Yttrium Fluoride
Yttrium fluoride 99, YTTRIUM FLUORIDE, ANHYDROUS, POWDER, 99. 99%, Yttrium trifluoride
- CAS
- 13709-49-4
- EC
- 237-257-5
- Sectors
- Electronics & Solar PV, Mining & Metals, Aerospace & Defense
Yttrium Fluoride (YF₃; MW 145.9 g/mol) is a white fine crystalline powder with a melting point of 1155 °C and a density of 4.01 g/mL. Insoluble in water and soluble in acids, it is supplied in Technical and Electronic Grades with purity expressed on a rare earth oxide basis from 2N to 5N (TREO ≥ 99 % to ≥ 99.999 %), with typical TREO content of the fluoride salt exceeding 80 %.
YF₃ is a principal precursor for yttrium metal production via calcium reduction and serves as a low-refractive-index optical coating material, a plasma-chamber protective coating source in semiconductor processing, and a flux in fluoride glass and fiber fabrication. It is available as fine powder (d50 1–10 µm), thermal-spray granules (10–60 µm), and evaporation-grade granules (0.2–5 mm), as well as sputter targets.
Yttrium Fluoride
Applications
- Electronics & Solar PV: Applied as a YF₃/YOF protective coating on plasma etch chamber components to resist halogen-plasma corrosion and extend component service life.
- Electronics & Solar PV: Used as an evaporation or sputtering source for low-refractive-index anti-reflection thin-film coatings on optical and optoelectronic devices, serving as a ThF₄ substitute.
- Mining & Metals: Acts as a fluoride flux in the calcium-reduction route to yttrium metal and in the preparation of Mg–Y master alloys for lightweight structural applications.
- Aerospace & Defense: Incorporated into fluoride glass compositions and IR-transmitting fiber preforms requiring high purity and controlled oxygen content (≤ 0.1 %).
- Aerospace & Defense: Employed as a starting material for YLF (LiYF₄) laser crystal growth used in solid-state laser systems operating in the near-infrared range.
Safety & Risks
GHS Warning. H302, H312, H315, H319, H332, H335: harmful if swallowed or inhaled, irritating to skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. Use P100 respirator, safety glasses, and chemical-resistant gloves. Store dry, away from strong acids.
Packaging
1–5 kg vacuum-sealed foil bags for Electronic Grade; 25 kg fiber drums for Technical Grade; storage in cool, dry conditions away from moisture.