What is cryolite?

1. Cryolite is a mineral, sodium hexafluoroaluminate (Na3AlF6), white monoclinic crystal system (109 degrees Celsius), slightly soluble in water and soluble in alumina, used as a flux and manufacturing in the electrolytic aluminum industry Opacifier for opalescent glass and enamel.

2. Cryolite is a halide mineral, which is sodium aluminum fluoride. The color ranges from colorless and transparent to white, and there are also light brown, light red, and brick red.

3. Vitreous luster to grease luster. Cryolite has a variety of metallurgical uses, as well as many others, such as glass and ceramic manufacturing, grinding, pesticides, and more.

4. Cryolite, with the molecular formula Na3AlF6, is mainly used as a flux for aluminum electrolysis, as well as a wear-resistant filler for rubber and grinding wheels, an opalescent agent for enamel, a sunscreen for glass, and a metal flux.

5. The west coast of Greenland is the main producing area of cryolite, which was mined in 1987. At present, sodium hexafluoroaluminate is artificially synthesized from fluorite for industrial use.

6. The scientific name is sodium fluoroaluminate, also known as sodium cryolite, or cryolite for short.