Sulfur Hexafluoride (SF₆) is typically formed in specified quantities by the direct fluorination of high-purity sulfur.
Sulfur Hexafluoride's generally high density and lack of motion are what make it preferable for use as an electrical insulator in high-voltage transformers, transmission lines, and microwave antennas. It is equally useful as an insulating gas in double-windowpane glass. That SF6 is a high-density inert gas can prevent its use as well as widen it; it's been identified as having a high Global Warming Potential (GWP). That being the case, researchers are now actively pursuing a more environmentally attractive choice to reduce its use. For the time being, it holds on to its wide acceptance as the preferred insulator in high-voltage applications, but it's best applied cautiously and returned for reclamation instead of just vented in the process of repairing equipment.
High-purity Sulfur Hexafluoride is used extensively as an etchant in semiconductor manufacture, as a good source of fluorine.
