1,1,1-Trifluoroethane, or R-143a or simply trifluoroethane, is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) compound that is a colorless gas. It should not be confused with the much more commonly used HFC gas R-134a, nor confused with the isomeric compound 1,1,2-trifluoroethane. 1,1,1-Trifluoroethane has a critical temperature of 73 °C.[1]
Applications
Trifluoroethane is used as a refrigerant either by itself or more commonly as a component of blended mixtures. It is also used as a propellant in canned air products used to clean electronic equipment.
Environmental effects
Unlike CFCs used as refrigerants, trifluoroethane has no chlorine atoms and therefore is not ozone-depleting. Its high chemical stability and infra-red absorbency make it a potent greenhouse gas with a lifetime of about 50 years and a global warming potential of 4300, which are at the high end compared to many other commonly used HFC refrigerants.[3][4] Its abundance in the atmosphere more than doubled from about 10 parts per trillion (ppt) in 2010 to near 25 ppt in 2020.[2]