Fluorinert is the trademarked brand name for the line of electronics coolant liquids sold commercially by 3M. As

perfluorinated compound A perfluorinated compound (PFC) or perfluoro compound is an organofluorine compound containing only carbon-fluorines and C−C bonds, as well as potentially heteroatoms. Perfluorinated compounds have properties that result from the presence of flu ...

s (PFCs), all Fluorinert variants have an extremely high Global Warming Potential (GWP), so should be used with caution (see below). It is an electrically insulating, stable

fluorocarbon Fluorocarbons are chemical compounds with carbon-fluorine bonds. Compounds that contain many C-F bonds often has distinctive properties, e.g., enhanced stability, volatility, and hydrophobicity. Fluorocarbons and their derivatives are commerci ...

-based fluid, which is used in various cooling applications. It is mainly used for cooling electronics. Different molecular formulations are available with a variety of

boiling point The boiling point of a substance is the temperature at which the vapor pressure of a liquid equals the pressure surrounding the liquid and the liquid changes into a vapor. The boiling point of a liquid varies depending upon the surrounding envir ...

s, allowing it to be used in "single-phase" applications, where it remains a liquid, or for "two-phase" applications, where the liquid boils to remove additional heat by

evaporative cooling An evaporative cooler (also known as evaporative air conditioner, swamp cooler, swamp box, desert cooler and wet air cooler) is a device that cools air through the evaporation of water. Evaporative cooling differs from other air conditioning sy ...

. An example of one of the compounds 3M uses is FC-72 (

perfluorohexane Perfluorohexane (), or tetradecafluorohexane, is a fluorocarbon. It is a derivative of hexane in which all of the hydrogen atoms are replaced by fluorine atoms. It is used in one formulation of the electronic cooling liquid/insulator Fluorinert ...

, C₆F₁₄). Perfluorohexane is used for low-temperature heat-transfer applications due to its boiling point. Another example is FC-75, perfluoro(2-butyl-tetrahydrofurane). There are 3M fluids that can handle up to , such as FC-70 (

perfluorotripentylamine Perfluorotripentylamine is a perfluorocarbon. It is used as an electronics coolant, and has a high boiling point. It is colorless, odorless, and insoluble in water. Unlike ordinary amines, perfluoroamines are of low basicity. Perfluorinated ami ...

). 090519 products3.3m.com Fluorinert is used in situations where air cannot carry away enough heat, or where airflow is so restricted that some sort of forced pumping is required.

Toxicity

Fluorinert may be harmful if inhaled, and care should be taken to avoid contact with eyes and skin. However, according to the documentation from the manufacturer, no health effects are expected from ingestion of Fluorinert. 090519 multimedia.3m.com Usage of fluorinated oils should be limited to closed systems and reduced volumes, since they have a very high

global-warming potential Global warming potential (GWP) is the heat absorbed by any greenhouse gas in the atmosphere, as a multiple of the heat that would be absorbed by the same mass of carbon dioxide (). GWP is 1 for . For other gases it depends on the gas and the time ...

and a long atmospheric lifetime. Although Fluorinert was intended to be inert, the

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) is a federal research facility in Livermore, California, United States. The lab was originally established as the University of California Radiation Laboratory, Livermore Branch in 1952 in response ...

discovered that the liquid cooling system of their Cray-2 supercomputers decomposed during extended service, producing some highly toxic

perfluoroisobutene Perfluoroisobutene (PFIB) is the perfluorocarbon counterpart of the hydrocarbon isobutene and has the formula (CF3)2C=CF2. An alkene, it is a colorless gas that is notable as a highly toxic perfluoroalkene. Few simple alkenes are as toxic. Safet ...

. Catalytic scrubbers were installed to remove this contaminant. The science-fiction film '' The Abyss'' (1989) depicted an experimental liquid-breathing system, in which the use of highly oxygenated Fluorinert enabled a diver to descend to great depths. While several rats were shown actually breathing Fluorinert, scenes depicting actor Ed Harris using the fluid-breathing apparatus were simulated.

Global warming potential

Fluorinert perfluorotributylamine absorbs infra-red (IR) wavelengths readily and has a long atmospheric lifetime. As such, it has a very high global warming potential (GWP) of ~9,000, and it should be used in closed systems only and carefully managed to minimize emissions.

Alternatives

Due to Fluorinert's high global warming potential, alternative low global warming potential agents were found and sold under the brand names Novec Engineered Fluids. There are two types of chemical compounds under Novec branding for similar industrial applications: * Segregated Hydrofluoroether (HFE) compounds including Novec 7000, 7100, 7200, 7300, 7500, and 7700 has lower global warming potential (GWP) of ~300. *Fluoroketones (FK) compounds including

Novec 649 Perfluoro(2-methyl-3-pentanone) is a fluorinated ketone with the structural formula CF3CF2C(=O)CF(CF3)2, a fully-fluorinated analog of ethyl isopropyl ketone. It it used as an electronics coolant liquid and fire protection fluid sold commercia ...

and 774 has very low global warming potential (GWP) of 1. Novec 649 has similar thermo-physical properties to FC-72 making it a good drop-in replacement for low temperature heat transfer.

References

External links

3M Fluorinert Electronic Liquids
– contains links to

Material Safety Data Sheet A safety data sheet (SDS), material safety data sheet (MSDS), or product safety data sheet (PSDS) is a document that lists information relating to occupational safety and health for the use of various substances and products. SDSs are a widely ...

s and Product Information Sheets {{3M Coolants Liquid dielectrics Organofluorides 3M brands

Toxicity

Global warming potential

Alternatives

See also

References

External links