1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane

1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane is a hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant with formula C₂H₂F₄, commonly designated HFC-134a or R-134a. It replaced ozone-depleting refrigerants in many uses but contributes to climate change.

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Vapor-compression refrigeration: A refrigeration cycle that transfers heat by compressing, condensing, expanding, and evaporating a working fluid. R-134a became a common working fluid in this cycle.
Refrigerant: A working fluid that absorbs heat during evaporation and releases it during condensation. R-134a is a refrigerant whose phase changes carry heat through a cooling system.
Chlorofluorocarbon: A compound containing carbon, chlorine, and fluorine, historically used as a refrigerant and aerosol propellant. R-134a was adopted in many applications as a replacement for ozone-depleting CFCs.
Global warming potential: A measure comparing the heat trapped by a greenhouse gas over a specified period with that trapped by carbon dioxide. R-134a has a high global warming potential, making releases climatically significant.
Automotive air conditioning: A vehicle system that removes heat and moisture from cabin air using a refrigeration cycle. R-134a was widely adopted as the refrigerant in vehicle air conditioners.
Boiling point: The temperature at which a liquid's vapor pressure equals the surrounding pressure. Its low boiling point lets R-134a evaporate at temperatures useful for cooling.
Montreal Protocol: A 1987 international treaty that phases out substances responsible for stratospheric ozone depletion. The treaty's controls on ozone-depleting chemicals accelerated demand for substitutes such as R-134a.
Atmospheric lifetime: The average time a substance remains in the atmosphere before removal by chemical or physical processes. Its atmospheric lifetime helps determine the duration of R-134a's climate influence.
Aerosol propellant: A pressurized gas that expels liquid or particulate products from an aerosol container. R-134a has been used to propel products from aerosol containers.
Critical point: The temperature and pressure above which a substance has no distinct liquid and gas phases. R-134a's critical point constrains the temperatures and pressures of its refrigeration cycles.