CHLOROPENTAFLUOROETHANE

Chloropentafluoroethane is a fully halogenated two-carbon chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) more commonly known as CFC-115, R-115, or Freon 115.
Chloropentafluoroethane is a colorless, non-flammable, ethereal-smelling gas historically used as a refrigerant, aerosol propellant, and food-industry aerating agent.
Chloropentafluoroethane production and consumption have been banned under the Montreal Protocol since January 1, 1996, due to its high ozone-depletion potential and very long atmospheric lifetime, so current handling is limited to reclaimed, recycled, or previously stockpiled material.

CAS Number: 76-15-3
EC Number: 200-938-2
Molecular Formula: C2ClF5
Molecular Weight: 154.47 g/mol

Synonyms: Chloropentafluoroethane, R-115, R 115, CFC-115, Freon 115, Genetron 115, Propellant 115, F-115, FC 115, Fluorocarbon 115, Fluorocarbon-115, Chlorofluorocarbon-115, Halocarbon 115, Pentafluoroethyl Chloride, Perfluoroethyl Chloride, Chloroperfluoroethane, Pentafluorochloroethane, Monochloropentafluoroethane, 1-Chloro-1,1,2,2,2-Pentafluoroethane, Ethane, Chloropentafluoro-, Ethane, 1-Chloro-1,1,2,2,2-Pentafluoro-, Refrigerant R115, Refrigerant Gas R-115, UNII-SJG47X19V4, RTECS KH7877500, UN 1020, E945, ASHRAE Refrigerant Number 115

APPLICATIONS

Chloropentafluoroethane was historically used as a low-temperature refrigerant, most notably in blends with other CFCs and HCFCs for very-low-temperature refrigeration and cascade systems.
Chloropentafluoroethane was historically used as a component of refrigerant blend R-502, applied in commercial and industrial low-temperature refrigeration and freezer equipment.
Chloropentafluoroethane was historically used in servicing existing refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment manufactured before the substance's production phase-out.
Chloropentafluoroethane is now used only from reclaimed, recycled, or banked stock, since new production has been prohibited under the Montreal Protocol since 1996.

Chloropentafluoroethane was historically used as a propellant in aerosol products, valued for its non-flammability and low toxicity relative to hydrocarbon propellants of the time.
Chloropentafluoroethane was historically used in specialty aerosol formulations requiring a chemically inert, non-reactive propellant gas.
Chloropentafluoroethane was historically used in combination with other fluorocarbons to fine-tune vapor pressure and spray characteristics in pressurized packaging.
Chloropentafluoroethane is used only in legacy or reclaimed-gas contexts today, as aerosol propellant uses have largely shifted to hydrocarbons and other non-ozone-depleting alternatives.

Chloropentafluoroethane is used as a food-grade aerating agent and propellant, listed under the food-additive designation E945, in foamed or sprayed food products such as whipped cream and dessert toppings.
Chloropentafluoroethane is used in this food-contact role subject to specific regulatory approval, purity requirements, and maximum-use limitations in the jurisdictions where it remains permitted.
Chloropentafluoroethane is used in packaging and dispensing systems designed to handle liquefied compressed gases safely under food-grade quality standards.
Chloropentafluoroethane food-additive status must be verified against current national and regional food-safety regulations, as approvals vary by jurisdiction and have been narrowing over time.

Chloropentafluoroethane is used as a calibration and reference gas in gas chromatography and other analytical instrumentation requiring a stable, well-characterized halocarbon standard.
Chloropentafluoroethane is used in environmental and atmospheric monitoring programs as a reference compound for tracking ozone-depleting substances in ambient air.
Chloropentafluoroethane is used in atmospheric science research to study the long-term global background concentration trends of banked and reclaimed CFCs.
Chloropentafluoroethane is used in laboratory settings to develop and validate analytical methods for halocarbon identification and quantification.

Chloropentafluoroethane is used in academic and industrial teaching contexts to illustrate the physical and chemical properties of fully halogenated fluorocarbons.
Chloropentafluoroethane is used in atmospheric chemistry courses as a case study in ozone-depletion mechanisms and international environmental regulation.
Chloropentafluoroethane is used in halocarbon and fluorine chemistry research to examine carbon-halogen bond stability and reactivity.
Chloropentafluoroethane is used in controlled laboratory settings with appropriate gas-handling equipment and ventilation.

Chloropentafluoroethane was historically used in electronics and precision-component cleaning and drying applications, valued for its non-flammability and chemical inertness.
Chloropentafluoroethane was historically used as a component of specialty solvent blends for degreasing sensitive equipment where residue-free evaporation was required.
Chloropentafluoroethane is used in these roles only in legacy contexts today, as alternative non-ozone-depleting solvents have largely replaced it in modern industrial cleaning.
Chloropentafluoroethane is used only where existing reclaimed supplies remain available and applicable regulations permit continued use.

