How Are Halon 1301, Halon 1211, and FM-200 Produced?

25 Mar How Are Halon 1301, Halon 1211, and FM-200 Produced?

Halon is a popular chemical compound that has been widely used for firefighting purposes in the past. Halon hit the market in the 1960s and quickly became the most popular firefighting agent. It found widespread application in the protection of process control rooms, art and historical collections, telecommunication switches, processing rooms, etc. Two forms of Halon were very popular at that time i.e. Halon 1301 and Halon 1211. Halon 1301 was used in flooding systems for explosive and fire containment while Halon 1211 was used mainly in portable fire extinguishing systems in Western Europe and the Western Hemisphere.

However, production of Halon was ceased considering its ozone depleting properties. Eventually, a few viable alternatives were introduced. FM-200 is one such agent that quickly gained popularity as a suitable and safe alternative to Halon. Read on to learn how these popular fire extinguishing agents are made and how they differ from each other.

How is Halon 1301 Produced?
Although the manufacturing process of Halon 1301 is not disclosed, it’s chemical properties are well-known. The chemical name for Halon 1301 is Bromotrifluoromethane. Bromotrifluoromethane is an organic halide which is a precursor to trifluoromethyltrimethylsilane, a popular reagent used in the organic synthesis. The chemical formula of Bromotrifluoromethane is CBrF3. As a fire extinguishing agent, it does not produce the characteristic white cloud similar to CO2. Because of this, it is not ideal to be used for fighting large fires.

How is Halon 1211 Produced?
The chemical name for Halon 1211 is Bromochlorodifluoromethane. It is a haloalkane that is used for fire suppression, particularly for costly equipment. The chemical formula of Bromochlorodifluoromethane is CF2ClBr. Bromochlorodifluoromethane is an excellent fire extinguishing agent with low pressure, low toxicity, liquefied gas. It is very effective for extinguishing all common types of fires. Bromochlorodifluoromethane is commercially synthesized from chloroform via a two-step process. Similar to Halon 1301, the production process of Halon 1211 is not disclosed.

How is FM-200 Produced?
The exact method of manufacturing FM-200 is not disclosed, but its chemical properties are well-known. The chemical formula of FM-200 is C3HF7. The FM represents the chemical called Heptafluoropropane which is a colorless and odorless gas. The FM-200 fire suppression system is made up of elements such as hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon. Heat absorption is the primary mechanism through which this agent gets rid of fire. It is considered as the halocarbon agent which is safe even when used in the presence of people.

For storage, FM-200 is liquified under pressure. This compound of carbon, hydrogen, and fluorine is electrically non-conductive. The fire suppression agent used in FM-200 fire extinguishers is an acceptable replacement for Halon because it has no ozone depleting potential.

Conclusion
In conclusion, while the exact manufacturing process for all these fire extinguishing agents is not disclosed, their chemical properties show how different they are from each other. Halon is a greenhouse gas which depletes the atmospheric ozone. Because of this, its production was banned in accordance with the Montreal Protocol. However, if you still have a Halon suppression system, you are allowed to continue to use it. Most service contractors can recharge the system using recycled Halon.

Halon.us is a Halon buying agency, that pays top dollar for Halon 1301, Halon 1211, and FM200, which we purchase for essential uses such as aircraft fire safety systems, in accordance with all applicable environmental regulations.  We are known and trusted for being reliable, trustworthy, and making super fast payments. We make all transactions simple and convenient, taking a lot of the work and expenses off of your hands. If you are looking to sell Halon, contact us to see why we are America’s most trusted Halon buying agency. Call (866) 720-5681 today!