Fluorocarbon
Fluorocarbon, a chemical compound consisting wholly or largely of fluorine and carbon. Fluorocarbons do not exist in nature. Fluorocarbons are essentially hydrocarbons, such as methane, in which all or most of the hydrogen atoms have been replaced with fluorine atoms. There are several kinds of fluorocarbons. Hydrofluorocarbons (HFC's) contain hydrogen, chlorofluorocarbons (CFC's) contain chlorine, and hydrochlorofluoro-carbons (HCFC's) contain hydrogen and chlorine. A number of fluorocarbons have been sold under the trade name Freon, and Teflon is the trade name for a fluorocarbon plastic.
Fluorocarbons can be solids, liquids, and gases. They are chemically stable and are little affected by heat. Fluorocarbons do not corrode common metals such as steel, copper, and zinc, and have no effect on synthetic rubber and most plastics.
A variety of fluorocarbons have been widely used as refrigerants (in both refrigerators and air conditioners), solvents, blowing agents (for making plastic foams), fire extinguishing agents, and lubricants. Fluorocarbon plastics are used in coatings for nonstick cookware, and in such items as gaskets, bearings, valves, and electrical insulators.
In the early 1970's scientists studying the atmosphere began to find evidence suggesting that CFC's released into the air could eventually accumulate in the upper atmosphere and deplete the ozone layer. The CFC's may also contribute to a gradual warming of the earth's climate. In 1987, a number of countries reached an agreement that called for a 50 per cent reduction in CFC production by 1998. Amendments to the agreement led to the end of the production of CFC's in industrialized countries by 1996. For many applications, CFC's have been replaced with HCFC's, which pose a much lower risk to the environment.