FAQs
Listed below are some frequently asked questions. If you have something you would like to ask, please contact us.

Fluorochemicals

What are the advantages of having fluorine in my product?

There are numerous benefits to adding fluorine to your products, including increased biological activity for pharmaceuticals and agro chemicals, greater thermal and oxidative stability and increased chemical resistance. To find out more about how Halocarbon can put the power of fluorine to work for you, click here to read our introduction to fluorine chemistry entitled, "."

What is the shelf life for your products?
TFE- We have studied drummed material for one year in our warehouse at the South Carolina manufacturing site. The TFE remained within specification.

TFA/ETFA/TFAA- We have studied these products in drums for two years in our warehouse at the South Carolina manufacturing site. The products remained within specification.

What is your return policy?
We allow limited return of our products with a restocking charge and subject to other requirements. Please contact customer service for specific information.

What are the proper storage conditions for your products?
Always consult the product’s MSDS for detailed storage conditions. The following popular products are considered flammable and must be stored in accordance with all applicable fire regulations:

Trifluoroethanol
Ethyl trifluoroacetate
Isopropyl trifluoroacetate
Methyl trifluoroacetate
Methyl chlorodifluoroacetate
Trifluoroacetaldehyde ethylhemiacetal
Trifluoroacetaldehyde methylhemiacetal
Trifluoroethylamine
Trifluoroethylene
Bromotrifluoroethylene

Nonflammable products can be stored under ambient conditions.

Do you offer off-spec or lower quality products than we see on the website?
All our products meet the industry-leading specifications listed in this website. Generally, the processing complications and lower volumes resulting from production of a lower grade product will not offer significant cost savings.

What safety precautions should I take when handling your products?
Please refer to the specific MSDS for your product.

Can you special package in small containers?
For our standard products, the sizes listed on the specification sheet are the only available containers. For large volumes and R&D or pilot plant products, please contact customer service.

What kind of container/tank can I store TFA in or use as a reaction vessel (materials of construction)?
Please refer to Additional Information..

Can I use a stainless steel container to store TFA ?
Please refer to Additional Information.

Do you have corrosion data for TFA and various amounts of water?
No.

What kind of tubing can I use to transfer TFA to various containers?
Please refer to Additional Information..

Do you test for metal content in your TFA?
No.

How can I keep the amount of TFE in the air at a safe level?
You should have adequate ventilation available. For testing the air, contact customer service for additional information.

I am interested in using TFE as a working fluid. Do you have any thermodynamic data.
Yes, please contact customer service.

How much TFE is used to "glue" nylon parts?
Simply dip a nylon part in the TFE for a second or two, then press on to the other nylon piece. Observe all safety precautions in our MSDS and contact customer service for more information.

What should I do if the TFAA plastic carboy arrives oddly shaped?
This usually happens because of temperature changes between packaging and receipt of the TFAA. The shape of the carboy will not cause any problem with the product.

How come you don’t list water content on your TFAA spec sheet?
If there is any water present, it will react with the TFAA to form TFA.

Do you have specs for the containers used?
Yes, please contact customer service.

Is TFAC supplied as a gas or liquid?
TFAC is supplied as a liquefied gas under pressure.

Do you add any stabilizer to the TFAC?
No. The TFAC is a pure chemical.

Do you have specifications for the isocontainers used for TFA, TFE and TFAC?
Yes, please contact customer service.


About Halocarbon

How do I get to your N. Augusta, SC facility?
Please click here for directions.

How do I purchase your products?
Call toll-free in the U.S., 1-800-338-5803 or +1-201-262-8899 internationally. In the United States and Canada, Halocarbon sells on a direct basis. We have distributors in most parts of the world. Halocarbon will ship directly if we do not have a distributor in your country.

What safety precautions should I take when handling your products?

Please refer to the specific MSDS for your product.

What are your office hours?
9-5 pm Eastern US time Monday through Friday

Can I buy with a credit card?
Yes, we accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover for most orders.

Is my product normally in stock?
Halocarbon prides itself on our responsiveness. Most of our standard products are in stock and ready to ship.

