Refrigerant R134A Environmental Information

Vehicle air conditioning systems make use of the vaporization and condensation process. In this case, one works with a substance which boils easily, designated as refrigerant.

The refrigerant employed is tetrafluoroethane R134a, which boils at -26.5 °C (-15.7 °F) at a vapor pressure of 1 bar (14.5 psi).

• R134a is a fluorocarbon and contains no chlorine.
• R134a has a shorter atmospheric life span than refrigerant R12.
• R134a does not damage the ozone layer. The ozone depletion potential is zero.
• The greenhouse potential of R134a (Global Warming Potential = GWP) is approximately 1430 (the GWP of carbon dioxide is 1).
• The global warming effect of R134a is ten times less than that of refrigerant R12.