What Are HFC Refrigerants?

HFC, or Hydrofluorocarbon, is a type of synthetic refrigerant commonly used in air-conditioning and refrigeration systems.

HFC refrigerants contain hydrogen, fluorine and carbon, but unlike earlier refrigerants such as CFCs and HCFCs, they contain no chlorine.

Because of this, HFCs were introduced as alternatives to older refrigerants that contributed to ozone depletion. However, many HFC refrigerants still have relatively high Global Warming Potential (GWP), which has led to increasing efforts to reduce their use and introduce lower-GWP alternatives.

Common HFC Refrigerants

1. R-134a

GWP: 1,430
Application: Mixed Refrigeration & Automotive A/C
Preferred Oil: POE
ASHRAE Class: A1
Composition: 100% R-134a
Alternative Refrigerants: R-513A, R-1234yf

R134a Refrigerant

R-134a is an HFC refrigerant widely used in air-conditioning and refrigeration applications.

Typical applications include:

  • Residential and commercial refrigeration
  • Automotive air conditioning
  • Supermarkets
  • Convenience stores
  • Food and beverage processing
  • Heat pumps
  • Chillers

R-134a has been widely used because of its effective cooling performance and versatility.

However, lower-GWP alternatives such as R-513A and R-1234yf are increasingly being considered for suitable applications.

2. R-404A

GWP: 3,922
Application: Low and Medium Temperature Refrigeration
Preferred Oil: POE
ASHRAE Class: A1
Composition: 44% R-125, 52% R-143a, 4% R-134a
Alternative Refrigerants: R-449A, R-454A

R404A Refrigerant

R-404A is a blended refrigerant widely used in commercial and industrial refrigeration.

Typical applications include:

  • Supermarket refrigeration
  • Restaurants
  • Food processing
  • Cold rooms
  • Refrigerated trucks
  • Refrigerated containers
  • Cold-chain transportation

R-404A offers good refrigeration performance and an A1 safety classification.

However, its high GWP has become a major environmental concern, leading the refrigeration industry toward lower-GWP refrigerants and natural refrigerants.

3. R-407C

GWP: 1,774
Application: Low and Medium Temperature Refrigeration, Air Conditioning
Preferred Oil: POE
ASHRAE Class: A1
Composition: 23% R-32, 25% R-125, 52% R-134a

R407C Refrigerant

R-407C is a blend of R-32, R-125 and R-134a.

It is commonly used in:

  • Residential air conditioning
  • Commercial air conditioning
  • Commercial refrigeration
  • Cold rooms
  • Heat pumps

R-407C is a versatile refrigerant used across a wide range of cooling applications.

4. R-410A

GWP: 2,088
Application: Air Conditioning
Preferred Oil: POE
ASHRAE Class: A1
Composition: 50% R-32, 50% R-125
Alternative Refrigerants: R-454B, R-452B and other alternatives depending on equipment design

R410A Refrigerant

R-410A is a blended refrigerant consisting of R-32 and R-125.

It has been widely used in:

  • Residential air conditioning
  • Commercial air conditioning
  • Heat pumps
  • Selected commercial refrigeration systems

R-410A became popular because of its high cooling capacity and good system performance.

However, its relatively high GWP has increased interest in lower-GWP alternatives for new-generation equipment.

5. R-507

GWP: 3,985
Application: Low and Medium Temperature Refrigeration
Preferred Oil: POE
ASHRAE Class: A1
Alternative Refrigerants: R-452A

R507 Refrigerant

R-507 is commonly used in commercial refrigeration applications.

Typical applications include:

  • Low-temperature refrigeration
  • Medium-temperature refrigeration
  • Walk-in freezers
  • Ice machines
  • Supermarket refrigeration
  • Refrigerated trucks
  • Refrigerated containers

It has also been used in selected air-conditioning applications such as data centers and commercial buildings.

6. R-508B

GWP: 13,396
Application: Very Low Temperature Refrigeration
Preferred Oil: POE
ASHRAE Class: A1

R508B Refrigerant

R-508B is designed for very-low-temperature refrigeration systems.

Typical applications include:

  • Ultra-low-temperature freezers
  • Research equipment
  • Environmental chambers
  • Medical sample storage
  • Specialized industrial refrigeration

R-508B is particularly suitable for applications that require extremely low operating temperatures.

7. R-32

GWP: 675
Application: Alternative for R-410A in equipment designed for R-32
Preferred Oil: POE
ASHRAE Class: A2L
Composition: 100% R-32

R32 Refrigerant

R-32 is widely used in modern air-conditioning and heat-pump systems.

R-32 is a single-component refrigerant with a lower GWP than R-410A.

Its characteristics allow appropriately designed systems to achieve high refrigeration capacity with a relatively lower refrigerant charge.

Another advantage of R-32 is that, as a single-component refrigerant, it is generally simpler to recover and recycle than refrigerant blends.

However, R-32 is classified as A2L, meaning it has lower flammability characteristics and requires appropriate safety measures during installation, servicing and operation.

8. R-23

GWP: 14,800
Application: Very Low Temperature Refrigeration
Preferred Oil: POE
ASHRAE Class: A1
Composition: 100% R-23

R23 Refrigerant

R-23 is commonly used in very-low-temperature refrigeration systems.

Typical applications include:

  • Industrial freezers
  • Medical freezers
  • Environmental chambers
  • Laboratory equipment
  • Ultra-low-temperature systems

Its very low boiling point makes it suitable for applications requiring extremely low temperatures.

9. R-407H

GWP: 1,495
Application: Low and Medium Temperature Refrigeration
Preferred Oil: POE
ASHRAE Class: A1
Composition: R-32 / R-125 / R-134a

R407H Refrigerant

R-407H is a refrigerant blend containing R-32, R-125 and R-134a.

Typical applications include:

  • Commercial refrigeration
  • Cold rooms
  • Supermarket refrigeration
  • Ice machines
  • Low-temperature refrigeration
  • Medium-temperature refrigeration
  • Selected industrial refrigeration systems

R-407H has a lower GWP than refrigerants such as R-404A and R-507, making it an alternative for selected refrigeration applications.

However, it should not automatically be considered a direct drop-in replacement. System modifications or lubricant changes may be required depending on the existing system.

For advice before changing to R-407H, contact @Colder.

The Future of HFC Refrigerants

HFC refrigerants were developed as alternatives to CFC and HCFC refrigerants, particularly because HFCs do not contain chlorine and therefore do not directly contribute to ozone depletion.

However, many HFC refrigerants have high GWP values and can contribute significantly to climate change if released into the atmosphere.

As environmental regulations continue to evolve, the refrigeration and air-conditioning industry is increasingly moving toward lower-GWP alternatives.

These include newer refrigerants such as HFOs, including:

  • R-1234yf
  • R-1234ze

as well as HFO blends and natural refrigerants for suitable applications.

View Refrigerant Products

View all HFC Refrigerants

View all HFO Refrigerants

Colder Solution

Colder Solution supplies refrigerants in a wide variety of brands, package sizes and price ranges.

We can provide product information and quotations to help customers select the appropriate refrigerant for their application.

The transition toward lower HFC usage is an important challenge for manufacturers, suppliers and system users.

The future of refrigeration requires a balance between:

  • Cost
  • Safety
  • Energy efficiency
  • Refrigeration performance
  • Equipment compatibility
  • Environmental responsibility

Choosing the right refrigerant is therefore becoming an increasingly important part of building a more sustainable HVAC-R industry.

Line ID: @Colder
Email: kantawan.coldersolution@gmail.com