Refrigerants for the 21st Century
4. Expanding Markets for CFCs

With advances in engineering design and the switch to safer fluorocarbon refrigerants, home refrigerators, in place of ice boxes, became the preferred equipment for storage of perishable foods. Eventually, home deep freeze units permitted long-term storage.

Air conditioning, likewise, was initially used only commercially - for operating heat-sensitive processes, in theaters, restaurants, drug stores and other retail establishments. While refrigeration markets (home, supermarkets, dairies, food processing plants) are now nearly saturated by mechanical refrigeration systems using fluorinated refrigerants, the markets for air conditioning have continued to expand, primarily for home units - initially, window units, then central - and in the automobile.

As the desirable properties of CFC's became more apparent, other applications for them have been found. Those that are gases can be used as aerosol propellants and for creating polymer foams which have good insulating properties. Those that are liquids find application as cleaning solvents, especially for electronic equipment. If a C-Br bond is part of the fluorocarbon molecule, for example CF3Br (halon 1301), it becomes an excellent fire extinguishing material that leaves no residue. Often these fluorinated materials find utility in more than one application.