HF burns

Mechanism and specificities of hydrofluoric acid burns (HF burns)

How does hydrofluoric acid present a specific hazard ?

Hydrofluoric acid has a dual action

• a corrosive action due to the acid ions (H⁺), which can damage the superficial tissues (such as corneal epithelium or epidermis),
• a toxic action due to the F^– ions, which can deeply penetrate thanks to the acid destruction of the superficial layers of the skin or the eye, and can chelate calcium and thus disturb the biological balances, which leads to more or less deep physiological disorders.

By definition, fluorides in acidic medium (such as boron trifluoride, for instance) carry the same kind of hazard.

Advantages of an active rinsing with the HEXAFLUORINE® solution

Because of this specific hazard and in addition to its sweeping effect, an efficient rinsing must quickly and simultaneously

• stop the further spread of the aggressive agent that has yet penetrated into the tissues
• remove the chemical thanks to the flow of osmotic pressures
• absorb all the aggressive potential of the chemical product (H⁺ et F^– )

These three properties define the concept of active rinsing.

For decontamination to be optimal, the three above criteria must be gathered.

Today the HEXAFLUORINE® solution is the only solution that contains a molecule meeting such requirements worldwide.