Freon is the trademark name for chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerants developed by DuPont in 1930, particularly CFC-12, which became the standard refrigerant for air conditioning and refrigeration for nearly 50 years. Thomas Midgley Jr. developed these synthetic refrigerants as safer alternatives to toxic ammonia and methyl chloride previously used in cooling systems. Freon gained rapid adoption due to its non-flammability, non-toxicity to humans, and excellent thermodynamic properties.
Technical Performance
CFC-12 operated efficiently in low-pressure systems and could maintain stable performance across wide temperature ranges. It had a boiling point of minus 29.8 degrees Fahrenheit and worked effectively in both commercial and residential applications. The refrigerant dominated the market from 1930 through the 1980s.
Environmental Legacy
Scientific research in the 1970s revealed that Freon released chlorine atoms in the stratosphere, destroying ozone molecules. One chlorine atom could destroy up to 100,000 ozone molecules. This discovery prompted international regulation and the phase-out of CFCs under the Montreal Protocol, beginning in 1987.