- Ranjan Singh
- Dec 19, 2024
R12 Refrigerant: Quick Guide
R12 is the first refrigerant used in automobile air conditioning systems. It is a non-flammable refrigerant used in vehicles' air conditioning systems back in the day. However, later it was replaced due to environmental concerns.
In this blog post, we are going to discuss R12 refrigerant, and how it is made. We will also talk about why it’s replaced with other refrigerants. If you are interested in knowing more about R12 then keep reading.
How R12 Refrigerant is Invented?
In 1928 a team of scientists doing their research in refrigerants resulted in the invention of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). From these inventions, two byproduct refrigerants were created that are R12 and R22.
For years the R12 refrigerant has been used in the automotive industry as it is the first non-flammable refrigerant which is safe to use. The first car brand that introduced an air conditioning system in their cars was the Packard in their 1940 car models.
What is an R12 Refrigerant in an Air Con Regas Machine?
R12 refrigerant is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) compound that contains chlorine, fluorine and hydrogen. It is a cooling agent that is also known as Freon and is widely used in different areas of industries one of which is automobile. In the Auto industry, this refrigerant is used in the aircon regas kit and air con regas machines to refill the refrigerant in the vehicle air condition system.
Why is R12 Replaced With R134a Air Con Regas System?
The R12 refrigerant was the industry standard for six decades until a group of scientists discovered that the ozone layer in the earth’s atmosphere was depleted in the 1970s. It created a negative impact on the ozone layer, and later it was replaced with R134a under the Montreal Protocol.
This happens due to R12 being released from the leak in the system or not disposing of the contaminated freon properly. The chlorine molecules from the refrigerant start to break up ozone molecules in the atmosphere which makes holes in the ozone layer this results in the destruction of the ozone layer.
