Scientists at Perm National Research Polytechnic University in Russia have successfully converted fluoroanhydrite, a by-product of hydrofluoric acid production, into a high-performance building material. The relevant results were published in the journal Construction and Geotechnical Engineering. The research was completed under the framework of the Priority 2030 Strategic Academic Leadership Program, providing an environmentally friendly utilization solution for the 350,000 tons of fluoroanhydrite generated annually.
Hydrofluoric acid is a key raw material for microchip and semiconductor production, but its by-product fluoroanhydrite has long been disposed of by landfill due to processing difficulties, slow hardening speed, and low strength, which not only occupies land resources but also threatens the surrounding environment. The Perm Polytechnic University team developed a dry construction mixture binder based on fluoroanhydrite through innovative formulation design, increasing material strength by 46%, achieving a softening coefficient of 0.75, and delivering excellent water resistance.
The research team used high-strength gypsum as the base material, added 15% fluoroanhydrite, and combined it with activators such as fly ash, Portland cement, and manganese sulfate to form a composite reinforcement system. By optimizing additive ratios using mathematical planning of experiments, the final product achieved 260mm flowability, bond strength above 0.98MPa, compressive strength of 22.7MPa, and no shrinkage deformation after 28 days, with overall performance superior to similar products on the market.
The technology specifically incorporates high-efficiency water reducers, defoamers, citric acid-based retarders, and cellulose ethers, which reduce the water-solid ratio while improving the water retention capacity of the solution. Andrey Taleiko, a graduate student at Perm National Research Polytechnic University, pointed out that the new mixture is perfectly suited for self-leveling floor underlayment and is fully compatible with finish coatings, laminates, tiles, and other surface materials.
Calculations show that adopting this technology can reduce building material production costs by 15%-20% while solving the environmental pollution problem caused by fluoroanhydrite landfill disposal. Stepan Leontiev, Associate Professor in the Department of Construction Engineering and Materials Science at Perm National Research Polytechnic University, stated that this breakthrough opens a new path for the resource utilization of industrial waste, and the related results have now entered the industrialization docking phase.
