Ammonium bifluoride?

[Tony Shelton]

Does anyone use Ammonium bifluoride and/or Ammonium fluoride?

 

[Russ Johnson]

Be careful with it...

Ammonium bifluoride:

Air & Water Reactions
Dissolves in water and forms a weak solution of hydrofluoric acid.

Fire Hazard
Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Toxic ammonia, hydrogen fluoride, hydrofluoric acid, and hydrogen gases may form in fire. (USCG, 1999)

Health Hazard
Inhalation of dust may cause irritation of the respiratory system. Ingestion causes irritation of mouth and stomach, vomiting, abdominal pain, convulsions, collapse, acute toxic nephritis. Contact with dust irritates eyes and may cause chemical burns or rash on skin. High concs. of fluorine in the urine have been reported following skin contact. (USCG, 1999)

Reactivity Profile
AMMONIUM BIFLUORIDE reacts violently with bases. In presence of moisture will corrode glass, cement, and most metals. Flammable hydrogen gas may collect in enclosed spaces. Do not use steel, nickel, or aluminum containers [USCG, 1999].


Above info copied from - http://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/

This is really a great site for chemical users. You can find physical properties, reactivity, emergency response procedures, and more.

 

[Tony Shelton]

Russ, this is what one of the coil cleaners we've used before has in it. A drop on your clothes will not eat through the clothes, but will burn a hole in your leg where the drop is.

It's some nasty stuff.

You said it produces a "mild" HF? I hope I never come in contact with strong HF!

 

[Christopher]

Some of the fleetwash aluminum brighteners (acids) are Ammonium Bifluoride but I did not see HF on the MSDS.

You can find the aluminum brightener locally at a Pressure Washer supplier or you can order it from Russ J., not sure if he sells that one but I think he has the one with the HF in it.



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[IndyExterior]

Ammonium Bifluoride does become HF. I thought the brightener I was using did not have HF in it and that made it safer. But a chemist told me it became a weak HF when in solution in water. It too did not show HF on the MSDS.

I've seen videos of HF eating through glass beakers. Scary stuff when in strong concentrations and not handled safely.

 

[Tony Shelton]

Ammonium Bifluoride does become HF. I thought the brightener I was using did not have HF in it and that made it safer. But a chemist told me it became a weak HF when in solution in water. It too did not show HF on the MSDS.

I've seen videos of HF eating through glass beakers. Scary stuff when in strong concentrations and not handled safely.

If it does "become" HF why even sell it? Why not just use a weak HF? I'm just trying to understand all this.

 

[IndyExterior]

I don't understand ether other than HF scares a lot of people including me. And if they don't have to include it on the MSDS sheet it may seem safer but be effective since it's HF. I'm sure it's dramatized but did you see how Mr. White disposes of a body in "Breaking Bad" on AMC? A high concentration of HF in a bath tub. Yeah I know it's only a TV show but it attacks calcium in your bones.

 

[schrec]

weak hf just means it might not kill you. REAL HF WILL KILL YOU. you should have seen "Bones" friday, it was making a dead body disintegrate. one drop of HF on your skin eats right through it and you dont feel it. It gets in your blood and your dead and dont know it yet.