), is a crucial industrial mineral used primarily to produce hydrofluoric acid, aluminum fluoride, and as a flux in steel smelting. It is considered a critical raw material for manufacturing refrigerants, Teflon,, lithium-ion battery components, and various chemical products.Fluorspar, the commercial name for the mineral fluorite (𝐶𝑎𝐹2CaF2cap C a cap F sub 2
Key Aspects of Fluorspar:
- Composition & Appearance:Composed of calcium and fluorine (𝐶𝑎𝐹2CaF2cap C a cap F sub 2), it is a halide mineral that appears in various colors (purple, green, yellow, colorless) due to impurities.
- Main Grades:) for fluorochemicals, aerosols, and polymers.
Acid Grade (+97%𝐶𝑎𝐹2CaF2cap C a cap F sub 2): Used to make hydrofluoric acid (𝐻𝐹HFcap H cap F): Used as a flux to lower melting temperatures and remove impurities in steel production.
Metallurgical Grade (60-96%𝐶𝑎𝐹2CaF2cap C a cap F sub 2Ceramic Grade: Used in ceramics, enamel, and glass manufacturing.
- Industrial Applications:), essential for reducing energy consumption in smelting.
Aluminum Smelting: Used to produce aluminum fluoride (𝐴𝑙𝐹3AlF3cap A l cap F sub 3Battery Technology: Used for polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) binders in lithium-ion cathodes.
Other: Used in cement production, welding rod coatings, and uranium processing.
- Sources & Production: Major producers include China, Mexico, Mongolia, and South Africa.