Calcium Fluoride

3.18 at 68 °F (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water; will sink

3.18

3.2 g/cm³

3.18 @25 °C

White powder or cubic crystals

White cubic crystals or powder

Fluorspar crystals are yellow, green, or purple

Pure form: colorless; Natural form: can vary from transparent and colorless to translucent and white, wine-yellow, green, greenish-blue, violet-blue, and sometimes blue, deep purple, bluish black, and brown

0.0015 g/100 ml water at 18 °C; slightly sol in dil mineral acids

Slightly sol in acid.

0.0017 g/100 g water @ 25 °C

Solubility in water at 20 °C: none

2500 °C

2500 °C

2500 °C @760 [mm Hg]

1403 °C

MP: 1350 °C; Mohs hardness 4; specific gravity 3.2 /Fluorspar/

1403 °C

1418 °C

Calcium fluoride appears as odorless gray powder or granules. Sinks in water. (USCG, 1999)

Dry Powder; Other Solid; Large Crystals; CBI; Dry Powder; Other Solid

Gray powder that sinks in water; [CAMEO] White to clear crystals; Natural fluorite varies in color from clear to white, yellow, green, blue, purple, and brown; Some commercial grades of fluorite contain crystalline silica; [CHEMINFO]

COLOURLESS CRYSTALS OR WHITE HYGROSCOPIC POWDER.

This chemical does not meet GHS hazard criteria for 51.7% (494 of 955) of all reports.

Warning

H315 (48.2%): Causes skin irritation [Warning Skin corrosion/irritation]

P261, P264, P264+P265, P271, P280, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P319, P321, P332+P317, P337+P317, P362+P364, P403+P233, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Aggregated GHS information provided per 955 reports by companies from 9 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.

Chemical: Calcium fluoride (CaF2)

Directive (EC) No 46/2002

Calcium fluoride (CaF2) is listed on the EPA's Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) system. Manufacturers and importers of Calcium fluoride (CaF2) are required to report information about their production and use of this chemical to the EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). (40 eCFR Part 711)

Status: Active Update: 26-04-2023 https://echa.europa.eu/registration-dossier/-/registered-dossier/15129

Calcium fluoride: Does not have an individual approval but may be used under an appropriate group standard

CALCIUM FLUORIDE has weak oxidizing or reducing powers. Redox reactions can however still occur. The majority of compounds in this class are slightly soluble or insoluble in water. If soluble in water, then the solutions are usually neither strongly acidic nor strongly basic. These compounds are not water-reactive.

Fresh air, rest.

Rinse and then wash skin with water and soap.

First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then refer for medical attention.

Rinse mouth.

Biological Exposure Indices (BEI) [ACGIH] - Fluorides in urine = 2 mg/L prior to shift or 3 mg/L at end of shift; (Repeated measurements recommended.)

1.0 [mg/m3], as F, inhalable fraction[German Research Foundation (DFG)]

IN GENERAL, MATERIALS WHICH ARE TOXIC AS STORED OR WHICH CAN DECOMPOSE INTO TOXIC COMPONENTS ... SHOULD BE STORED IN COOL WELL VENTILATED PLACE, OUT OF DIRECT RAYS OF SUN, AWAY FROM ... HIGH FIRE HAZARD, & PERIODICALLY INSPECTED. INCOMPATIBLE MATERIALS SHOULD BE ISOLATED ...

SRP: At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices.

Personal protection: particulate filter respirator adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance. Sweep spilled substance into covered containers. If appropriate, moisten first to prevent dusting. Carefully collect remainder. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.

IN THE MINING OF FLUORSPAR, DUST CONTROL SHOULD BE ... ENFORCED, INCLUDING WET DRILLING, WATERING OF LOOSE ROCK, AND EXHAUST & GENERAL VENTILATION. WHEN HEATING FLUORSPAR, THERE IS ALSO THE HAZARD OF HYDROFLUORIC ACID BEING FORMED, AND THE RELEVANT SAFETY MEASURES SHOULD BE APPLIED.

SRP: Local exhaust ventilation should be applied wherever there is an incidence of point source emissions or dispersion of regulated contaminants in the work area. Ventilation control of the contaminant as close to its point of generation is both the most economical and safest method to minimize personnel exposure to airborne contaminants.

OCCURS IN NATURE AS THE MINERAL FLUORITE OR FLUORSPAR.

