluoroaluminate sodium is mostly inert to most reagents and oxidizers.

Physical Properties:
Trifluoroaluminate sodium is a white solid, insoluble in water or other solvents.

Solubility of Trifluoroaluminate Sodium:
Trifluoroaluminate sodium is poorly soluble in water.
The LD50 is 600 mg/kg for the comparable compound aluminium trifluoride.

Availability of Trifluoroaluminate Sodium:
Trifluoroaluminate sodium is sold by various chemical suppliers.
Trifluoroaluminate sodium can also be bought online.
Natural Trifluoroaluminate sodium can be found in various parts of the world, such as Greenland or several US states.

The requirements for Trifluoroaluminate sodium:
Trifluoroaluminate sodium is rarely produced in nature and is usually manufactured artificially.
Trifluoroaluminate sodiums consumption in the aluminum industry is large, and the annual consumption in the world is about 700,000 tons.

As a flux for electrolytic aluminum smelting, Trifluoroaluminate sodium must meet certain requirements in terms of sodium to aluminum molecular ratio, impurity content, and water content.
The ratio of sodium to aluminum in Trifluoroaluminate sodium should be as high as possible.

The higher the molecular ratio, the higher the current efficiency of electrolytic aluminum smelting, the less fluorine loss, and the less environmental pollution Trifluoroaluminate sodium causes.
Moreover, Trifluoroaluminate sodium with high molecule ratio is more suitable for use in industries other than the aluminum industry.

The content of impurities such as silicon oxide, iron oxide and phosphorus pentoxide in Trifluoroaluminate sodium is low.
These impurities will directly affect the quality of aluminum ingots and the current efficiency of aluminum smelting.

The water content of Trifluoroaluminate sodium should be as low as possible.
Water will increase the consumption of Trifluoroaluminate sodium.

History of Trifluoroaluminate Sodium:
Sodium trifluoroaluminate, was first discovered as a natural mineral in 1799 in Ivittuut, Greenland.
The name "cryolite" comes from the Greek words kryos (ice) and lithos (stone), referring to its ice-like appearance.

In the 19th century, Sodium trifluoroaluminate became highly valuable as a flux in the Hall-Héroult process (developed in 1886), revolutionizing the large-scale production of aluminum by lowering the melting point of alumina and improving its electrolytic conductivity.
Natural deposits, especially in Greenland, were heavily mined during the late 1800s and early 1900s to meet the growing demand for aluminum production.

By the mid-20th century, natural Sodium trifluoroaluminate supplies were significantly depleted, leading to the development of synthetic sodium aluminum fluoride as a direct replacement for industrial purposes.
Today, synthetic Sodium trifluoroaluminate is extensively produced and remains a key component in aluminum smelting, abrasives, ceramics, glass manufacturing, and welding fluxes.
Sodium trifluoroaluminate's historical importance lies in its role in making aluminum production economically viable, turning aluminum from a rare, expensive metal into one of the most widely used materials in the modern world.

Handling and Storage of Trifluoroaluminate Sodium:

Handling:
Avoid generating or breathing dust; use in a well-ventilated area.
Wear suitable protective equipment (gloves, goggles, dust mask/respirator).

Prevent contact with skin and eyes.
Do not eat, drink, or smoke while handling.

Storage:
Store in tightly sealed containers in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated place.
Keep away from strong acids and moisture (which can release toxic hydrogen fluoride gas).
Ensure proper labeling and avoid contact with incompatible materials.

Reactivity and Stability of Trifluoroaluminate Sodium:

Stability:
Stable under recommended storage conditions.

Reactivity:
Reacts with strong acids, producing toxic hydrogen fluoride (HF).

Hazardous Decomposition Products:
Aluminum oxides and hydrogen fluoride when heated.

Incompatible Materials:
Strong acids, moisture, and strong oxidizers.

Conditions to Avoid:
Prolonged exposure to humidity and high heat.

First Aid Measures of Trifluoroaluminate Sodium:

Inhalation:
Move the person to fresh air immediately.
If breathing is difficult, administer oxygen and seek medical help.

