Topic of the article: refrigerant (freon) R134a, its characteristics and properties, physical and chemical. In the article you will find maximum information about R134a, summary tables, graphs and diagrams. At the end we have published links to suppliers of this refrigerant and useful related materials.
Phase-out of R134a freon (refrigerant)
R134a refrigerant has an ozone depletion potential (ODP) of 0, but a global warming potential (GWP) of 1430. Therefore, its use is gradually declining. Alternatives to R134a are currently being developed, and some are already in use or being tested.
- R1234yf refrigerant (freon): characteristics (properties), tables, diagrams, studies
- R152a freon (refrigerant): characteristics (properties), tables, diagrams
- R448A refrigerant (freon): properties (characteristics), tables, diagrams
- R422d freon (refrigerant): characteristics (properties), tables, diagrams
R134a in the USA
In the United States, starting from 2021, it is prohibited to use R134a freon in passenger cars, household refrigerators, and freezers. From 2024, it is prohibited to use R134a as a refrigerant for chillers.
If vehicles are exported to countries that do not have the infrastructure to service alternative refrigerants, they can use R134a until May 2025. If the car was manufactured before the ban on this refrigerant, it can be used when servicing the car’s air conditioner.
R134a in the EU
The European Union has banned the production of new machinery and equipment using refrigerants with a global warming potential above 150 from January 1, 2022. By 2030, the production of fluorinated gases should be reduced to 21%. These refrigerants include freon R134a.
«File:Container 【 2278 】 SUTU 104265(5 ) 【 Pictures taken in Japan 】.jpg» by Gazouya-japan is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Alternatives to R134a
R1234yf
R1234yf (2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene) refrigerant is commercially available and widely used in automotive air conditioning systems. Highly flammable, has a global warming potential of 4, ozone depletion potential of 0. Special safety requirements of SAE J639 apply to equipment using R1234yf.
R744
Freon R744 is ordinary carbon dioxide CO2. Its use requires pressures 5-10 times higher than for R134a. Therefore, car manufacturers are not yet in a hurry to use it. For refrigerant R744: GWP=1, ODP=0.
R152a
Refrigerant R152a (1,1-difluoroethane) is highly flammable, but can be used in climate control systems. Now it is used as a component of other refrigerants (R401, R405a, R411, etc.). Equipment working with R152a must comply with the safety requirements of SAE J639 and SAE J2773.
R452A
Freon R452A is a mixture of HFC and HFO refrigerants with a global warming potential of GWP=675. It is non-toxic and non-flammable and has similar performance characteristics to R134a. R452A is well suited for heat pumps.
R454A
R454A refrigerant is another mixture of HFC and HFO refrigerants with GWP=490. It is non-toxic and non-flammable and has slightly better performance than R134a. R454A is better suited for use in heat pumps.
R134ze(E)
R134ze(E): This is another HFO refrigerant with a GWP of 7. It is also non-toxic and non-flammable, but its volumetric efficiency is slightly lower than R134a.
R134a as a component of mixed refrigerants
Freon R134a is part of mixed refrigerants. Its content ranges from 4% to 93%. Here is a list of refrigerants containing R134a:
- R-404A.
- R-407A, R-407B, R-407C, R-407D, R-407F.
- R-417A.
- R-420A.
- R-421A, R-421B.
- R-422A, R-422B, R-422C, R-422D.
- R-424A.
- R-426A.
- R-427A.
- R-434A.
- R-438A.
- R-442A.
- R-448A.
- R-449A.
- R-450A.
- R-513A.
- Free Zone .
- Freeze 12.
- FRIGC FR-12.
- Hot Shot 2.
- ICOR AT22.
Characteristics (properties) of R134a
In this section we will present the physical and chemical properties and characteristics of R134a freon (refrigerant). For your convenience, they are presented in two systems: SI and British Imperial Units.
