The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing 1989-2025
  

  Thread 454/73

Want a material for Hydrofluoric Acid Heat Exchangers that is transparent to microwaves

I am currently looking into alternatives to a graphite block heat exchanger we currently use to heat hydrofluoric acid (also contains sulfuric acid and water). I was wondering about the newest microwave technology but I have been told that there is not a material that can withstand the corrosive properties and allow microwave energy to pass through. Do you know if there is such a material?

If not, what other options would be good for heating such a process mixture containing mostly hydrofluoric acid at a high flow rate? Thanks

Zach Zachman
Consumer - Geismar, Louisiana
2007
publicly reply to Zach Zachman

Maybe you could benefit from a double walled plastic tank with hot water pumped between them. Depends on how hot you need it to be.

Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
2007
publicly reply to Guillermo Marrufo

---

First of two simultaneous responses --

We are currently using steam on our graphite block heat exchanger with cold inlet temperatures near 210 degrees fahrenheit and hot outlet at 265 ° F, roughly.

Zach Zachman
- Geismar, Louisiana
2007
publicly reply to Zach Zachman

---

Second of two simultaneous responses --

PTFE heaters, thermostats and heat exchangers are all readily available. I don't know the US suppliers but any local metal finishing shop can give you a lead or look at adverts in the finishing periodicals.

Geoff Smith
Hampshire, England
2007
publicly reply to Geoff Smith

You can try out with acrylic make heat exchanger.

Ravinder Nagar
Sr. Engineer surface treatment - Ghaziabad, UP, India
2007
publicly reply to Ravinder Nagar