TUNGSTEN AND MOLYBDENUM FLUORIDES PRODUCED BY METAL EXPLOSIONS.
Abstract
High yields of the volatile hexafluorides of tungsten and molybdenum can be obtained by the electrical explosion of these metals into the relatively inert SF6. This constitutes an extremely facile synthesis route for the metal hexafluorides, as compared to conventional techniques, which require the use of elemental fluorine. Carbon tetrafluoride can also be used for the facile synthesis of WF6 by the metal explosion technique, but it is less efficacious than SF6. The reaction path of metal explosions into SF6 depends upon reactant stoichiometry, but the yield of metal hexafluoride is essentially independent of this stoichiometry. Explosion of molybdenum into PF5 leads to the formation of molybdenum trifluoride and new interstitial fluorides MoFn, in which n < or = 1. The relative proportions of MoF3 and interstitial fluorides that form in these reactions depend strongly upon the imparted electrical energy level. Tungsten is less efficacious than molybdenum in abstracting fluorine from PF5. At comparable energy levels tungsten forms only interstitial fluorides of low fluorine content. The applicability of these results to other metals is discussed. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0678110
Entities
People
- Bernard Siegel
- Richard L. Johnson
Organizations
- The Aerospace Corporation