HCFC142b

HCFC-142b, chemical formula CH3CClF2, is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon. It is a colorless gas at room temperature and pressure and is typically stored and transported as a liquefied gas. HCFC-142b has been used as a refrigerant, blowing agent for plastic foams, and propellant in aerosol products. It is also a component in some blends of refrigerants.

As an HCFC, HCFC-142b is considered an ozone-depleting substance, though it has a significantly lower ozone depletion potential (ODP) compared to older chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). It is also a greenhouse gas, contributing to global warming. Due to its environmental impact, the production and consumption of HCFC-142b are being phased out under international agreements like the Montreal Protocol. Developed countries have largely completed this phase-out, while developing countries are in the process of doing so.

Alternatives to HCFC-142b include hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs), and hydrocarbons, which have lower ODP and, in some cases, lower global warming potentials. The transition away from HCFC-142b is part of a broader global effort to protect the ozone layer and mitigate climate change.