/FLUORSPAR OCCURS IN/ US; CANADA; EUROPE; MEXICO.

Calcium fluoride is the most abundant naturally occuring compound of fluoride

... HAZARDS OF FLUORSPAR ARE DUE PRIMARILY TO ... FLUORINE CONTENT AND ITS SILICA CONTENT. CHRONIC INHALATION OR INGESTION MAY CAUSE LOSS OF WEIGHT AND APPETITE, ANEMIA, AND BONE AND TEETH DEFECTS. PULMONARY LESIONS ... REPORTED AMONG PERSONS INHALING DUST CONTAINING 92-96% CALCIUM FLUORIDE & 3.5% SILICA. ... CASES OF BRONCHITIS & SILICOSIS ... REPORTED AMONG FLUORSPAR MINERS.

CLINICAL DATA INDICATE THAT THE SODIUM SALT LIES NEAR THE BORDERLINE BETWEEN TOXICITY CLASSES 4 & 5 ... ALTHOUGH LESS TOXIC IN ANIMALS, BARIUM FLUORIDE MAY BE AS TOXIC IN MAN AS THE SODIUM SALT (OR PREHAPS SLIGHTLY MORE TOXIC). CALCIUM FLUORIDE IS COMPARATIVELY BENIGN ... BECAUSE OF ITS LOW SOLUBILITY & LOW IONIZATION.

TOXICITY OF INORG FLUORINE COMPD VARIES &, TO EXTENT, DEPENDS UPON THEIR SOLUBILITY IN WATER ABOVE CERTAIN MIN LEVELS OF INTAKE. SODIUM FLUORIDE & SODIUM FLUOSILICATE (SILICOFLUORIDE) ARE MOST TOXIC & CALCIUM FLUORIDE (FLUORSPAR) IS LEAST TOXIC ...

EMBRYOTOXIC STUDIES OF CALCIUM FLUORIDE IN MICE OVER SEVERAL GENERATIONS INDICATED THAT ADMIN DURING PREGNANCY WAS RELATIVELY SAFE COMPARED TO OTHER FLUORIDES. ACUTE (IP) & CHRONIC (ORAL) LD50 VALUES ARE GIVEN.

The pathogenicity of mixed dust from a fluorite mine was studied by animal experiments and in vitro tests. Animal experiments showed that calcium fluorite can induce only a foreign body reaction in the lungs; the fibrous nodular lesions induced by the fluorite mine dust are due mainly to its silica component. It was demonstrated that either silica or the mixed dust of a fluorite mine can stimulate pulmonary alveolar macrophages to release fibrogenetic factors in vitro, but calcium fluorite cannot. It was also demonstrated that having engulfed calcium fluorite, silica, or fluorite mine mixed dust, pulmonary alveolar macrophages release an elastase-active substance. It was suggested that the emphysematous lesion seen in autopsy material of pneumoconiosis of fluorite mine workers may be caused by calcium fluorite and silica.

LD50 Rat oral 4250 mg/kg

LD50 Mouse ip 2638 mg/kg

RATS EXPOSED DAILY TO 13 MG SHOWED GRADUAL INCR IN EXCRETION OF FLUORIDE FROM 2ND DAY AFTER TREATMENT. ON 1ST DAY FLUORIDE CONCN IN SERUM WAS 2 TIMES HIGHER THAN CONTROL. FLUORIDE LUNG CONCN WAS GREATER THAN OTHER ORGANS & LEVEL IN FEMUR & INCISORS WERE HIGHER THAN CONTROLS.

URINE FLUORIDE EXCRETION RANGED FROM 1.0 TO 9.6 MG F-/L (CONTROLS: 0.3-1.2) IN GROUP OF 50 WORKERS ENGAGED FOR APPROX 30 YR IN PHOSPHATE FERTILIZER PRODN. AMBIENT FLUORIDE (FLUORSPAR) CONCN RANGED FROM 0.15-0.62 MG/CU M & GASEOUS FLUORIDE RANGED FROM 0.04-0.17 MG/CU M.