How long will it take for my order to be shipped?
Our goal is to ship standard items out of our manufacturing plant in North Augusta, SC in 2 to 3 business days.

What is your return policy?
We allow limited return of our products with a restocking charge and subject to other requirements. Please contact customer service for specific information.

What is your Environmental, Health, Safety & Security policy?

Halocarbon Products Corporation is dedicated to providing its employees and neighbors with the safest possible environment. We strive for continual improvement in all aspects of our environmental, safety, health and security performance in order to insure the safety and security of all stakeholders.

 Our principles are:
 
- Every employee is entitled to a safe and healthy workplace.
- Adhering to Halocarbon’s EH&S policies is a condition of employment.
- Each employee, especially members of management, is responsible for proactively maintaining a workplace free from hazards.
- Every employee is expected to comply with all local, state and federal laws and regulations.
- Halocarbon will aggressively train all employees to insure the goals of this policy are met.
 
As part of our effort to achieve these goals, we will follow the Responsible Care Guiding Principles, which include active participation in all areas of community awareness and emergency response, distribution safety, pollution prevention, process safety, product stewardship and employee health and safety.
 
Peter Murin
Chief Executive Officer


Oils, Greases and Waxes

What makes inert Halocarbon oils, greases and waxes so unique (and expensive)?
Halocarbon oils, greases and waxes are completely synthetic. They are inert because they are non-hydrocarbon based and are carefully manufactured to a very high degree of inertness and purity to insure safety.

Why are inert Halocarbon lubricants safe with oxygen, chlorine, nitric acid, etc.?
They are fully halogenated and are free of carbon-hydrogen bonds. To learn more about the general benefits of fluorine chemistry, read our Fluorine 101 Section.

What is the difference between the oils?
All Halocarbon oils contain the same inert chemical backbone structure. If you think of a bowl of spaghetti, some pieces are short and others are long. In the case of the oils, there are short and long molecules. The short molecules are the low viscosity oils and the longer molecules are the high viscosity oils. The viscosity you need depends on your application.

What solvents are miscible with Halocarbon oils, greases and waxes?

The following are miscible:

Ethyl Alcohol Methyl Alcohol
Acetone Methyl ethyl ketone
Hexane Methyl isobutyl ketone
Kerosene Mineral oils

When shouldn’t I use Halocarbon Inert lubricants?
They should not be used with sodium or potassium metals, amines including amine additives, liquid fluorine and liquid chlorine trifluoride. Silica-thickened greases should not be used in contact with alkalis, hydrofluoric acid and fluorinating agents. If you are using hydrofluoric acid or fluorinating agents, the Halocarbon polymer-thickened greases should be used.

Can Halocarbon inert lubricants be used with aluminum?
Caution should be used under conditions of large shear forces such as those found in threaded connections. This is a rare condition and will occur with most halogenated inert lubricants.

Have Halocarbon inert lubricants been tested for oxygen compatibility?
Halocarbon lubricants have been tested by NASA and the German Federal Institute for Materials Testing (BAM) and to ASTM standards.

What is the upper temperature limit for Halocarbon inert lubricants?
The maximum safe operating temperature for Halocarbon inert lubricants is 200º C.

Which elastomers and plastics are compatible with Halocarbon oils, greases and waxes?
The following elastomers and plastics have been found to be compatible with Halocarbon inert lubricants. Since formulations vary by manufacturer, it is recommended that a compatibility test be conducted.

Ethylene propylene rubber Polymides
Polyvinyl alcohol Polycarbonates
Neoprene Flurosilicones
Teflon type plastics Cured epoxies
Rigid PVC Urethanes
Rigid CPVC EPDM
Viton type plastics  

Can Halocarbon oils be recycled?
With proper use and maintenance, Halocarbon oil can be recycled. This helps to reduce the cost of using Halocarbon oils. Please contact us for more information.

