SaltGen has developed purification, characterization, and analytical capabilities for high-purity halide salts used in demanding high-temperature environments.
The foundation
Controlling the chemical baseline.
The performance of a halide salt is strongly influenced by trace impurities and chemical condition.
SaltGen has developed purification approaches designed to reduce critical impurities, including oxides, and produce more consistently characterized salt compositions.
This supports teams exploring how salt chemistry influences corrosion, materials degradation, electrochemical behavior, heat transfer, chemical reactions, and system performance.
LiF + BeF₂
FLiBe
A key halide salt for high-temperature applications.
FLiBe · LiF + BeF₂
Material properties
Density at 600°C
1984 kg/m³
Heat capacity at 600°C
2414 J/(kg·K)
Thermal conductivity at 600°C
1.1 W/(m·K)
Melting temperature
459°C
Boiling temperature
1430°C
Viscosity at 600°C
8.5 cP
Source: Molten Salt Thermo-Properties Database – Thermo Physical.
FLiBe—a fluoride salt mixture of lithium fluoride and beryllium fluoride—is one of the materials within SaltGen’s technology focus. Its combination of high-temperature stability, heat-transfer characteristics, and high tritium breeding ratio makes it relevant to advanced energy technologies. SaltGen has developed capabilities to produce and characterize high-purity FLiBe for:
Fusion breeding blankets
Advanced fission systems
High-temperature heat transfer
Thermal energy systems
Electrochemical research
Materials qualification
LiF + NaF + KF
FLiNaK
A versatile fluoride salt for high-temperature systems.
Material properties
Density at 600°C
1984 kg/m³
Heat capacity at 600°C
1905 J/(kg·K)
Thermal conductivity at 600°C
0.9 W/(m·K)
Melting temperature
454°C
Boiling temperature
1570°C
Viscosity at 600°C
4.2 cP
Source: INL’s Engineering Database of Liquid Salt Thermophysical and Thermochemical Properties (2013).
FLiNaK is a ternary fluoride salt mixture of lithium fluoride, sodium fluoride, and potassium fluoride. Its thermal stability, heat-transfer characteristics, and electrochemical properties make it relevant to energy and industrial applications. SaltGen is developing capabilities to produce and characterize high-purity FLiNaK for:
High-temperature heat transfer
Thermal energy storage
Electrochemical processes
Materials compatibility and corrosion testing
High-temperature process development
Molten-salt chemistry research
The purification process
Purity Comparison Throughout Purification Process
From supplier salt to fine-purified salt, following a batch through the purification process.
Scroll horizontally to view all stages on smaller screens.
Purity comparison across four stages, from the SaltGen Fact Sheet
Comparison metric
Fluoride salt from supplier
SaltGen Stage 1: Fused salt
SaltGen Stage 2: Coarse-purified salt
SaltGen Stage 3: Fine-purified salt
Photo
Al (ppm)
23–39
22
18–22
3.4
Co (ppm)
< 0.010
< 0.010
< 0.010
< 0.003
Cr (ppm)
5–7
3
11
0.33
Cu (ppm)
1
1.5
2
0.05
Fe (ppm)
17–23
14
29–31
1.4
Mn (ppm)
4
2.5
3
1.02
Ni (ppm)
2
1
3
0.04
Oxides
Saturated
1000 ppm + particulates
200 ppm + small particulates
1.6–10 ppm + no particulates
Pb (ppm)
< 0.010
< 0.010
< 0.010
< 0.006
Th (ppm)
< 0.030
< 0.020
< 0.030
0.134
U (ppm)
5
3
3
0.036
Data collected via ICP-MS and square wave voltammetry for starting material and purification stages; data extrapolated for "Fused Fluoride Salt" stage.
Beyond the material
Purification, characterization & testing.
Materials, analytical tools, and defined salt environments to support research, development, and qualification.
01
Process development
High-purity halide salts for developing and optimizing high-temperature chemical and electrochemical processes.
Reaction media
Electrochemical processing
Fluoride chemistry
High-temperature refining
02
Sensor & instrument validation
Defined molten-salt environments for developing and validating sensors, probes, reference electrodes, and analytical technologies.
High-temperature testing
Controlled chemical conditions
Reference electrodes
Analytical technologies
03
Materials qualification
Evaluation of alloys, ceramics, coatings, and other materials in high-temperature halide salt environments.
Corrosion and degradation
Materials compatibility
Coating performance
Component qualification
Long-duration testing
04
Analytical & chemistry services
Analytical capabilities to measure impurities and characterize halide salt chemistry.
Material qualification
Process development
Troubleshooting
Ongoing chemistry control
Our technical foundation
Purity. Chemistry. Data.
SaltGen brings together salt production, purification, and analytical chemistry to help technical teams develop better data for high-temperature systems.
