HFIP in Additive Manufacturing & 3D Printing Research

Our consistent product ensures that reproducible results are guaranteed, with no artifacts in analysis or unwanted and unpredictable by-products in syntheses. Fluorochem is REACH registered, so capable of supplying the quantities you need, while still retaining the highest levels of quality and retaining excellent affordability.

HFIP in Research and Manufacturing

HFIP was initially discovered in the 60s, but remained restricted in use until recent years. Now, it is known as a highly versatile solvent, valued in a variety of specialist R&D fields. HFIP’s extreme polarity and large fluorine content means it benefits countless chemical reactions, and improves the solubility of all kinds of substances, even when used in small quantities.

Polymer Solubility for Advanced Materials Research

HFIP is capable of dissolving a wide range of polymers, including some that are typically difficult to dissolve using standard organic solvents

This solubility profile means HFIP is commonly used in studies involving:

• Polymer morphology
• Ink and solution preparation for research
• Fibre formation investigations
• Material compatibility analysis

Note: Use conditions and suitability depend on the specific research methods and laboratory protocols.

HFIP in Solution-Based AM & Polymer Processing Studies

Low solution viscosity, fast evaporation and the ability to support formation of fine structures and fibres mean HFIP has been adopted into experimental AM techniques, especially those focused on polymer dissolution and solution processing. HFIP is referenced in relation to:

HFIP in Electrospinning and Nanofibre Research

Electrospinning laboratories often choose HFIP when working on the following materials:

• Filtration membranes
• Textile research
• Biomedical materials
• Sensor technologies
• Advanced fibre composites

Use depends on institutional protocols and safety standards.

HFIP in Biomaterials & Bioprinting Research

HFIP is known to support beta-sheet formation in silk fibroin under certain conditions, which is relevant for mechanical stability in research-stage scaffolds.

Why Research Groups Choose Fluorochem for HFIP

Fluorochem supplies HFIP to academic institutions, industrial R&D laboratories, materials developers and medical research groups across the UK and EU.

Supplier Advantages

• Large UK and EU inventory
• Pack sizes from 1 L bottles to bulk quantities
• Consistent quality with full COA
• Reliable logistics for time-sensitive projects
• Support from a longstanding specialty chemical supplier

Safety and Handling Information

Hexafluoro-2-propanol is a hazardous solvent that must only be handled by trained personnel in appropriately equipped laboratory or industrial environments.

Researchers should refer to:

• Their internal safety protocols
• Local regulations
• Fluorochem’s SDS (available upon request)

Appropriate PPE, engineering controls, ventilation and storage procedures are essential.

Contact Fluorochem for HFIP supply or Technical Information

For pricing, availability, pack sizes or COA documentation, please enquire with our team

Fluorochem supplies HFIP to research and industrial customers throughout the UK, EU and international markets.

The Chemistry of HFIP

The key to its effectiveness lies in its extreme polarity: its six fluorine atoms are extremely electron withdrawing, and this especially polarises the O-H bond. This makes HFIP an exceptional hydrogen bond donor, to the point that it is mildly acidic. The high-polarity, strongly bonding character of it makes it excellent for stabilising ions and partially charged transition states, as well as transferring protons and influencing other intermolecular processes. Despite the extreme polarity, the large fluorine content also makes HFIP relatively volatile, allowing it to be easily removed from any process through distillation. As a result, it has been shown to benefit countless chemical reactions, and improve the solubility of all kinds of substances, even when used in small quantities.

With potent hydrogen bonding, and excellent redox stability, HFIP is particularly useful for activating oxidising agents, improving the speed and yield of many oxidations – particularly those involving hydrogen peroxide. Similarly, it shows good results working as a Lewis acid, for example in the activation of carbonyls and imines. Its ability to stabilise high-energy transition states has proven it to be an increasingly essential component of C-H activation reactions, where use of HFIP dramatically improves yields and selectivity for the desired C-H bond. Here, the unique interaction of HFIP with other solvents can help create microenvironments, increasing reactivity and protecting sensitive organo-metallic catalysts. HFIP’s interactions with itself, other solvents and solutes allows it to dissolve difficult materials such as polymers and peptides and it enjoys wide use in these fields, becoming more and more important for nanotechnology applications. Peptide and protein sciences in particular benefit from the formation of HFIP microclusters in solution – enhancing solubility and stabilising secondary structures. This is shown to be particularly useful for studying proteins not normally found in fully aqueous environments (such as within membranes). 

Finally – with the increasing use, purification and analysis of oligonucleotides, HFIP has proven an invaluable additive to HPLC methods for these compounds. Its extreme polarity, strong hydrogen bonding and stabilisation of biomolecules means it performs excellently in ion-pairing chromatography, becoming the default choice for many.

References

Siegemund, G., Schwertfeger, W., Feiring, A., Smart, B., Behr, F., Vogel, H., McKusick, B., & Kirsch, P. (2016). Fluorine Compounds, Organic. In Ullmann’s Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry (pp. 1–56). Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. https://doi.org/10.1002/14356007.a11_349.pub2 

Motiwala, H. F., Armaly, A. M., Cacioppo, J. G., Coombs, T. C., Koehn, K. R. K., Norwood, V. M., & Aubé, J. (2022). HFIP in Organic Synthesis. Chemical Reviews, 122(15), 12544–12747. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00749 

Colomer, I., Chamberlain, A. E. R., Haughey, M. B., & Donohoe, T. J. (2017). Hexafluoroisopropanol as a highly versatile solvent. Nature Reviews Chemistry, 1(11), 0088. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41570-017-0088 

FAQs

Q: Is HFIP used in 3D printing?
HFIP is referenced in research involving solution-based additive manufacturing and polymer processing studies, especially where specialised polymers are investigated.

Q: What polymers are known to dissolve in HFIP?
HFIP can dissolve polymers such as nylon, PCL, PVDF, silk fibroin and several others under controlled laboratory conditions.

Q: Is HFIP suitable for electrospinning?
HFIP is widely used in electrospinning research, particularly with PVDF, PCL and nylon fibres.

Q: Does Fluorochem supply HFIP in bulk?
Yes, Fluorochem supplies HFIP in a range of pack sizes including bulk quantities for industrial and research customers.

Q: Can HFIP be used for biomedical materials?
HFIP is commonly referenced in academic literature involving silk fibroin and PCL biomaterial preparation for research applications.