# Hydrofluoroether

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{{Short description|Class of organic solvent}}
{{refimprove|date=November 2019}}
'''Hydrofluoroethers''' ('''HFEs''') are a class of organic [solvent](/source/solvent)s. As non-ozone-depleting chemicals, they were developed originally as a replacement for [CFCs](/source/Chlorofluorocarbon), [HFCs](/source/Hydrofluorocarbon), [HCFCs](/source/hydrochlorofluorocarbon), and [PFCs](/source/Perfluorocarbon).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.earthscape.org/r1/etf01/sea01.html |title=earthscape.org |access-date=2009-03-17 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20021130034505/http://www.earthscape.org/r1/etf01/sea01.html |archive-date=2002-11-30 |url-status=dead }}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=November 2019}} They are typically colorless, odorless, tasteless, low toxicity, low viscosity, and liquid at room temperature. The [boiling point](/source/boiling_point) of HFEs vary from {{cvt|50|C}} to nearly {{cvt|100|C}}. Although 3M first developed HFEs, other manufacturers have begun producing them. They are chemically related to the fluorinated ether [inhalational anaesthetic](/source/inhalational_anaesthetic)s [sevoflurane](/source/sevoflurane) and [desflurane](/source/desflurane).

==Applications==
Industrial uses are many and varied, including:
* Vapor de-greasing solvent
* Refrigerant and heat-transfer fluid
* Anhydrous fluid cleaner
They are sometimes applied as blends such as HFE 7100, which is a mixture of methyl nonafluorobutyl ether ([methoxyperfluorobutane](/source/methoxyperfluorobutane)) and methyl nonafluoroisobutyl ether.<ref>{{cite web |title=Novec HFE-7100 MSDS |url=https://sds.chemtel.net/webclients/safariland/finished_goods/Pioneer%20Forensics%20-%20Novec%20HFE-7100%20Formula.pdf |publisher=Pioneer Forensics |accessdate=22 July 2020}}</ref>

3M produces hydrofluoroether compounds under the names Novec 7000, 7100, 7200, 7300, 7500, and 7700 as liquid coolants for many applications, including full immersion cooling of computer electronics.<ref>{{cite web |title= Immersion cooling for data centers |url=https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/data-center-us/applications/immersion-cooling/|publisher=3M |accessdate=7 April 2021}}</ref>

==Environmental impact==
Because of their high [molecular weight](/source/molecular_weight)s, HFEs remain in the [atmosphere](/source/atmosphere) for less than two weeks, being absorbed into the ground rather than remaining dissolved in the atmosphere. Although HFEs are [greenhouse gas](/source/greenhouse_gas)es, the EPA does not regulate their use due to the short atmospheric lifetimes and zero [ozone depletion potential](/source/ozone_depletion_potential) compared to alternative chemicals.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/en001/oil_gas/specialty_materials/node_2CT5BPQWKBge/root_GST1T4S9TCgv/vroot_G1F6DNZDBVge/theme_us_oilgas_3_0/command_AbcPageHandler/output_html |title=products3.3m.com |access-date=2009-03-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090404063401/http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/en001/oil_gas/specialty_materials/node_2CT5BPQWKBge/root_GST1T4S9TCgv/vroot_G1F6DNZDBVge/theme_us_oilgas_3_0/command_AbcPageHandler/output_html |archive-date=2009-04-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==See also==
*[Immersion cooling](/source/Immersion_cooling)
*[Liquid dielectric](/source/Liquid_dielectric)
*[Novec 649](/source/Novec_649) and 774
*[Fluorinert](/source/Fluorinert)

==External links==
*[https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/1091997O/3m-novec-engineered-fluids-for-heat-transfer-line-card.pdf Heat transfer applications using 3M Novec Engineered Fluids]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

Category:Coolants
Category:Ethers
Category:Liquid dielectrics
Category:Organofluorides

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hydrofluoroether](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrofluoroether) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrofluoroether?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.