Skip to content

Octafluoropropane

Octafluoropropane (FC-218), also known as perfluoropropane, is a colorless, nonflammable and nontoxic gas.

EFC Gases & Advanced Materials > Products > Categories > Electronic Gases > Octafluoropropane
Request Quote

Octafluoropropane

Formula: C3F8, R218, HC-218

CAS No: 76-19-7

Octafluoropropane (C3F8), also known as perfluoropropane, is a colorless, non-flammable, and nontoxic gas. Octafluoropropane is chemically inert and has a moderately high global warming potential (GWP = 8,900; Greenhouse gas protocol, Fifth Assessment Report AR5). It is used as an important component in some refrigeration mixtures and as a reactive ion etching gas in semiconductor materials processing applications.

In semiconductor applications, for example, in reactive ion etching, octafluoropropane, with a fluorine to carbon ratio of 8:3, offers a combined source of highly reactive trifluoromethyl, difluorocarbenyl and fluorine radicals without accompanying hydrogen atoms. As a result, semiconductor material plasma etching processes employing octafluoropropane are relatively aggressive with respect to fluorine radical formation. On the other hand, plasmas involving octafluoropropane are not known for providing good fluorocarbon film formation. In other applications, octafluoropropane can be used as a plasma chamber cleaning gas, an expansion agent for polyolefins and polyurethanes, as a propellant for aerosols, as a fire extinguishing agent, and as a gaseous dielectric insulating medium.

download specs pdf
download sds pdf
Applications
Specifications
Further Specifications
Cylinder Sizes
  • Used in plasma etching
  • Used in contrast-enhanced ultrasound
  • Used as a component of refrigeration mixtures in various industries
Grade 3.6 Grade 3.7 Grade 4
Purity 99.96% 99.97% 99.99%
Nitrogen < 200 ppmv < 145 ppmv < 40 ppmv
Oxygen < 50 ppmv < 50 ppmv < 10 ppmv
Carbon Monoxide < 5 ppmv < 5 ppmv
Carbon Dioxide < 10 ppmv < 11 ppmv <5 ppmv
Moisture < 10 ppmv < 6 ppmv < 10 ppmv
Other Halocarbons < 100 ppmv < 400 ppmv < 40 ppmv
Light Gases < 200 ppmv
Acidity < 0.1 ppmvw < 0.1 ppmw
Chemical & Physical Properties
Molecular Weight 188.02
Specific Volume 2.02 cu.ft/lb
Pressure @ 70ºF 23.5 psig
Valve Outlet CGA 660 DISS 716
Shipping Data
DOT Name Octafluoropropane
Hazard Class 2.2
DOT No. UN 2424
DOT Label Green, Non-flammable gas
CAS No. 76-19-7
Cylinder Size Fill Weight (lb)
44L/Size 200 100
16L/Size 80 35
7L/Size 35 15

FAQs about Octafluoropropane

How is octafluoropropane used in plasma etching?

In order to perform plasma etching, octafluoropropane is added to oxygen. The mixture then etches only oxides, leaving the other metal substrate components untouched. 

How is octafluoropropane used in contrast-enhanced ultrasound?

In order to perform contrast-enhanced ultrasounds, gas-filled microbubbles must be introduced intravenously into the circulatory system. The microbubbles have a high ability to reflect ultrasound waves, allowing only the soft tissue of the body around the microbubbles to be seen.  Octafluoropropane is the gas used within the microbubbles, as it is non-toxic.

How is octafluoropropane used in refrigeration?

Like all gases used as refrigerants, octafluoropropane acts as a coolant because it can be compressed under high pressure into a liquid. The compressed octafluoropropane is channeled through a refrigeration system in which it is allowed to expand into a gas, a process during which heat surrounding the gas is absorbed. Industries that use octafluoropropane gas for refrigeration include electricity production, food and beverage, medical and pharmaceutical, and computer and data storage rooms.

**Moisture level guaranteed only when Electronic Fluorocarbons prepares the cylinders.
All concentrations are on a mol/mol basis unless otherwise stated.
Product sold on the basis of total impurities. Individual impurities may vary slightly.

*This gas not available for purchase online.

Other Categories & Industries