CFC (chlorofluorocarbon)
Short answer · Updated 2026
CFC stands for chlorofluorocarbon, a compound made only of chlorine, fluorine and carbon. CFC refrigerants such as R-11, R-12 and R-113 have an ozone depletion potential of about 1.0, the highest of any refrigerant family, because their chlorine reaches the stratosphere intact. US production ended after 1995, but CFC charges remain in old equipment and must be recovered, never vented.
Refrigerant families compared
| Family | Contains | Ozone depletion potential | Examples | Status in the US |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CFC | Chlorine, fluorine, carbon | High (R-11 and R-12 = 1.0) | R-11, R-12, R-113, R-114, R-502 | Production ended after 1995 |
| HCFC | Hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, carbon | Low (R-22 = 0.055, R-123 = 0.02) | R-22, R-123, R-124, R-142b | R-22 production and import ended in 2020 |
| HFC | Hydrogen, fluorine, carbon (no chlorine) | Zero | R-134a, R-410A, R-404A, R-407C, R-32 | Being phased down under the AIM Act |
| HFO | Unsaturated HFC | Zero | R-1234yf, R-1234ze | Low-GWP replacements |
Chlorofluorocarbons are a family of synthetic compounds built from chlorine, fluorine, and carbon. They made superb refrigerants: stable, nonflammable, low in toxicity, and well matched to the temperatures and pressures refrigeration equipment needs. For decades they were the default working fluids in refrigerators, chillers, and air conditioning systems, and their trade names became, for a generation of technicians, almost synonymous with the word refrigerant itself.
The stability that made CFCs attractive is exactly what makes them destructive. Released CFC molecules survive long enough to drift into the stratosphere, where intense ultraviolet light breaks them apart and frees their chlorine. That chlorine catalytically destroys ozone molecules, thinning the layer that shields the surface from harmful ultraviolet radiation. This discovery drove international agreement to end CFC production and shaped the refrigerant rules technicians work under today.
For a Section 608 candidate, CFCs matter in two ways. Historically, they explain why the regulatory program exists at all: the venting prohibition and recovery requirements grew out of the ozone crisis these compounds caused. Practically, CFC refrigerants still exist inside old equipment, so a technician can encounter them in service and disposal work, and every handling obligation applies fully to these legacy charges.
Common questions
What does CFC stand for?
Chlorofluorocarbon: a molecule built from chlorine, fluorine and carbon with no hydrogen. The lack of hydrogen makes CFCs very stable, which is why they survive long enough to reach the stratosphere and release chlorine that destroys ozone.
What are examples of CFC refrigerants?
R-11 and R-12 are the best known, along with R-113, R-114 and R-115. R-500 and R-502 are blends that contain CFCs. R-12 was the classic refrigerator and car air conditioning refrigerant, and R-11 was used in low-pressure chillers.
Are CFCs still used in refrigerators?
Not in new equipment. US production of CFCs ended after 1995, so new refrigerators use HFCs or hydrocarbons such as R-600a. Old refrigerators and chillers can still hold CFC charges, and those must be recovered before disposal.
Sources
- Ozone depletion potentials: Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, Annexes A and C.
- US phaseout schedule: EPA Stratospheric Protection program under Clean Air Act Title VI (40 CFR Part 82, Subpart A).
- Venting prohibition and recovery rules that apply to every family: 40 CFR Part 82, Subpart F.
Related terms
| Ozone depletion | The destruction of stratospheric ozone by chlorine bearing chemicals, and the original reason refrigerant venting is prohibited. |
| HCFC (hydrochlorofluorocarbon) | A transitional refrigerant family that added hydrogen to reduce, but not eliminate, ozone depletion. |
| Refrigerant | The working fluid that absorbs and releases heat as it cycles between liquid and vapor inside a refrigeration system. |
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