Freon
Description
[DuPont] A registered trademark for a series of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that were used as refrigerants, solvents, cleaning fluids, and Aerosol propellants. Freon was invented by Thomas Midgley Jr. and Charles Kettering in 1928. In general, CFC compounds are colorless liquids with a slight ethereal odor that are non-irritating, nonflammable, and chemically inert. However, by the late 1980s, scientists determined that chlorofluorocarbons released into the atmosphere were reacting with and diminishing the earth's ozone layer. Thus, a global plan was developed for phasing out the use of these chemicals by the end of the 20th century.
DuPont now promotes Opteon® YF refrigerant. It is different from hydrofluorocarbons because it is a hydrofluoro-olefin refrigerant. Opteon® YF does have physical properties similar to HFC-134a, offering the ability to be used in current HFC-134a systems with minimal system modifications.
- Freon 11: trichlorofluoromethane
- Freon 12: Dichlorodifluoromethane
- Freon 22: chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22)
Synonyms and Related Terms
Freon-12; Freon-11 (trichlorofluoromethane)
Risks
- Inhalation may cause mild narcosis and irregular heart beat.
- May decompose on heating to produce chlorine gas.
- Dupont: Freon 22