What is the Difference Between Freon and Refrigerant?

The main difference between Freon and refrigerant is that Freon is a brand name of a specific type of refrigerant, while refrigerant is a broader term that refers to substances used in heat pump and refrigeration cycles. Freon is a trademarked brand name of air conditioning refrigerant created by DuPont, and it has become so common that people often use it to refer to all brands of refrigerant, even if they are different.

Some key points to remember:

• Freon is a specific brand of refrigerant, and not all refrigerants are Freon.
• Refrigerants are used in heat pump and refrigeration cycles, while Freon is a specific type of refrigerant that can be used as a refrigerant and aerosol propellant.
• The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has begun phasing out the most common type of Freon (R-22) due to its impact on the ozone layer. R-410A has been approved as a replacement refrigerant.

In summary, while Freon is a specific brand of refrigerant, refrigerants are a broader group of substances used in heat pump and refrigeration cycles. Freon has become synonymous with the word "refrigerant" in popular usage, similar to how the brand name "Kleenex" is synonymous with "tissues".

Comparative Table: Freon vs Refrigerant

The main difference between Freon and refrigerant is that Freon is a specific brand of refrigerant, while refrigerant is a broader term representing various chemical substances used in refrigeration systems. Here is a table comparing the properties and uses of different refrigerants:

CFCs (e.g., R12) and HCFCs (e.g., R22) are older types of refrigerants that contribute to ozone depletion and have high Global Warming Potentials (GWP). In contrast, HFCs (e.g., R134A, R410A) do not deplete the ozone layer but still have high GWPs. The choice of refrigerant depends on factors such as the desired temperature, pressure, efficiency, and environmental impact.