Substance profile
Hexafluoropropylene
Hexafluoropropylene is a colorless gas and is odorless.
01 · Identification
What Hexafluoropropylene is
Hexafluoropropylene is a colorless gas and is odorless. Its molecular formula is C3F6 and its molecular weight is 150.02 g/mol. It boils at -29.6 °C, melts at -156 °C.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Warning. It is classed as reactive agents - 1st degree.
Other names for Hexafluoropropylene
- hexafluoropropene
02 · GHS classification
Hazards and label elements
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
03 · Physical and chemical properties
Hexafluoropropylene properties
Every value is shown with the conditions it was measured under and the source it came from. Where sources disagree, all values are listed rather than one being picked — the difference is usually a different form of the substance, not an error.
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | -29.6 °C (-21.3 °F) | HSDB | |
| -29.6 °C (-21.3 °F) | at 760 mmHg | DOE PAC | |
| Melting point | -156.5 °C (-249.7 °F) | HSDB | |
| Density | 1.583 g/cm³ | at -40 °C | HSDB |
| Vapor pressure | 4900 mmHg | at 25 °C | HSDB |
| 750 mmHg | at -30.6 °C | DOE PAC | |
| 4900 mmHg | Haz-Map | ||
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | EXPLOSIVE OR SIMILARLY VIGOROUS REACTIONS BETWEEN HALOGENATED HYDROCARBONS AND OTHER CHEM ARE DESCRIBED. | HSDB | |
| Critical temperature and pressure | 2 °C (35.6 °F) | HSDB |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
04 · Handling and storage
Storing and handling Hexafluoropropylene
Incompatible materials
Reaction of various substituted phenylmagnesium bromides with hexafluoropropene under pressure at ambient temp had been effected on the 0.2-0.6 g mol scale without incident. An attempt to scale up to 0.8 g mol with phenylmagnesium bromide led to an explosion.
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Reactivity
Halogenated aliphatic compounds, such as HEXAFLUOROPROPYLENE, are moderately or very reactive. Halogenated organics generally become less reactive as more of their hydrogen atoms are replaced with halogen atoms. Materials in this group may be incompatible with strong oxidizing and reducing agents. Also, they may be incompatible with many amines, nitrides, azo/diazo compounds, alkali metals, and epoxides. Above a minimum oxygen pressure, the reaction of oxygen difluoride and hexafluoropropene to yield the hexafluoropropylene oxide becomes explosive, Chem. Abs., 1987, 107, 175302. The reaction of hexafluoropropene with grignard reagent (subst. phenylmagnesium bromides) led to explosion, Fluorine Chem., 1981, 18, 25.
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Hexafluoropropylene in the storage compatibility matrix →