PELCHEM Produces Fluorocompound for Phenolic Foams
PELCHEM (the Chemical Division of NECSA, South Africa) has developed a direct fluorination technology (DF) for organic compounds. The DF plant at Pelindaba is currently being expanded in order to satisfy an increased market demand for perfluorocompounds and is currently being used to produce among other chemicals perfluoroheptane (C7F16), a fully fluorinated paraffin. The technology can be also used to fluorinate a range of functionalised organic chemicals and has a wide range of applications.
The perfluoroheptane, with a purity greater than 95% does not contain higher boiling perfluoroalkanes such as perfluorooctane. This is one of the advantages of direct fluorination over other technologies such as electrochemical fluorination technology or cobalt trifluoride mediated fluorination with elemental fluorine. The product is a clear colourless liquid that is chemically inert, thermally stable and has a high dielectric strength. The technology utilizes fluorine (F2) produced commercially by Pelchem at the Pelindaba site, 30 km west of Pretoria. Perfluoroheptane also finds applications in other areas such as the electronics, electrical, refrigeration, health care and fire fighting.
The perfluoroheptane product is supplied to a local company SAGEX where it is used in the manufacture of phenolic foam. This phenolic foam, known as Megaphen, combines excellent thermal and fire resistant properties and is used in the mining industry to insulate chilled water pipe systems against heat loss. Megaphen is used in any environment where fire resistant insulation is required, such as hotels and hospitals. Sagex is the only company that manufactures phenolic foam in South Africa. Sagex also manufactures expanded polystyrene and rigid polyurethane foam products.
Any enquiries can be forwarded to the following contact person:
Josiah Marule
Marketing Manager
PELCHEM, the Chemical Division of NECSA, South Africa
Tel: +27-12-305 4333
Fax: +27-12-305 4550
Cell: +27-828090272
E-mail: josi@aec.co.za
Website: www.pelchem.com