Is HFC-134a a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC)?
No. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are composed entirely of carbon, hydrogen, and fluorine. They have no known effects at all on the ozone layer. Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) are compounds containing chlorine, fluorine and carbon only, and contain no hydrogen. CFC’s were formerly used widely in industry, for example as refrigerants, propellants, and cleaning solvents. Their use has been regularly prohibited by the Montreal Protocol, because CFC’s are known ozone depleting substances (ODS). Only compounds containing chlorine and bromine are thought to harm the ozone layer – HFC-134a contains no chlorine and bromine. Fluorine itself is not ozone-toxic. However, HFCs can have the potential to contribute to global warming.
