What Is CAS:7784-18-1? Aluminum Fluoride Uses, Formula, and Properties

Author: Vic

Sep. 15, 2026

Chemicals

What Is CAS:7784-18-1? Aluminum Fluoride Uses, Formula, and Properties

CAS:7784-18-1 refers to aluminum fluoride, an inorganic compound with the chemical formula AlF3. Its relative molecular mass is approximately 83.98 g/mol, and the material is commonly supplied as a white or off-white crystalline powder. Aluminum fluoride is used mainly as a fluoride source and process additive in primary aluminum production, while other applications include selected glass, ceramic, metallurgical, and chemical processes.

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At Azeal Materials, we help industrial buyers evaluate aluminum fluoride according to chemical specification, physical form, packaging, documentation, and intended process. The correct grade depends on whether the material will be used in an electrolytic bath, a high-temperature formulation, or another controlled industrial application. Buyers should confirm composition, moisture, impurities, particle characteristics, and regulatory requirements before placing an order.

What Is Aluminum Fluoride?

Aluminum fluoride is an inorganic aluminum-halogen compound formed from aluminum and fluorine. The anhydrous compound is represented by AlF3, and its CAS Registry Number is 7784-18-1. In industrial supply, the product may be discussed alongside hydrated or moisture-containing forms, so the exact chemical identity and loss-on-drying requirement should be stated clearly in the purchase specification.

Aluminum fluoride has a strong ionic and extended crystal structure, which contributes to its high thermal stability and relatively low solubility in water compared with many simple fluoride salts. It is not normally selected as a general-purpose soluble fluoride source. Instead, its value comes from controlled behavior in high-temperature, fluoride-containing, and metallurgical systems.

Formula and Core Properties

Chemical formula and composition

The formula of anhydrous aluminum fluoride is AlF3. Based on its formula mass of approximately 83.98 g/mol, the theoretical composition is about 32.2% aluminum by mass and 67.8% fluorine by mass. Commercial specifications may differ from theoretical values when they include moisture, oxide impurities, sodium, silicon, iron, or other trace components.

Property Typical information for aluminum fluoride Buyer relevance
CAS number 7784-18-1 Confirms the referenced chemical identity
Chemical formula AlF3 Defines the anhydrous compound
Formula mass Approximately 83.98 g/mol Useful for stoichiometric calculations
Appearance White to off-white crystalline powder Supports incoming material inspection
Water behavior Low solubility compared with readily soluble fluoride salts Important for dosing and process compatibility

Physical and thermal behavior

Aluminum fluoride is generally supplied as a dry powder, although the actual particle size and moisture level depend on the manufacturing and handling process. Published technical references commonly place its high-temperature transition or sublimation behavior above 1,200 °C; the exact value can depend on measurement conditions and material form. This thermal stability explains why it is suitable for processes involving elevated temperatures, but it does not mean that every grade is interchangeable in every furnace or electrolytic system.

The material should be protected from unnecessary moisture uptake and contamination during storage. Aluminum fluoride itself is not normally described as highly water soluble, and its handling characteristics differ from those of soluble fluorides such as sodium fluoride. Buyers should rely on the supplier’s current technical data sheet and safety data sheet for exact solubility, dust, and compatibility information.

Core Functions of Aluminum Fluoride

The most important industrial function of aluminum fluoride is to provide fluoride ions in aluminum electrolytic processes. In primary aluminum smelting, fluoride-containing bath chemistry is used with alumina and other components to support the electrochemical production of aluminum. Aluminum fluoride can help adjust bath composition, but the required addition rate depends on the cell design, electrolyte chemistry, operating temperature, and bath analysis.

Aluminum fluoride can also act as a process component in selected high-temperature formulations. In glass and ceramic production, fluoride compounds may influence melting behavior, viscosity, opacity, surface characteristics, or the formation of specialized phases. These effects are formulation-specific, so a technical trial is normally more reliable than selecting a grade based only on the CAS number.

Other possible uses include metallurgical flux systems, specialty inorganic synthesis, and certain catalyst or surface-treatment applications. These secondary uses require closer review of impurity limits and particle specifications because small changes in composition can affect melting, reaction, or downstream product quality. I recommend defining the process objective before comparing suppliers or requesting quotations.

Common Application Scenarios

Primary aluminum production

Primary aluminum producers are the principal industrial users of aluminum fluoride. In this setting, the material is added to an electrolyte to manage fluoride balance and support stable bath operation. The buyer usually needs consistent chemical composition, controlled moisture, low levels of unwanted impurities, suitable particle behavior, and reliable delivery for continuous production.

Glass and ceramic formulations

Some glass and ceramic formulations use fluoride-containing materials to modify processing or final properties. Aluminum fluoride may be considered when the formulation requires an aluminum source together with fluorine. Because fluoride volatilization and furnace conditions can influence results, customers should validate the material under their own thermal profile before approving routine supply.

