5G technology is increasingly mature and developing rapidly, and the demand for high-end chips and large data centers is increasing. The application of fluorine-containing specialty chemicals will usher in explosive growth.The Guiding Catalogue for industrial restructuring (2019 version) clearly points out that ozone depleting substances (ODS) substitutes and fluorine-containing fine chemicals with zero ozone depleting potential (ODP) and low global warming potential (GWP) are included in the encouraged category.

Hydrofluoroether (HFE) is an ideal substitute for the new generation of ODS and one of the most important fluorine-containing special chemicals.

The products with ODP of 0 are the third and fourth generation products. Because they do not contain Cl, they do not damage the atmospheric ozone layer, and ODP is 0.Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) is the third generation product, which was once considered as an ideal substitute for ODS. However, due to its strong absorption of infrared radiation and long atmospheric life, HFC has a high GWP value.The fourth generation products fluoroalkene ether (HFO) and hydrofluoroether (HFE) are designed by scientists to obtain compounds with similar physical properties to CFCs and HCFCs, which can decompose rapidly in the atmosphere, have short atmospheric life and are environment-friendly.For example, HFE is an ether compound containing fluorine, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen elements. Its C-O-C bond energy is small, and it is easy to decompose in the troposphere. It is brought back to the ground by rainwater. Its atmospheric life is about 1-5 years short, its GWP value is low, and it has little impact on the environment. It is an ideal substitute for the new generation of ODS.

HFE has the safety of no flash point, low toxicity, no corrosion, no combustion, low surface tension, good chemical stability, good material compatibility and other excellent properties, as well as environmental protection properties such as no ozone layer destruction, no greenhouse effect, low VOC, short atmospheric life, easy storage and transportation, incomparable advantages with other substitutes, and is widely used.

 （1） Refrigerant

It can be used in refrigerators, freezers, high-temperature heat pumps, automotive air conditioners, and can also be used as the coolant for immersive cooling in the data center, greatly reducing energy use, reducing the space scale of the data center, and optimizing the performance of server hardware.

（2） Detergent

HFE material is easy to play, quick drying without residue, and has strong solubility in fluorocarbon polymers, so it is suitable for gas desiccant, cleaning agent, clothing dry cleaning agent, and cleaning of precision devices. It is designated as unrestricted use in the list of Freon substitutes determined by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Because it takes into account cleaning capacity, process safety and environmental protection, it is favored by enterprises with high added value of products. Once its production cost can be significantly reduced, it will be rapidly promoted.

（3） Foaming agent

HFE has large molar mass, low thermal conductivity of steam, incombustibility and thermal stability. It can be used as foaming agent, insulating material additive, fire extinguishing agent additive and heat transfer working medium of rigid foamed plastics.

In general, HFE is a promising compound, and the research of HFE is gradually attracting people's attention.