SF6 or sulfur hexafluoride is an inorganic compound. It is a transparent, odorless, non-toxic and non-flammable gas (under standard conditions); at 1 bar it has density 6.164 g/L (it is about 5.1 times denser than air).

This gas is an excellent insulator. Its dielectric strength is 2.5 times that of air.

It is used:

• as an arc quenching medium in MV and HV circuit breakers given its high dielectric strength (89 kV/cm), which increases with pressure
• as a dielectric in cabins and stations, electrical, armored
  in particle accelerators (low tendency to ionize)
• as a tracer gas in experiments to check ventilation, leaks or seepage in buildings; also used in hydrogeology
• in metallurgy for the production of aluminum and magnesium
• in the manufacture of semiconductors because of its inert nature and high density (air and lighter pollutants are thus removed).

SF6 is one of the 6 greenhouse gases under the Kyoto Protocol.

Its global warming potential (GWP) is 23,900 times that of CO2, making it the gas with the greatest greenhouse effect on Earth.

Consequently, it is particularly important to control its use to limit its release into the atmosphere as much as possible.

Chem Solutions, through its collaboration with Climalife, is able to offer a product that meets the specifications of the international standard IEC 60376 (International Electrotechnical Commission).