While carbon tetrafluoride (CF4) has many niche applications, how is this specialized gas actually produced on an industrial scale?  There are two main manufacturing methods for obtaining CF4.

Direct Fluorination:

Elemental carbon reacts directly with fluorine gas at 300-400°C.

Exothermic reaction produces solid CF4 which sublimes into gas form for collection.

Requires handling hazardous F2 gas with specialized corrosion resistant equipment.

Yields are only moderate due to competing side reactions forming other fluoride compounds.

Hydrofluorination:

Methane CH4 reacts with hydrogen fluoride HF at 250-350°C with a catalyst.

CH4 + 4HF -> CF4 + 4H2

More controlled reaction conditions give higher yields up to 90%.

Multi-step process recycles unused HF and separates/purifies CF4 product.

More economical process but requires sourcing methanol and handling HF.

The hydrofluorination production method is predominant today as it produces higher purity CF4 in good yields.  Demand for carbon tetrafluoride remains modest at around 20,000 tonnes per year globally.  Its applications require very high purity levels with minimal contaminants.