SF6 gas has a history of over a hundred years. It is an artificial inert gas synthesized by two French chemists, Moissan and Lebeau, in 1900. Around 1940, the US military used it for the Manhattan Project (nuclear military). Provided for commercial use in 1947. Currently, SF6 gas is mainly used in the power industry. SF6 gas is used for insulation and/or arc extinguishing in four types of electrical equipment; SF6 circuit breakers and GIS (referring to SF6 enclosed composite electrical equipment, internationally known as "Gas Insulated Switchgear"), SF6 load switchgear, SF6 insulated transmission pipelines, SF6 transformers, and SF6 insulated substations. 80% is used for high and medium voltage electrical equipment.
Sulfur hexafluoride has good electrical insulation performance and excellent arc extinguishing performance. Its electrical strength is 2.5 times that of nitrogen under the same pressure, its breakdown voltage is 2.5 times that of air, and its arc extinguishing ability is 100 times that of air. It is a new generation of ultra-high voltage insulation dielectric material that is superior to that between air and oil. Sulfur hexafluoride has excellent insulation and arc extinguishing properties, such as circuit breakers, high-voltage transformers, gas sealed composite capacitors, high-voltage transmission lines, transformers, etc. Electronic grade high-purity sulfur hexafluoride is an ideal electronic etchant widely used in the field of microelectronics technology. As a refrigerant in the refrigeration industry, the cooling range can be between -45 ℃ and 0 ℃. The electrical industry utilizes its high dielectric strength and excellent arc extinguishing performance as insulation materials for high-voltage switches, large capacity transformers, high-voltage cables, and gases. The mining industry uses it as an anti adsorbent to replace oxygen in coal dust in mines. High purity SF6 is also widely used in metal smelting (such as magnesium alloy melting furnace protective gas), aerospace, medical (X-ray machines, laser machines), meteorology (tracer analysis), chemical industry (advanced automotive tires, new fire extinguishers), etc. due to its chemical inertness, non toxicity, non flammability, and non corrosiveness. With the development of technology today, SF6 is constantly expanding its scope and being widely used in more and more basic and technological fields.
