Hydrofluoric Acid-WARNING

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"This extremely corrosive acid is formed when certain types of synthetic rubber, found in some O-rings,oil seals, fuel hoses etc. are exposed to temperatures above 750 degrees F (400 degrees C). The rubber changes into a charred or sticky substance containing the acid. Once formed the acid remains dangerous for years. If it gets onto the skin, it may be necessary to amputate the limb concerned.   When dealing with a vehicle which has suffered a fire, or with components salvaged from such a vehicle, wear protective gloves and discard them after use."The above is a quote from a Chilton's manual. I had never heard of this, perhaps others are also blissfully unaware.---Meltedmetal
Reply:nasty stuff..good link to read..     https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...l1mIo3TcKDDIVi
Reply:WTF?   While the above is basically true it's also an extreme over exaggeration IMO. I've worked with thousands of electronic items and test equipment that were stored in this kind of foam and I've cleaned up hundreds and hundreds of them when the foam disintegrated and turned into sticky mess. The foam does deteriorate and releases TRACE amounts of HF acid and it will attack everything including gold and nickel plating but the HF doesn't build up and I've never encountered anything that had enough of it to smell, feel or detect in any normal fashion.    "If it gets onto the skin, it may be necessary to amputate the limb concerned."   LOL! Maybe if you jumped into a vat of HF acid but PURE BS under the circumstances that they're talking about.   "Once formed the acid remains dangerous for years."  More BS! The stuff is so dammed reactive that it even reacts with gold, glass and most stainless steels. Consequently it doesn't remain around for long.
Reply:They have that same warning in the Detroit Diesel manuals. I rebuilt a burned front end loader some years back and all disassembly of components was done with heavy rubber gloves and steam cleaning. I doubt we saw any of the acid but it was better safe than sorry.
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Originally Posted by FlaJoe

WTF?   While the above is basically true it's also an extreme over exaggeration IMO. I've worked with thousands of electronic items and test equipment that were stored in this kind of foam and I've cleaned up hundreds and hundreds of them when the foam disintegrated and turned into sticky mess. The foam does deteriorate and releases TRACE amounts of HF acid and it will attack everything including gold and nickel plating but the HF doesn't build up and I've never encountered anything that had enough of it to smell, feel or detect in any normal fashion.    "If it gets onto the skin, it may be necessary to amputate the limb concerned."   LOL! Maybe if you jumped into a vat of HF acid but PURE BS under the circumstances that they're talking about.   "Once formed the acid remains dangerous for years."  More BS! The stuff is so dammed reactive that it even reacts with gold, glass and most stainless steels. Consequently it doesn't remain around for long.
Reply:We're all going to die!!!!!!!..........................


Reply:I'd have to be weird,To grow me a beard,Just to see what the rednecks would do
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Originally Posted by Hobbytime

nasty stuff..good link to read..     https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...l1mIo3TcKDDIVi
Reply:Crazy stuff!  Never knew.12v battery, jumper cables, and a 6013.I only have a facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/VPT/244788508917829
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Originally Posted by T man

OMG.... I had never heard of this stuff.   Thanks for the link, and making me wonder how much of this I have in my shop, if at all.
Reply:baking soda or sodium bicarbonate neutralizes acid, even windex ammonium water is used to neutralize acid etching pen writing .as for overheating i would worry about fumes. breathing fluorides which is usually in 7018 flux and stainless stick rod flux is not good to breath either
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Originally Posted by ronsii

Careful T man!!! Most of of take safety for granted in our shops.... another chemical you probably have lying around is DiHydrogen Monoxide it kills hundreds of people every year... I use it all the time but take reasonable precautions...
Reply:i worked for a waterproofing/restoration company that used hydrofluoric acid to clean the masonry facades of buildings from hanging scaffolds. iirc it was stored in wax 20 gallon casks. i remember the guys wearing rubber gloves,heavy rain gear,face and eye protection and rubber boots as they pressure washed the walls. to compensate for any risk they were paid a little extra an hour.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:I've used HF in a lab in a past life and always with proper PPE.  Sometimes rubber gloves just rip and I've gotten fingertips wet.  I was always quick to wash them, especially around fingernails and suffered no ill effects.  I heard the the horror stories about getting HF under your nails, so you do want to be careful around the stuff.  Still the amount released from burning O-rings is probably nanogram amounts.  I'm more worried about crossing the street and getting hit by a car.
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Originally Posted by Denis G

... Still the amount released from burning O-rings is probably nanogram amounts.  I'm more worried about crossing the street and getting hit by a car.
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Originally Posted by rlitman

Agreed.  The actual huge quantities of smoke from an active fire, and the massive mounts of residue left behind a fire are both the more dangerous than the infinitesimally small amount of HF that could possibly be present.Whink Rust Stain Remover is a household product that contains it.  Personally, I'd suggest steering clear of it.This is VERY WRONG, and shows a clear misunderstanding of the dangers of HF!  HF is a weak acid, and neutralizing the hydronium ion is not going to make it any safer, when it is the fluorine ion that is the danger.BS.  HydroCHLORIC acid, aka HCl is used for masonry cleaning.  HF is never used on masonry, and if it were, the fumes would leave the building's windows frosted due to etching.
Reply:I used to work for a silicon wafer manufacturer. There were vats of the stuff to clean the wafers. If it is in any way possible to avoid interaction with it, I would recommend doing so. It's nasty stuff. I'd rather get splashed by an exploding automotive type battery than ever work around hydrofluoric acid again.