Calcium fluoride, better known as fluorite, is a non-metallic mineral whose essential function is as a flux. In its natural form, this mineral, which is mined from the earth, is used in making steel, cement, glass and ceramics with substantial energy savings. This fluorite is called metallurgical-grade fluorite.

Acid-grade fluorite is the concentrated mineral that results after eliminating some impurities. This fluorite is used to make hydrofluoric acid by decomposing the sulfuric acid that comes from sulfur.

Hydrofluoric acid is used primarily in the manufacture of refrigerant gases for air conditioners, refrigerators and freezers. It is also used as a raw material in the manufacture of unleaded petrol, in pickling stainless steel, in nuclear fuels, integrated circuits, Teflon and fluorinated lithium salts that are used in batteries, and fluorinated sodium salts for use in toothpaste.

A refrigerant is a chemical product-liquid or gas easily converted to liquid -that is used to transmit heat between two bodies contained in a thermal machine, specifically in refrigerating devices. Its main uses are in refrigerators and air conditioners.