Fluorochemicals and refrigerants: Characteristics
Why warming power decides which refrigerant survives
What this tab covers The physical and chemical properties that set its grade, price and uses, with the commercial grades and the standards that define them.Refrigerants are judged by global warming potential (GWP), flammability class, pressure and efficiency in the target system, and purity. A drop-in that changes pressure or flammability needs new equipment.
Properties that matter commercially
| Property | Value / specification | Why it matters | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| GWP (100-year, IPCC AR4 as used under Kigali) | R32 675; R134a 1,430; R125 3,500; R410A 2,088; R404A 3,922; HCFC-22 1,810; HFO-1234yf 4 | sets quota use and regulatory limits | IPCC AR4; Faxian Gongchang (2026) for R32 and R125 |
| Safety class (ASHRAE 34) | R134a and R410A A1; R32 and R1234yf A2L; propane A3 | charge limits and building codes | ASHRAE 34 (indicative) |
| Purity | at least 99.5% with moisture under about 10 ppm (AHRI 700, indicative) | compressor life and efficiency | AHRI 700 (indicative) |
| Normal boiling point | R32 about -52 C; R134a about -26 C; R1234yf about -29 C (indicative) | matches system pressures | NIST REFPROP (indicative) |
Commercial grades
- Refrigerant grade (AHRI 700)
- Pharmaceutical grade HFC-134a and HFC-152a for inhalers
- Feedstock grade HCFC-22 for PTFE
- Electronic grade fluorinated gases (see electronic_gases)