Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) is an inorganic, colorless, odorless, and non-flammable gas. SF6 primary use is in the electrical industry as a gaseous dielectric medium for various voltage circuit breakers, switchgear and other electrical equipment, often replacing oil filled circuit breakers (OCBs) that can contain harmful PCBs. SF6 gas under pressure is used as an insulator in gas insulated switchgear (GIS) because it has a much higher dielectric strength than air or dry nitrogen. This property makes it possible to significantly reduce the size of the electrical gear.
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Physical & Chemical Properties
| Chemical formula |
SF6 |
CAS No. |
2551-62-4 |
| Appearance |
Colorless gas |
Average Molar mass |
146.05 g/mol |
| Melting point |
-62℃ |
Molecular weight |
146.05 |
| Boiling point |
-51℃ |
Density |
6.0886kg/cbm |
| Solubility |
Lightly soluble |
|
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Industry Applications & Packaging
Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) is normally available in cylinders and drum tanks. It is normally used in some industries including:
1) Power & Energy
Primarily used as an insulating medium for a wide range of high voltage electrical and electronic equipment such as circuit breakers, switch gears and particles accelerators.
2) Glass
Insulating windows - reduced sound transmission and heat transfer.
3) Steel & Metals
In molten magnesium and aluminum production and purification.
4) Electronics
High purity sulfur hexafluoride used in electronic and semiconductor applications.
| ITEM |
SPECIFICATION |
UNIT |
| Purity |
≥ 99.999 |
% |
| O2 + Ar |
≤ 2.0 |
ppmv |
| N2 |
≤ 2.0 |
ppmv |
| CF4 |
≤ 0.5 |
ppmv |
| CO |
≤ 0.5 |
ppmv |
| CO2 |
≤ 0.5 |
ppmv |
| CH4 |
≤ 0.1 |
ppmv |
| H2O |
≤ 2.0 |
ppmv |
| Hydrolyzable fluoride |
≤ 0.2 |
ppm |
| Acidity |
≤ 0.3 |
ppmv |
Notes:
1) All the technical data indicated above are for your reference.
2) Alternative specification is welcome for further discussion.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What makes Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF6) ideal for electrical insulation?
SF6 has an exceptionally high dielectric strength, significantly greater than that of air or dry nitrogen. This property allows electrical equipment, such as gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), to be designed much more compactly while operating safely under high voltages.
Q2: In what types of packaging is SF6 typically supplied?
Sulfur hexafluoride is typically supplied and transported in specialized high-pressure gas cylinders and larger capacity drum tanks, depending on the volume required by the application.
Q3: Which major industries use SF6 gas?
SF6 is predominantly used across the Power & Energy sector (switchgear and circuit breakers), the Glass industry (sound and thermal insulation in windows), Steel & Metals manufacturing (magnesium and aluminum processing), and the Electronics sector (semiconductor manufacturing).
Q4: What purity grade is standard for electronics-grade SF6?
For high-end electronic and semiconductor applications, SF6 is offered with high purity levels reaching up to ≥ 99.999%, with trace impurities strictly limited to parts-per-million levels.
Q5: Are customized specifications available for specific industrial needs?
Yes. While standard technical parameters are provided as reference benchmarks, alternative specifications and customized parameter limits can be provided upon further technical discussion.