What should I do before I switch to a Halocarbon oil or grease?
There are two main considerations when switching to a Halocarbon oil or grease. For safety, the first is to make sure that the system is clean and all traces of hydrocarbon oils and/or greases (or other potentially reactive compounds) have been removed. You do not want to use our products in a contaminated system. The second is to check for contact with any O-rings or seals. Make sure that they are compatible with our products.

Can I mix different viscosities of Halocarbon oils?
If you need to adjust the viscosity to meet the needs of your system, two different grades can be mixed together. We can supply the necessary information on how to mix the oils – please contact us.

Do Halocarbon greases contain silicone?
No, although we have silica-thickened greases, silica and silicone lubricants are completely different.

Which is the right inert grease to use for my requirement?
Halocarbon has three types of inert grease – silica-thickened, polymer-thickened and PTFE-thickened. All of these greases are safe and compatible to use with oxygen, chlorine and many aggressive chemicals. Silica-thickened greases should not be used in contact with alkalis, hydrofluoric acid or fluorinating agents. The grease which you choose depends on factors such as temperature, operating conditions and manufacturers’ recommendations. Halocarbon can help you choose the right grease for your application – please contact us.

What is the “NLGI” system?
This system is used to define the thickness or consistency of a grease. A grease with a “1” rating is a very soft grease. A hard grease would have a rating of “4”. Most of the time, the equipment manufacture will suggest which grade to use.

Is there a general purpose Halocarbon grease?
Halocarbon 25-5S grease is considered to be a general purpose inert grease. It can be used for most applications that require an inert grease. If there is a chance that the grease may come into contact with an alkali, hydrofluoric acid or a fluorinating agent, a polymer-thickened grease should be used instead.

What is Halocarbon MT-3I grease?
This grease contains a rust inhibitor, molybdenum disulfide and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). These ingredients make it an outstanding thread sealant. It will help to prevent thread galling and act as a thread sealant where oxygen compatibility is required. It was tested by NASA and passed their oxygen compatibility test at 10,000 psi.

What is the main application for Halocarbon inert waxes?
The inert waxes are used mostly as a protective or barrier coating. They help prevent a substrate from reacting with oxygen, chlorine, fluorine gas and other aggressive chemicals.

How are the Halocarbon oils, grease and waxes shipped?
Most of our lubricants are shipped by ground services such as UPS. However, they can be shipped by air because they are classified as non-hazardous.

How do I purchase your products?
In the United States and Canada, Halocarbon sells on a direct basis. We have distributors in most parts of the world. Halocarbon will ship directly if we do not have a distributor in your country. Call toll free 1-800-338-5803.

Can I buy with a credit card?
Yes, we accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover for most orders.

Is my oil, grease or wax normally in stock?
Halocarbon prides itself on our responsiveness. Most of our standard inert lubricants are in stock and ready to ship.

How long will it take for my order to be shipped?
Our goal is to ship standard items out of our manufacturing plant in North Augusta, SC in 3 to 4 business days.


Anesthetics

How can I contact you?
For U.S. callers, you can call us at 1-800-338-5803 toll free or +1-201-262-8899 for international callers or you can email us at info@halocarbon.com.

Where can I get your anesthetics if I am a researcher?
You can order directly from Halocarbon.

Does your company produce both human label and veterinary label Isoflurane?
Yes.

Where can a veterinarian order your veterinary label Isoflurane, USP?
It is stocked and sold by most veterinary distributors.

In what size bottles do you sell your Isoflurane, USP?
It is available in 100ml and 250ml bottles packed 6 bottles per case.

Why did Halocarbon decide to stop producing Halothane?
Worldwide usage of Halothane has been declining for years and continued production no longer made economic sense.

What is the recommended way to dispose of Halothane or Isoflurane?
Please click on Material Safety Data Sheets on the Halocarbon web site for disposal information.

Can I get my Halothane Vaporizer converted to an Isoflurane Vaporizer?
Yes. Contact us for a list of companies that perform this service.

Where can I purchase a Key Fill Adaptor?
Call G.A.S. at 1-800-717-5955 (U.S. only) or Southmedic at 1-800-463-7146 (U.S. and Canada).

What are some of the things that you are working on for the future?
We are working on next generation anesthetics.