F-Gases Are the Future of Cooling

A GROWING WORLD NEEDS RELIABLE & SUSTAINABLE COOLING TECHNOLOGIES. ONLY LOW GWP F-GASES DELIVER.

Why?

Solving the climate crisis demands continuous innovation. We can’t afford to move backward. We can’t rely on yesterday’s solutions to meet tomorrow’s challenges.

That’s why the world needs F-gases. Only today’s low global warming potential (GWP) F-gases and specialty fluids (HFOs and HFO blends) offer a reliable and sustainable path forward for cooling—without the hazards and shortcomings of outmoded industrial gases like ammonia, CO₂, and propane.

The Truth About “Naturals”

So-called “natural” refrigerants like ammonia, CO₂, and propane are not new, natural, universal, or risk-free. These industrial gases were first adopted more than a century ago and then broadly abandoned for good reason. They pose real risks—from high working pressures and corrosion to flammability—and their performance limitations will only increase society’s dependence on fossil fuels.

A Better Way Forward

Low GWP F-gases and specialty fluids (HFOs and HFO blends) offer excellent performance and an improved environmental profile versus yesterday’s cooling technologies. They are superior to “natural” alternatives based on these criteria:

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Circularity

Unlike alternatives, F-gases support a circular economy where refrigerants can be used repeatedly, reducing emissions and making better use of finite materials.

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Decarbonization

“Natural” refrigerants may have a low GWP, but they are inefficient and often require additional equipment to mitigate risks, translating to more energy and resources, which hinders decarbonization and global climate objectives.

Socioeconomic Value

Without F-gases, vital industries, including transportation, HVACR, construction and tech, are unable to operate at peak performance, and some sustainable innovations may not be feasible at all. F-gases support supply chain reliability, something that “naturals”—which also pose real risks—cannot consistently offer.

Achieving a Circular Economy

F-gases can be recovered, reclaimed, and reused across multiple applications, maximizing resource efficiency and generating less waste and lower emissions than alternatives. Refrigerants such as CO₂, are not reclaimed. Instead, the refrigerant is vented into the atmosphere as greenhouse gas emissions that remain for hundreds of years.

• HFOs vs. Industrial Gases (aka "Naturals")

Paving the Way to Decarbonization

GWP is not the only factor to consider when talking decarbonization. Overall system efficiency is the key to achieving global climate targets and innovation objectives. The total lifecycle emissions from systems using “natural” refrigerants are often higher than F-gases. In fact, most F-gases are removed from the atmosphere quickly compared to CO₂, which can stay in the atmosphere for hundreds of years.

• 100-year GWP Refrigerant Impacts
• HFOs: What You Need to Know
• F-gases: A Critical Climate Solution
• HFO Refrigerants: Critical Tool for Climate Progress

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Driving Innovation, Value & Reliability

F-gases play a critical role in advancing socioeconomic value and sustainable modernization. Without F-gases, critical innovations such as two-phase immersion cooling* and more efficient electric vehicles may not be possible. Chemours and other F-gas manufacturers have invested for decades in capacity and the infrastructure to drive supply chain reliability. The same infrastructure and investment does not exist for refrigerant-grade industrial gases. In addition, “naturals” pose real health and safety risks—from high working pressures and corrosion to flammability. F-gases have been through rigorous global regulatory approval processes and are deemed safe for their intended use.

• F-gases: A Critical Climate Solution
• Leading Performance Efficiency in Heating

Joseph Martinko

President, Thermal & Specialized Solutions The Chemours Company

By developing innovative technologies, improving energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and embracing circular practices, we can pave the way for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE OF THERMAL MANAGEMENT

The world deserves circular and efficient thermal management solutions. Discover the steps Chemours is taking to ensure continued F-gas innovation.

See Our Roadmap

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