Rugged, Portable, Real-Time Optical Gaseous Analyzer for Hydrogen Fluoride

  • Magazine Article
  • TBMG-14832
Published October 01, 2012 by Tech Briefs Media Group in United States
Language:
  • English

Hydrogen fluoride (HF) is a primary evolved combustion product of fluorinated and perfluorinated hydrocarbons. HF is produced during combustion by the presence of impurities and hydrogen-containing polymers including polyimides. This effect is especially dangerous in closed occupied volumes like spacecraft and submarines. In these systems, combinations of perfluorinated hydrocarbons and polyimides are used for insulating wiring. HF is both highly toxic and short-lived in closed environments due to its reactivity. The high reactivity also makes HF sampling problematic.