Everything Everywhere Daily · Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Fluorine plays a critical role in uranium enrichment for nuclear applications, as uranium can be converted into uranium hexafluoride (UF6), which becomes gaseous at manageable temperatures. The difference in weight between UF6 molecules containing U235 and U238 allows for isotope separation. The demand from the Manhattan Project significantly boosted industrial fluorine production.
“One of fluorine's most strategically important applications is uranium enrichment.”
“But uranium can be converted to uranium hexafluoride. Uranium hexafluoride has the extremely useful property of becoming gaseous at relatively modest temperatures.”
“Demand from the Manhattan Project and the nuclear industry played an important role in expanding industrial fluorine production during and after World War II.”