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On June 2-3, 2015, Academician of RAS Vyacheslav M. Bouznik, head of laboratory of the All-Russian Scientific-Research Institute of Aviation Materials (VIAM) has taken part in the X All-Russian Conference “Chemistry of fluorine”, which was held at Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU).

Prominent scientists from different cities of Russia came to Tomsk to discuss the most important issues of fundamental and applied researches on fluorine chemistry and technological aspects of manufacturing and application of its compounds.

Speaking at the plenary session of the conference, Vyacheslav Bouznik pointed out that “the overwhelming majority of famous fluorides are man-made. Under natural conditions, fluorine is a part of a small number of minerals being there in a strongly bound state and some special conditions required for its extraction can be seldom found in the natural environment.

By his words, several decades ago, our country was “a fluorine superstate” with actively developed science and industry. In his opinion, at present time, the fluorine chemistry has begun to show a smooth but steady grow. “At the same time, the present situation in the fluorine chemistry has been strongly worsened. The factors that restrict the use of fluorides are complexity and hazard of production and researches, expensive ready products, all the above causes finding more cost-effective substitutes.” – Vyacheslav Bouznik admitted.

Meanwhile, scientists have learned to get fluorine in laboratories by electrolysis, and now their aim to reduce the price and to ensure safety of this process. “Can we do it? I think, we can” – the representative of VIAM said and added, “that the heavy economic situation is forcing us to work collectively and to solve jointly all problems related to this subject”.

Within the framework of the conference, Vyacheslav Bouznik also made a report, in which he told about the state and advanced application of fluoropolymer materials in aviation.

It should be noted, that the Tomsk Polytechnic University is well known due to its fundamental and applied researches in the field of fluorine chemistry for the Nuclear Industry and training of specialists for this industry. The conference was dedicated to the 100^th anniversary of the birth of an outstanding Soviet chemist, corresponding member of the Academy of Science USSR Yuri Gagarinsky, director and organizer of the Institute of Chemistry of Far-Eastern Branch of RAS, who worked in the field of chemistry of inorganic fluorides.