fluorimetaani

Fluorimetaani, also known as methyl fluoride or R-41, is a halomethane with the chemical formula CH3F. It is a colorless gas at room temperature and pressure, and it is flammable. Fluorimethane is a simple organic compound consisting of a methyl group (CH3) attached to a fluorine atom. It is the simplest fluorinated alkane.

Industrially, fluorimethane can be produced through various methods, including the reaction of methanol with hydrogen fluoride or by the fluorination of methane. It has historically been used as a refrigerant, often as a component in refrigerant blends. Due to its properties, it has also found applications as a propellant in aerosols and as a blowing agent in the production of foams.

In recent decades, the use of fluorimethane and other chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) has been subject to international regulations, such as the Montreal Protocol, due to their potential to deplete the ozone layer and contribute to global warming. While fluorimethane itself has a lower ozone depletion potential compared to some other halocarbons, its global warming potential is significant. Consequently, its use has been phased down or out in many applications, with alternatives being sought and implemented in industries that previously relied on it.