Skin Contact:
Wash with plenty of soap and water.
Remove contaminated clothing.
Seek medical attention if irritation persists.

Eye Contact:
Rinse with clean water for at least 15 minutes while holding eyelids open.
Seek medical attention immediately.

Ingestion:
Rinse mouth with water.
Do not induce vomiting.
Seek immediate medical attention.

Firefighting Measures of Trifluoroaluminate Sodium:

Suitable Extinguishing Media:
Water spray, foam, dry chemical, or CO₂ (as appropriate for surrounding fire).

Specific Hazards:
Sodium trifluoroaluminate itself is not flammable, but thermal decomposition may release toxic and corrosive gases (HF, aluminum oxides).

Protective Equipment:
Firefighters should wear self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and full protective clothing.

Accidental Release Measures of Trifluoroaluminate Sodium:

Personal Precautions:
Avoid breathing dust; wear protective equipment including gloves, goggles, and respiratory protection.

Environmental Precautions:
Prevent entry into water systems or soil, as it can harm aquatic life.

Cleanup:
Sweep or vacuum material (avoid dry sweeping that raises dust) and place in properly labeled containers.
Wash contaminated surfaces with water.

Exposure Controls / Personal Protective Equipment of Trifluoroaluminate Sodium:

Engineering Controls:
Use with adequate ventilation or under local exhaust systems.

Respiratory Protection:
Use NIOSH-approved respirator if exposure limits are exceeded.

Eye Protection:
Safety goggles or face shield.

Skin Protection:
Chemical-resistant gloves (e.g., nitrile) and protective clothing.

Hygiene Measures:
Wash hands, face, and contaminated clothing after handling. Do not eat, drink, or smoke in work areas.

Identifiers of Trifluoroaluminate Sodium:
CAS Number: 13775-53-6
ChEBI: CHEBI:39289
UNII: 5ZIS914RQ9
CompTox Dashboard (EPA): DTXSID90872955
InChI:
InChI=1S/Al.6FH.3Na/h;6*1H;;;/q+3;;;;;;;3*+1/p-6
Key: REHXRBDMVPYGJX-UHFFFAOYSA-H

InChI=1/Al.6FH.3Na/h;6*1H;;;/q+3;;;;;;;3*+1/p-6/rAlF6.3Na/c2-1(3,4,5,6)7;;;/q-3;3*+1
Key: REHXRBDMVPYGJX-ZWHJLPLDAC
SMILES: [Na+].[Na+].[Na+].F[Al-3](F)(F)(F)(F)F

Quality Level: 100
assay: 97%
form: powder
reaction: suitability
reagent type: catalyst
core: aluminum
density: 2.9 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.)
SMILES string: F[Al](F)(F)(F)(F)(F)([Na])([Na])[Na]
InChI: 1S/Al.6FH.3Na/h;6*1H;;;/q+3;;;;;;;3*+1/p-6
InChI key: REHXRBDMVPYGJX-UHFFFAOYSA-H

CAS Number: 13775-53-6
Molecular Weight: 209.94
EC Number: 237-410-6
MDL number: MFCD00003507
NACRES: NA.23

Properties of Trifluoroaluminate Sodium:
Chemical formula: Na3AlF6
Molar mass: 209.94 g/mol
Appearance: white powder
Density: 2.9 g/cm3, solid
Melting point: 950 °C (1,740 °F; 1,220 K)
Boiling point: decomposes
Solubility in water: 0.04% (20°C)
Vapor pressure: essentially 0

An odorless white solid or powder.
mp: 1291°C.
Density: 2.95 g/cm3.
Dust irritates the eyes and skin; inhaled dust irritates the nose, mouth and lungs.
Insoluble in water.
Synthesized by fusion of sodium fluoride and aluminum fluoride as a electrolyte in the reduction of alumina to aluminum metal.
Occurs in nature as the mineral cryolite.
Aqueous suspensions of powdered sodium aluminum fluoride are used as insecticides.

Names of Trifluoroaluminate Sodium:
Sodium fluoroaluminate
Cryolite
Kryolite
Aluminate(3-)
Hexafluoro-
Trisodium
(OC-6-11)-