Hydrofluoric acid (HFA) is the inorganic acid of elemental fluorine. HFA is used in fluorocarbons, fluoropolymers, aluminum production, stainless steel pickling, uranium processing, glass etching, oil well acidizing, gasoline production, removal of sand and scale from foundry castings, and as a laboratory reagent.
Hydrogen fluoride is used to make refrigerants, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, high-octane gasoline, aluminum, plastics, electrical components, and fluorescent light bulbs. Sixty percent of the hydrogen fluoride used in manufacturing is for processes to make refrigerants.