Characteristics of R134a in SI units
| Properties | Value |
| Chemical formula | C2H2F4 (CF3CH2F) |
| Chemical name | 1.1.1.2-tetrafluoroethane |
| Molar mass | 102.032 kg/km |
| Liquid density at 25 °C (77 °F) | 1206 kg/m3 |
| Saturated vapor density at boiling point | 5.25 kg/m3 |
| Heat capacity of liquid at 25 °C (77 °F) | 0.339 kcal/(kg K) |
| Heat capacity of steam at 25 °C (77 °F) and 1 atm (101.3 kPa / 1.013 bar) | 0.204 kcal/(kg K) |
| Critical pressure | There are 40.56 |
| Critical temperature | 101.1 °C |
| Critical density at 25 °C (77 °F) | 508 kg/m3 |
| Triple point pressure at 25 °C (77 °F) | There are 0.0039 |
| Melting temperature | -103.3 °C |
| Boiling temperature | -26.3 °C |
| Flash point | 250 °C |
| Solubility in water at 25 °C (77 °F) and 1 atm (101.3 kPa / 1.013 bar) | 0.15% weight |
| Water solubility in R134a at 25 °C (77 °F) | 0.11% weight |
| Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) | 0 |
| Global Warming Potential (GWP) | 1430 |
| Class ASHRAE | A1 |
| Compressor oil type | POE |
| Gas constant R | 81.488856 J/(kg K) |
| Isoentropic exponent | 1.13 |
| Standard Gibbs free energy of formation | -810.44 kJ/mol |
| Enthalpy of formation under standard conditions | -877.8 kJ/mol |
| Melting enthalpy under standard conditions | 5.84 kJ/mol |
| Enthalpy of vaporization under standard conditions | 15.48 kJ/mol |
Lobachev Vladimir, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Properties of R134a in British Imperial Units
| Properties | Value |
| Chemical formula | C2H2F4 (CF3CH2F) |
| Chemical name | 1.1.1.2-tetrafluoroethane |
| Molar mass | 102.032 kg/km |
| Liquid density at 25 °C (77 °F) | 75.28 lb/ft3 |
| Saturated vapor density at boiling point | 0.328 lb/ft3 |
| Heat capacity of liquid at 25 °C (77 °F) | 0.339 Btu/(lb·°F) |
| Heat capacity of steam at 25 °C (77 °F) and 1 atm (101.3 kPa / 1.013 bar) | 0.204 Btu/(lb·°F) |
| Critical pressure | 588.9 psi inch abs. |
| Critical temperature | 213.9 °F |
| Critical density at 25 °C (77 °F) | 32.17 lb/ft3 |
| Triple point pressure at 25 °C (77 °F) | 0.05656482 psi inch abs. |
| Melting temperature | -153.9 °F |
| Boiling temperature | -15.3 °F |
| Flash point | 482 °F |
| Solubility in water at 25 °C (77 °F) and 1 atm (101.3 kPa / 1.013 bar) | 0.15% weight |
| Water solubility in R134a at 25 °C (77 °F) | 0.11% weight |
| Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) | 0 |
| Global Warming Potential (GWP) | 1430 |
| Class ASHRAE | A1 |
| Compressor oil type | POE |
| Gas constant R | 81.488856 J/(kg K) |
| Isoentropic exponent | 1.13 |
| Standard Gibbs free energy of formation | -810.44 kJ/mol |
| Enthalpy of formation under standard conditions | -877.8 kJ/mol |
| Melting enthalpy under standard conditions | 5.84 kJ/mol |
| Enthalpy of vaporization under standard conditions | 15.48 kJ/mol |
Table of temperature and pressure of R134a in degrees Celsius
Below is the dependence of pressure on temperature for refrigerant (freon) R134a at a temperature of -70…+60 degrees Celsius in increments of 4 degrees. The given pressure is not absolute pressure, but gauge pressure. The following abbreviations are used in the table:
- t, C – temperature in degrees Celsius;
- kPa – excess pressure in kilopascals (KPa), where 1 KPa is equal to 0.009869 atm.;
- Psig – excess pressure in pounds per square inch;
- Psig (with a minus sign) – inches of mercury below atmospheric pressure.
