| Fluorine is a remarkable element. In its elemental state, | | | | friction while not succumbing to the fierce oxidization |
| it is highly reactive and toxic. However, when tightly | | | | and other violent reactions that characterize many |
| bonded to other molecules and elements, it becomes | | | | such gases. |
| almost totally non-reactive, taking on remarkable | | | | Life support systems that carry oxygen (and often |
| properties that have made the manufacture of almost | | | | nitrogen, too) in medical applications must meet the |
| totally inert lubricants possible. These lubricants not only | | | | highest standards of oxygen safety. Only totally inert |
| include high temperature grease and oil but also | | | | substances are allowed, even inside sealed bearings |
| several types of wax. | | | | and the other hardware of an oxygen delivery system. |
| Fluorine and hydrogen fluoride have a remarkable | | | | Oxygen compatibility of halocarbon synthetic, inert oils |
| affinity for calcium and silicon. This property allows | | | | and waxes has been investigated and approved for |
| these simple fluoro-acids to do very useful things, such | | | | use by notoriously picky EU investigation bodies. These |
| as etch glass (which is made from silicon-based silica) | | | | arbiters of oxygen safety concerned themselves with |
| in an industrial setting. It also makes it very dangerous. | | | | all types and sizes of oxygen delivery systems. |
| That very same acid can burn right through your arm | | | | Oxygen safety, especially in extreme circumstances |
| and straight to your bones. | | | | such as those often encountered by portable oxygen |
| Of course, most people don't handle highly reactive | | | | units, depends upon it. Consider how such tanks can |
| fluorochemicals at any point in their lives. This is | | | | be inadvertently knocked around and tossed about |
| reserved for a very small number of researchers and | | | | while being delivered. |
| technicians who are well aware of the danger such | | | | Though the larger bullet shaped tanks are usually not |
| compounds of fluorine pose to human health. | | | | moved about much, the smaller tanks that people with |
| The fluorine compounds that most people come into | | | | emphysema, asthma or cystic fibrosis often carry |
| contact with are very solidly bonded to other | | | | around on carts are the ones that have the highest |
| chemicals before most people ever come near. As | | | | likelihood of suffering damage that could be |
| such, they are mostly inert by definition - something | | | | catastrophic if the correct inert lubricants weren't used |
| that petroleum-based hydrocarbons certainly cannot | | | | on newly exposed surfaces. |
| claim. | | | | Industrial gas supplies (whether noble or highly reactive |
| Among the most useful attributes of fluorochemical | | | | gases) are not usually nearly as mobile or prone to |
| based oils are their ability to remain non-reactive in | | | | shock damage. However, large tanks can go |
| even the most critical and potentially reactive situation | | | | unmaintained for a long time. Along with the use of |
| involving gases such as pure, high-pressure oxygen | | | | non-reactive, synthetic lubricants, it is recommended |
| situations or other cryogenic gases that are commonly | | | | that any gas tank be maintained on a regular schedule, |
| used for a wide array of functions. | | | | by trained professionals. |
| Anyone familiar with the highly reactive nature of | | | | It doesn't matter whether you risk blowing yourself up |
| gases under high pressure or stored as super-cold | | | | a little or a lot - such inspections can spot areas that |
| liquids knows that every single surface that such | | | | are in actual danger from explosion or springing a leak |
| gases come into contact, whether on purpose or | | | | in a line that's been compromised at connection points, |
| accidentally in the case of mechanical failure of the | | | | fittings or bearings. High-pressure oxygen compatible |
| delivery device components, must not be composed | | | | systems usually have authorized service personal that |
| of reactive substances. | | | | show up on a fixed schedule to care for and maintain |
| The gas most commonly used and stored in this way | | | | the inside, outside and feeder lines, as per oxygen |
| is oxygen. Though perhaps most often found in | | | | safety guidelines. Those who care for their own |
| medical applications, SCUBA divers, mountaineers and | | | | portable gear should be very careful not to attempt to |
| high level athletes all use portable liquid oxygen tanks | | | | tinker with it but instead take the apparatus in for |
| to deliver pure gaseous oxygen. Safety with such | | | | regular inspections or tune-ups. |
| devices goes well beyond a smoking ban. | | | | The use of fluorochemical non-reactive and inert oils in |
| Since mechanical devices are responsible for mixing | | | | high pressure and high performance gas delivery |
| and delivering oxygen or other reactive gasses under | | | | systems has revolutionized the applications that can |
| high pressure, an oxygen compatible delivery system | | | | safely utilize high pressure gases. The added safety |
| requires inert oils such as the completely fluorinated or | | | | has likely saved scores of lives since inert lubricants |
| polychlorotrifluoroethylenes (PCTFE) based oils, | | | | became commonplace in industry and hobby |
| lubricants and waxes that keep moving parts from | | | | equipment. |