Hydrofluoric Acid and Anhydrous Hydrogen Fluoride - Part 1

About this episode

Bert Jennings discusses hydrofluoric acid and anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, addressing industry misconceptions and material performance in corrosive environments.

In this episode, the first installment of a two-part series, Bert Jennings, owner of Jennings Materials Consulting in Spring, Texas, joins co-hosts Heather Allain and Marc Cook for a technical discussion on hydrofluoric acid (HF) and anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (AHF) service. Bert begins by outlining where HF is commonly used and addressing common industry tropes and misconceptions about how the fluid behaves in process environments. He explains what “anhydrous” truly means in practical terms, including how dry anhydrous hydrogen fluoride must be and why strict moisture control is essential. The conversation dives into the unique hazards associated with HF, particularly in carbon steel systems. Bert discusses hydrogen blistering, hydrogen-assisted stress corrosion cracking (HASCC), and the influence of hardness on material performance. He also examines how residual elements in carbon steel can affect corrosion resistance and cracking susceptibility, highlighting why small compositional differences can lead to significant performance impacts in HF service. The episode concludes with practical considerations for materials selection, inspection, and risk mitigation, setting the…

People in this episode

Hosts: Heather Allain, Marc Cook

Guest: Bert Jennings

Topics covered

• hydrofluoric acid
• anhydrous hydrogen fluoride
• corrosion resistance
• material performance
• risk mitigation
• industry misconceptions

Keywords

• hydrofluoric acid
• anhydrous hydrogen fluoride
• corrosion
• material selection
• hydrogen blistering
• stress corrosion cracking
• moisture control

Sponsors

Tricor Metals, Webco Industries

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Jennings Materials Consulting

Books & works: MS-4 Materials Selector for Hazardous Chemicals: Hydrogen Fluoride and Hydrofluoric Acid

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