| t, C | kPa | Psig | t, C | kPa | Psig |
| -70 | -96 | -28,2 | 6 | 260 | 37,7 |
| -66 | -92 | -27,2 | 8 | 286 | 41,5 |
| -62 | -88 | -26,1 | 10 | 313 | 45,4 |
| -58 | -84 | -24,7 | 12 | 341 | 49,5 |
| -54 | -79 | -23,2 | 14 | 371 | 53,8 |
| -50 | -72 | -21,3 | 16 | 402 | 58,3 |
| -46 | -64 | -19,0 | 18 | 435 | 63,1 |
| -42 | -55 | -16,3 | 20 | 470 | 68,2 |
| -38 | -45 | -13,2 | 22 | 506 | 73,4 |
| -34 | -32 | -9,4 | 24 | 544 | 78,9 |
| -30 | -17 | -5,0 | 26 | 583 | 84,6 |
| -28 | -9 | -2,6 | 28 | 625 | 90,6 |
| -26 | 0 | 0,0 | 30 | 668 | 96,9 |
| -24 | 10 | 1,5 | 32 | 713 | 103,4 |
| -22 | 20 | 2,9 | 34 | 761 | 110,4 |
| -20 | 31 | 4,5 | 36 | 810 | 117,5 |
| -18 | 43 | 6,2 | 38 | 861 | 124,9 |
| -16 | 56 | 8,1 | 40 | 915 | 132,7 |
| -14 | 69 | 10,0 | 42 | 970 | 140,7 |
| -12 | 84 | 12,2 | 44 | 1028 | 149,1 |
| -10 | 99 | 14,4 | 46 | 1089 | 157,9 |
| -8 | 115 | 16,7 | 48 | 1151 | 166,9 |
| -6 | 133 | 19,3 | 50 | 1216 | 176,4 |
| -4 | 151 | 21,9 | 52 | 1284 | 186,2 |
| -2 | 171 | 24,8 | 54 | 1354 | 196,4 |
| 0 | 191 | 27,7 | 56 | 1427 | 207,0 |
| 2 | 213 | 30,9 | 58 | 1502 | 217,8 |
| 4 | 236 | 34,2 | 60 | 1581 | 229,3 |
Table of temperature and pressure of R134a in degrees Fahrenheit
Below is the pressure versus temperature relationship for refrigerant (freon) R134a for a temperature range of -49 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. The pressure given is gauge pressure, not absolute pressure. The following abbreviations are used in the data:
- t, F – temperature in degrees Fahrenheit;
- Psig – excess pressure in pounds per square inch;
- Psig (with a minus sign) – inches of mercury below atmospheric pressure.
| t, F | Psig | t, F | Psig | t, F | Psig | t, F | Psig |
| -49 | -18,4 | 1 | 7,0 | 51 | 46,6 | 101 | 126,3 |
| -48 | -18,0 | 2 | 7,5 | 52 | 47,7 | 102 | 128,4 |
| -47 | -17,6 | 3 | 8,0 | 53 | 48,9 | 103 | 130,6 |
| -46 | -17,3 | 4 | 8,5 | 54 | 50,0 | 104 | 132,8 |
| -45 | -16,9 | 5 | 9,1 | 55 | 51,2 | 105 | 135,0 |
| -44 | -16,5 | 6 | 9,6 | 56 | 52,4 | 106 | 137,2 |
| -43 | -16,1 | 7 | 10,2 | 57 | 53,6 | 107 | 139,5 |
| -42 | -15,7 | 8 | 10,8 | 58 | 54,9 | 108 | 141,7 |
| -41 | -15,2 | 9 | 11,3 | 59 | 56,1 | 109 | 144,0 |
| -40 | -14,8 | 10 | 11,9 | 60 | 57,4 | 110 | 146,4 |
| -39 | -14,4 | 11 | 12,5 | 61 | 58,7 | 111 | 148,7 |
| -38 | -13,9 | 12 | 13,1 | 62 | 60,0 | 112 | 151,1 |
| -37 | -13,4 | 13 | 13,8 | 63 | 61,3 | 113 | 153,5 |
| -36 | -13,0 | 14 | 14,4 | 64 | 62,7 | 114 | 156,0 |
| -35 | -12,5 | 15 | 15,0 | 65 | 64,0 | 115 | 158,4 |
| -34 | -12,0 | 16 | 15,7 | 66 | 65,4 | 116 | 160,9 |
| -33 | -11,4 | 17 | 16,4 | 67 | 66,8 | 117 | 163,5 |
| -32 | -10,9 | 18 | 17,0 | 68 | 68,2 | 118 | 166,0 |
| -31 | -10,4 | 19 | 17,7 | 69 | 69,7 | 119 | 168,6 |
| -30 | -9,8 | 20 | 18,4 | 70 | 71,1 | 120 | 171,2 |
| -29 | -9,3 | 21 | 19,1 | 71 | 72,6 | 121 | 173,8 |
| -28 | -8,7 | 22 | 19,9 | 72 | 74,1 | 122 | 176,5 |
| -27 | -8,1 | 23 | 20,6 | 73 | 75,6 | 123 | 179,1 |
| -26 | -7,5 | 24 | 21,3 | 74 | 77,1 | 124 | 181,8 |
| -25 | -6,9 | 25 | 22,1 | 75 | 78,7 | 125 | 184,6 |
| -24 | -6,3 | 26 | 22,9 | 76 | 80,2 | 126 | 187,4 |