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Metallurgical and chemical processing

In selected metallurgical applications, aluminum fluoride may be used as part of a flux or reaction system. It can also serve as a raw material for specialized inorganic chemistry where anhydrous or low-moisture aluminum fluoride is required. The correct product depends on reaction route, temperature, particle size, purity, and the customer’s environmental and occupational controls.

Material Options and Key Specifications

For procurement purposes, “aluminum fluoride” is not a complete specification. Buyers should distinguish anhydrous AlF3 from hydrated or partially hydrated material, because water content changes the effective composition and may affect dosing. Product form, bulk density, particle size distribution, and packaging can also influence feeding performance in automated systems.

  • Assay or total AlF3: Establishes the principal chemical content.
  • Moisture or loss on drying: Indicates whether the product meets the process water requirement.
  • Impurity profile: Commonly reviewed elements may include sodium, silicon, iron, calcium, magnesium, and other process-relevant contaminants.
  • Particle size: Affects conveying, dust generation, dissolution or reaction rate, and feeding consistency.
  • Packaging: Moisture-resistant bags, lined sacks, or customized industrial packaging may be considered according to storage and transport conditions.

A supplier should provide a product specification, certificate of analysis format, safety data sheet, packing information, and batch identification method for review. If the application is sensitive to trace elements, I recommend requesting a representative impurity specification rather than relying on a generic commercial description. Any required test method should be agreed before production.

How B2B Buyers Should Select Aluminum Fluoride

The first step is to define the end use and the required chemical form. A smelter may prioritize bath chemistry, moisture control, and stable bulk delivery, while a ceramic producer may focus more heavily on particle size, impurity limits, and thermal behavior. These requirements should be written into the inquiry so that suppliers quote comparable material.

The second step is to evaluate supply capability, not only unit price. Important questions include the available annual capacity, standard packing, minimum order quantity, production lead time, export experience, batch consistency, and ability to provide pre-shipment documentation. For cross-border procurement, buyers should also confirm whether the supplier can support the destination country’s labeling, transport, and customs requirements.

The third step is to qualify the material through documentation and, where appropriate, a controlled trial. A sample should be compared against the agreed specification using the buyer’s normal test methods. No supplier should claim suitability for a specific process without reviewing the customer’s technical requirements and confirming the relevant grade.

Handling and Storage Considerations

Aluminum fluoride is a fluoride-containing inorganic powder and should be handled with controls appropriate for dusty chemical materials. Workers should follow the current safety data sheet, use suitable personal protective equipment, minimize airborne dust, and maintain effective ventilation. Contact with the eyes, skin, and respiratory system should be prevented through site-specific engineering and operating controls.

The product should generally be stored in a dry, well-ventilated area in its original sealed packaging. Containers should be protected from damage, excessive humidity, and cross-contamination with incompatible materials. Storage and disposal practices must follow local regulations and the supplier’s safety documentation.

How Azeal Materials Supports Aluminum Fluoride Buyers

At Azeal Materials, we support B2B customers by clarifying the required grade before quotation. We can discuss AlF3 content, moisture, impurity limits, particle characteristics, packaging, documentation, and delivery requirements based on the application. This approach helps reduce the risk of comparing products that share the same CAS number but do not have the same practical specification.

We also understand that aluminum fluoride procurement often involves more than a one-time purchase. Buyers may need samples, technical documents, batch information, export packaging, and a supply plan that matches production schedules. Availability, MOQ, lead time, and customization should be confirmed for each order because they depend on product requirements and destination.

Key Takeaways

  • CAS:7784-18-1 identifies aluminum fluoride, commonly represented by the formula AlF3.
  • The compound has an approximate formula mass of 83.98 g/mol and a theoretical fluorine content of about 67.8%.
  • Its primary industrial use is as a fluoride-containing process material in primary aluminum production.
  • Other uses may include selected glass, ceramic, metallurgical, and chemical applications.
  • Grade selection should consider moisture, assay, impurities, particle size, packaging, documentation, and process conditions.

Conclusion: What Is CAS:7784-18-1?

CAS:7784-18-1 is aluminum fluoride, an inorganic AlF3 compound valued for its fluoride content, thermal stability, and role in high-temperature industrial processes. For most B2B buyers, the key decision is not simply identifying the CAS number, but confirming whether the supplier’s chemical form and specification match the intended application. A written specification and appropriate sample evaluation are practical next steps before approving regular supply.

If you are sourcing aluminum fluoride, contact Azeal Materials with your target application, required assay, moisture and impurity limits, particle requirements, packaging preference, order quantity, and destination. We can then review the requirement and provide a suitable quotation and documentation package for your procurement process.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit CAS:7784-18-1.

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