--- title: The Electrolytic Properties of Aluminum Fluoride description: Aluminum fluoride plays a critical role in the commercial production of aluminum, as well as a number of other research and manufacturing applications. image: https://info.noahtech.com/hubfs/The%20Electrolytic%20Properties%20of%20Aluminum%20Fluoride.jpg --- [(210) 691-2000](tel:+1-210-691-2000) [![Logo2](https://info.noahtech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo2.png?width=300&height=124&name=Logo2.png "Logo2")](http://noahchemicals.com) - [Home](https://noahtech.com/) - [Products](https://noahtech.com/products) - [About Us](https://noahtech.com/about-us) - [Contact](https://noahtech.com/contact) - [Home](https://noahtech.com) - [Product Search](https://noahtech.com/products) - [Our Products](https://noahtech.com/our-products) - [About Us](https://noahtech.com/about-us) - [Mission Statement](https://noahtech.com/about-us/mission-statement-and-quality-policy) - [News & Blog](https://noahtech.com/blog) - [Resources](https://noahtech.com/about-us/resources) - [Newsletter](https://info.noahtech.com/newsletter) - [Custom Manufacturing](https://noahtech.com/about-us/custom-manufacturing) - [FAQs](https://noahtech.com/about-us/faqs) - [Customer Support](https://info.noahtech.com/customer-support) - [Contact](https://noahtech.com/contact) - [Special Request Form](https://noahtech.com/about-us/mission-statement-and-quality-policy) - [Request a Quote](https://info.noahtech.com/request-a-quote) - [Customer Support](https://info.noahtech.com/customer-support?_ga=2.105203267.1728866925.1585494791-2131920613.1585264299) - [OpenCart Footer](https://noahtech.com/oc-footer) - [Quality Assurance](https://noahtech.com/quality-assurance) - [Credit Application](https://noahtech.com/credit-application) - [Thank you](https://noahtech.com/credit-application/thank-you) - [Privacy](https://noahtech.com/privac) - [Sitemap](https://noahtech.com/sitemap) - [Request a Quote](https://noahtech.com/request-a-quote) - [Landing page](https://noahtech.com/landing-page) - [Industries](https://noahtech.com/industries-1) [Request a Quote](https://noahchemicals.com/request-a-quote/) [Request a Quote](https://info.noahtech.com/request-a-quote?_ga=2.40772194.1728866925.1585494791-2131920613.1585264299) ![banner](https://info.noahtech.com/hubfs/NoahTech_April2020/img/banner.jpg) # The Electrolytic Properties of Aluminum Fluoride Diane Milner Mar 14, 2017 9:15:00 AM ![The Electrolytic Properties of Aluminum Fluoride.jpg](https://info.noahtech.com/hs-fs/hubfs/The%20Electrolytic%20Properties%20of%20Aluminum%20Fluoride.jpg?width=600&height=400&name=The%20Electrolytic%20Properties%20of%20Aluminum%20Fluoride.jpg) Aluminum fluoride is an inorganic compound that is colorless, solid, and is typically made synthetically. It is a primary component used in the production of aluminum and is abbreviated AlF3. **Aluminum Fluoride and Electrolysis** Commercially, aluminum fluoride compounds are a critical additive in the production of aluminum. When combined with cryolite, AlF3 lowers the melting point of the solution below one-thousand degrees Celsius and in turn increases conductivity. Aluminum oxide is then dissolved into the molten solution and subsequently electrolyzed to create bulk AI metal. Cryolite, an uncommon mineral primarily mined in Greenland, is an essential component of the process. **The History of Aluminum Mining** In the late 1880s, scientists all over the world were [searching for new ways](https://info.noahtech.com/blog/why-you-should-thank-a-young-scientist-from-ohio-for-commercially-available-aluminum) to turn aluminum ore into metal. At the time, aluminum’s cost was comparable to that of silver. Initial attempts to produce the metal included passing an electrical current through an aluminum fluoride solution, which failed to produce enough Al to be viable. From there, tests began using molten fluoride salts, but it was difficult to get the salts sufficiently hot enough to produce large quantities of Al. [Charles Martin Hall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hall%E2%80%93H%C3%A9roult_process) eventually discovered that when adding a solution of cryolite (sodium aluminum fluoride), aluminum oxide dissolved at high temperature. By passing an electrical current through the solution for several hours, small amounts of aluminum were produced. Commercial production of aluminum metal was born. **Why is Aluminum Fluoride Added?** Cryolite solutions generally melt at about 1000°C. When AlF3 is added, electrolysis can happen in the cryolite solution at a temperature 40-60°C lower, drastically reducing the amount of energy needed to produce aluminum. In [some studies](https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-319-48156-2_159), efficiencies of over 92% has been obtained in bench scale electrolysis of alumina in sodium fluoride.   Because of its electrolytic properties, aluminum fluoride has become one of the most commonly used compounds for the production of aluminum through molten salt baths. It is readily available commercially in various purities. **[Noah Chemicals](https://noahchemicals.com/) sells aluminum fluoride in both large and small quantities to institutions and organizations around the country. Contact our team of chemists today to discuss your need for AlF3.** [Contact Us Today!](https://www.noahchemicals.com/contact-us) For custom ordering, click[here](https://www.noahchemicals.com/special-request-form). To request a quote, click[here](https://www.noahchemicals.com/request-a-quote). For general questions and concerns, click[here](https://www.noahchemicals.com/customer-support). [Here](https://www.noahchemicals.com/about-noah?tab=--faq--) are our FAQs. [Chemical Compounds](https://info.noahtech.com/blog/topic/chemical-compounds) ## Read On ### [Why You Should Thank a Young Scientist from Ohio for Commercially Available Aluminum Did you know that until the late 1800s, aluminum was a semi-precious metal comparable to silver?...](https://info.noahtech.com/blog/why-you-should-thank-a-young-scientist-from-ohio-for-commercially-available-aluminum) ### [A Buyer's Guide to Aluminum Nitrate Starting a project that requires the use of aluminum nitrate? This simple buyer’s guide will help...](https://info.noahtech.com/blog/a-buyers-guide-to-aluminum-nitrate) ### [Aluminum Sulfate - Hydrate & Octadecahydrate WHAT IS ALUMINUM SULFATE? 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