| -23 | -5,7 | 27 | 23,7 | 77 | 81,8 | 127 | 190,2 |
| -22 | -5,0 | 28 | 24,5 | 78 | 83,4 | 128 | 193,0 |
| -21 | -4,3 | 29 | 25,3 | 79 | 85,0 | 129 | 195,8 |
| -20 | -3,7 | 30 | 26,1 | 80 | 86,7 | 130 | 198,7 |
| -19 | -3,0 | 31 | 26,9 | 81 | 88,4 | 131 | 201,6 |
| -18 | -2,3 | 32 | 27,8 | 82 | 90,0 | 132 | 204,6 |
| -17 | -1,5 | 33 | 28,6 | 83 | 91,8 | 133 | 207,6 |
| -16 | -0,8 | 34 | 29,5 | 84 | 93,5 | 134 | 210,6 |
| -15 | -0,1 | 35 | 30,4 | 85 | 95,2 | 135 | 213,6 |
| -14 | 0,4 | 36 | 31,3 | 86 | 97,0 | 136 | 216,7 |
| -13 | 0,7 | 37 | 32,2 | 87 | 98,8 | 137 | 219,8 |
| -12 | 1,1 | 38 | 33,1 | 88 | 100,6 | 138 | 222,9 |
| -11 | 1,5 | 39 | 34,1 | 89 | 102,5 | 139 | 226,0 |
| -10 | 1,9 | 40 | 35,0 | 90 | 104,3 | 140 | 229,2 |
| -9 | 2,4 | 41 | 36,0 | 91 | 106,2 | 141 | 232,5 |
| -8 | 2,8 | 42 | 37,0 | 92 | 108,1 | 142 | 235,7 |
| -7 | 3,2 | 43 | 38,0 | 93 | 110,0 | 143 | 239,0 |
| -6 | 3,6 | 44 | 39,0 | 94 | 112,0 | 144 | 242,3 |
| -5 | 4,1 | 45 | 40,1 | 95 | 114,0 | 145 | 245,7 |
| -4 | 4,6 | 46 | 41,1 | 96 | 115,9 | 146 | 249,1 |
| -3 | 5,0 | 47 | 42,2 | 97 | 118,0 | 147 | 252,5 |
| -2 | 5,5 | 48 | 43,2 | 98 | 120,0 | 148 | 255,9 |
| -1 | 6,0 | 49 | 44,3 | 99 | 122,1 | 149 | 259,4 |
| 0 | 6,5 | 50 | 45,4 | 100 | 124,2 | 150 | 262,9 |
Thermodynamic properties of R134a in British Imperial units
The following abbreviations are used in the table below for the thermodynamic properties of R134a:
- t, F – Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit;
- DL – Density of liquid in pounds per cubic foot;
- SVV – Specific steam volume in cubic feet per pound;
- EL – Heat capacity – enthalpy of liquid in BTU per pound;
- EV – Heat capacity – enthalpy of steam in BTU per pound.
| t, F | DL | SVV | EL | EV |
| -150 | 102,34 | 457,07 | -32,78 | 80,21 |
| -125 | 99,64 | 123,44 | -25,38 | 83,72 |
| -100 | 96,89 | 41,52 | -17,94 | 87,25 |
| -75 | 94,09 | 16,56 | -10,47 | 90,76 |
| -50 | 91,22 | 7,56 | -3,00 | 94,25 |
| -25 | 88,28 | 3,83 | 4,50 | 97,72 |
| -15 | 87,08 | 2,99 | 7,52 | 99,11 |
| -10 | 86,47 | 2,66 | 9,03 | 99,80 |
| -5 | 85,86 | 2,37 | 10,55 | 100,50 |
| 0 | 85,25 | 2,12 | 12,07 | 101,20 |
| 5 | 84,63 | 1,90 | 13,59 | 101,89 |
| 10 | 84,01 | 1,70 | 15,13 | 102,59 |
| 25 | 82,11 | 1,25 | 19,76 | 104,68 |
| 50 | 78,84 | 0,78 | 27,67 | 108,15 |
| 75 | 75,39 | 0,51 | 35,85 | 111,55 |
| 86 | 73,80 | 0,42 | 39,56 | 113,00 |
| 100 | 71,70 | 0,34 | 44,39 | 114,78 |
| 125 | 67,68 | 0,23 | 53,39 | 117,66 |
| 150 | 63,13 | 0,16 | 62,99 | 119,88 |
| 175 | 57,60 | 0,11 | 73,58 | 120,79 |
| 200 | 49,44 | 0,07 | 86,53 | 118,16 |
Thermodynamic properties of R134a in SI units
The thermodynamic properties table for R134a below uses the following notation:
- t, C – Temperature in degrees Celsius;
- DL – Density of liquid in kilograms per cubic meter;
- DV – Vapor density in kilograms per cubic meter;
- EL – Heat capacity – enthalpy of liquid in kilojoules per kilogram;
- EV – Heat capacity – enthalpy of steam in kilojoules per kilogram;
- ErL – Entropy of the liquid in kilojoules per kilogram per degree Kelvin;
- ErV – Entropy pair in kilojoules per kilogram per degree Kelvin.