Gas chromatography was used to measure the maternal and fetal plasma inorganic fluoride values at term in 91 women. They were assigned to one of four groups: group A were untreated controls; group B received a single daily dose of 1.5 mg of fluoride (as calcium fluoride) during the final trimester of pregnancy; group C was given a single dose of 1.5 mg of fluoride (as sodium fluoride) and group D was given 2 daily doses of fluoride (as sodium fluoride) totaling 1.5 mg. There was a significant difference between the cord plasma fluoride levels of the newborns in the untreated group (mean: 27.8 ug/L) and that of the combined supplemented groups B, C and D (mean: 58.3 ug/L). There was no difference between the average fluoride levels in the three supplemented groups. In 17 women, gestation time between 19 and 34 weeks, fluoride levels were measured in the mother (mean: 17.11 ug/L) and in the foetus by cord tapping (mean: 35.64 ug/L). In 4 other mothers, was given a dose of 1 mg of sodium fluoride; one hour later, mean cord fluoride level was 86.5 ug/L. These results indicate that placental transfer of fluoride occurs early during pregnancy and that supplementation during the final trimester of pregnancy will significantly elevate cord plasma fluoride concentrations.

The primary source of fluorine and fluorine compounds, it is used in the steel, chemical, ceramics, and glass industries. Used as a flux and catalyst; [Merck Index] Used as a welding flux; [Ullmann]

Steel Producing [Category: Industry]

... Main primary source of fluorine and its compd. In ferrous metallurgy it is used as a flux to incr fluidity of the slag. ... Synthetic fluorspar is used in the optical industry (transmits UV rays), and pure calcium fluoride used as a catalyst in dehydration and dehydrogenations. Used to fluoridate drinking water.

/Fluorspar/ is used as a flux in the production of steel and magnesium and is added to the cryolite flux in the production of aluminum. A major use of fluorspar occurs in the production of hydrogen fluoride by treatment of the mineral with sulfuric acid. Fluorspar is encountered in the production of elemental phosphorus, steel, cement, enamel coatings, and glass.

AGENT FOR PRIMARY NONFERROUS METAL MFR; CHEM INT FOR HYDROFLUORIC ACID; INGREDIENT IN GLASS & FIBERGLASS MFR; FLUX FOR BASIC OXYGEN FURNACE, ELECTRIC FURNACE & HEARTH FURNACE STEELMAKING; FLUX IN MFR OF IRON & STEEL CASTINGS

Emory wheels; certain cements; dentrifices; in phosphor; paint pigment; catalyst in wood preservatives; optical equipment /Fluorspar/

(1972) 2.51X10+9 GRAMS

(1975) 9.07X10+8 GRAMS

(1972) 1.07X10+12 GRAMS (ALL GRADES)

(1975) 9.53X10+11 GRAMS

U.S. import for 1991(214,350 tons), 1992(267,328 tons), 1993(255,293 tons)

2023: 100,000,000 - <500,000,000 lb

(1972) 2.27X10+11 GRAMS (FINISHED FLUORSPAR)

(1975) 1.20X10+11 GRAMS

U.S. Prod: 1990(63,500 tons), 1991(58,000 tons), 1992(51,000 tons)

(FOR FLUORSPAR): 49% IN MFR OF HYDROFLUORIC ACID; 31% AS A FLUX FOR BASIC OXYGEN FURNACE STEELMAKING; 8% AS A FLUX IN ELECTRIC FURNACE STEELMAKING; 6.5% AS A FLUX IN OPEN HEARTH FURNACE STEELMAKING; 2.6% AS A FLUX IN MFR OF IRON & STEEL CASTINGS; 1% IN GLASS AND FIBERGLASS MFR; AND 1.9% FOR MISC USES (1973)

Apparent consumption in the U.S.: 1987(643,659 tons); 1988(723,804 tons); 1989(693,121 tons); 1990(566,885 tons); 1991(365,831 tons); 1992 (480,376 tons)

MILLING OF FLUORSPAR AND CONCENTRATION BY WASHING, HEAVY MEDIA SEPARATION, OR FLOTATION TO PRODUCE THREE GRADES: METALLURGICAL (ABOUT 80% CALCIUM FLUORIDE), CERAMIC (85-97%), & ACID (GREATER THAN 97%)

... From calcium carbonate plus hydrogen fluoride: O Ruff, Die Chemie des Fluors (Berlin, 1920) p 89; Emeleus in Fluorine Chemistry, Vol 1, JH Simons, ed (Academic Press, 1950) p 36; Kwasnik in Handbook of Preparative Inorg Chem, Vol 1, G Brauer, ed (Academic Press, New York, 2nd ed, 1963) p 233.

Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing

Calcium fluoride (CaF2): ACTIVE

The steel industry is largest consumer; the chemical industry, second and glass and ceramics, third.