The main application for hydrogen fluoride is in the manufacture of fluorocarbons. Around 60% of HF manufactured world-wide is used in this area. Since the signing of the Montreal Protocol in September 1987, in which Parties agreed to phase out chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), there have been two major developments. Firstly, hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) replaced CFCs. HCFCs however still had some ability to deplete the ozone layer and were an intermediate solution to the problem. Manufacturers reacted very quickly to develop hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) which are chlorine-free, and have no potential to deplete the ozone layer.
There are two main application areas:

1. Foam blowing
A range of plastics, including polyurethane and polystyrene, are treated to improve their insulation properties. This process is known as "foam blowing" and is achieved using fluorocarbons. The main products used in this area are HCFCs 141b and 142b, which replaced the old CFC 11 and CFC 12, but they in turn will in due course be replaced by newer chlorine-free HFCs.
The main foam application areas are:

• domestic appliances
• construction
• food processing
• packaging