| t, C | DL | DV | EL | EV | ErL | ErV |
| -60 | 1472,00 | 0,93 | 24,49 | 261,49 | 0,69 | 1,80 |
| -50 | 1444,90 | 1,65 | 36,30 | 267,78 | 0,74 | 1,78 |
| -40 | 1417,00 | 2,77 | 48,63 | 274,07 | 0,80 | 1,76 |
| -30 | 1388,20 | 4,43 | 61,13 | 280,32 | 0,85 | 1,75 |
| -20 | 1358,40 | 6,79 | 73,83 | 286,51 | 0,90 | 1,74 |
| -10 | 1327,40 | 10,05 | 86,78 | 292,60 | 0,95 | 1,73 |
| 0 | 1295,10 | 14,43 | 1000 | 298,54 | 1,00 | 1,73 |
| 10 | 1261,20 | 20,23 | 113,54 | 304,28 | 1,05 | 1,72 |
| 20 | 1225,50 | 27,77 | 127,44 | 309,76 | 1,10 | 1,72 |
| 30 | 1187,50 | 37,52 | 141,74 | 314,89 | 1,14 | 1,71 |
| 40 | 1146,70 | 50,06 | 156,49 | 319,58 | 1,19 | 1,71 |
| 50 | 1102,20 | 66,23 | 171,78 | 323,65 | 1,24 | 1,71 |
| 60 | 1052,90 | 87,35 | 187,72 | 326,90 | 1,29 | 1,70 |
| 70 | 996,49 | 115,56 | 204,52 | 328,94 | 1,33 | 1,70 |
| 80 | 928,78 | 155,13 | 222,62 | 329,10 | 1,38 | 1,69 |
| 90 | 838,51 | 216,94 | 243,17 | 325,66 | 1,44 | 1,67 |
| 100 | 649,71 | 367,06 | 273,64 | 309,04 | 1,52 | 1,61 |
Compatibility of R134a refrigerant with materials
Compatibility with plastics
The table below shows the following values:
- “+” – compatible;
- “0” – compatible to the point of acceptable;
- “—” – not compatible.
| Polypropylene | + |
| Polystyrene | 0 |
| Chlorinated PVC | + |
| PTFE (Teflon) | 0 |
| ETFE (tefzel) | 0 |
| Polyvinylidene fluoride | 0 |
| Ionomer resin | + |
| ABS | + |
| Cellulosic materials | — |
| Epoxy resins | + |
| Polyacetamine | + |
| Polycarbonate | + |
| Polybutylene terephthalate | + |
| Polyarylate | + |
| Polyamide | + |
| Polysulfide | + |
Metal compatibility
The following metals are well compatible with R134a refrigerant:
- Steel;
- cast iron;
- Bronze;
- Copper;
- Lead;
- Lead;
- Aluminum (in normal condition).
Hazardous when used with R134a:
- Highly active, alkaline and alkaline earth metals such as sodium, barium, potassium react with freon R134a causing its decomposition.
- Aluminum and magnesium in a fine-grained or powdered state cause a strong decomposition reaction.
- Alloys of magnesium and aluminum, in which the magnesium content is more than 2%, act as catalysts that accelerate the decomposition of R134a. The rate of decomposition depends on the ratio of metals and temperature.
Mollier diagrams (log P-H diagram) for R134a
Manufacturers of R134a refrigerant
- Taizhou Huasheng New Refrigeration Material Co., Ltd.
- Zhejiang NOF Chemical Co., Ltd.
- Shandong Shing Chemical Co., Ltd.
- Chengdu Henbin Refrigeration Co., Ltd.
- SAE Manufacturing Specialties Corp.
- Rhodia Chemicals Ltd. United Kingdom.
- National Refrigerants Ltd.
Related materials
- What is the Montreal Protocol.
- Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.
- The United States ratified the Kigali Amendment.
Find more information at Freons.Info.