Differential scattering cross-sections were measured for the systems, Ar + CF4 and Ar+SF6, by crossed molecular beam techniques. A velocity- selected, modulated primary beam (CF4 or SF6) is crossed by a supersonic argon beam. The scattered primary beam is detected, as a function of scattering angle, by a quadrupole mass spectrometer in an ultra-high vacuum chamber. The angular distributions show a well resolved rainbow pattern with additional oscillatory structure. They were compared with differential cross-sections calculated from Lennard-Jones (12, 6) trial potentials to determine the potential parameters. The optimum values for these were found to be:£= 23 5(± 7) K., re = 0-38(± 0-02) nm for Ar + CF4, and e = 351 (± 10) K, re = 0-45(± 0-02) nm for Ar + SF6. © 1979 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.