Chloropentafluoroethane is used in fire-suppression and flame-testing research as a reference nonflammable halocarbon gas for comparative combustion and inerting studies.
Chloropentafluoroethane is used in specialty industrial gas blends where a dense, chemically stable, non-reactive gas component is required.
Chloropentafluoroethane is used in select semiconductor and materials-science research applications requiring an inert fluorinated gas atmosphere.
Chloropentafluoroethane is used according to the purity grade and packaging appropriate to the specific research or industrial gas-handling application.

Chloropentafluoroethane is used in regulatory and compliance contexts as a tracked substance under the Montreal Protocol and related national ozone-protection regulations.
Chloropentafluoroethane is used in refrigerant-recovery and reclamation programs designed to capture, purify, and redistribute existing stock rather than produce new material.
Chloropentafluoroethane is used in environmental-reporting and greenhouse-gas inventory work, given its recognized status as a potent greenhouse gas in addition to its ozone-depleting properties.
Chloropentafluoroethane is used only in full compliance with the applicable national and international phase-out and handling regulations governing controlled ozone-depleting substances.

DESCRIPTION

Chloropentafluoroethane is a colorless gas with a faint ethereal odor, supplied and transported as a liquefied compressed gas in steel cylinders.
Chloropentafluoroethane consists of a two-carbon ethane backbone in which one carbon bears a single chlorine atom and the other carbon bears three fluorine atoms, with two additional fluorine atoms on the first carbon, giving a fully halogenated structure with no remaining hydrogen atoms.
Chloropentafluoroethane is manufactured by the stepwise fluorination and chlorination of chlorinated ethane or ethylene precursors, historically produced via halogen-exchange reactions using hydrogen fluoride and appropriate catalysts.

Chloropentafluoroethane is only slightly soluble in water, with a reported solubility of approximately 59 mg/L, and is more soluble in typical organic solvents and refrigerant oils.
Chloropentafluoroethane is chemically very stable and non-reactive under normal conditions, reflecting the strength of its carbon-fluorine and carbon-chlorine bonds, and it does not readily hydrolyze or oxidize at ambient temperature.
Chloropentafluoroethane is non-flammable under standard conditions but can decompose at elevated temperatures or in contact with open flame, releasing hazardous fumes containing hydrogen fluoride and hydrogen chloride.

Chloropentafluoroethane exhibits very low acute toxicity by inhalation but can act as a simple asphyxiant in high concentrations by displacing oxygen in enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces.
Chloropentafluoroethane is recognized as having an extremely long atmospheric lifetime, allowing it to persist and accumulate in the stratosphere, where it contributes to catalytic destruction of ozone.
Chloropentafluoroethane is also recognized as a potent greenhouse gas with a high global warming potential, a factor considered alongside its ozone-depleting properties in environmental risk assessments.

Chloropentafluoroethane production and consumption have been prohibited for non-essential uses in developed countries under the Montreal Protocol since January 1, 1996, with similar phase-out schedules subsequently applied in developing countries.
Chloropentafluoroethane atmospheric background concentrations have continued to rise slowly in recent decades due to ongoing emissions from banked equipment, reclaimed stock, and inadvertent releases, despite the production ban.
Chloropentafluoroethane is incompatible with strong oxidizing agents, strong bases, alkaline-earth metals, and certain reactive metals such as aluminum powder, and contact with these materials should be avoided.

Chloropentafluoroethane is supplied in cylinder and specialty gas-grade purities suited to refrigeration, analytical, food-grade, or research applications, with purity and packaging varying by intended use.
Chloropentafluoroethane must be handled according to current national and international regulations governing controlled ozone-depleting substances, including restrictions on production, import, export, and permissible end uses.
Chloropentafluoroethane availability is now limited essentially to reclaimed and recycled material, since virgin production of this substance is no longer permitted in jurisdictions party to the Montreal Protocol.

PROPERTIES

Chemical Formula: C2ClF5
Molecular Weight: 154.47 g/mol
Common Name: CFC-115, R-115
CAS Number: 76-15-3
EC Number: 200-938-2
UN Number: 1020
ASHRAE Refrigerant Number: R-115
Appearance: Colorless gas (liquefied under pressure for storage/transport)
Odor: Faint, ethereal
Melting Point: Approximately −99°C
Boiling Point: Approximately −39°C
Vapor Pressure: Approximately 7.9 atm (6,060 mmHg) at 21°C
Solubility in Water: Approximately 59 mg/L
Flash Point: Not applicable (non-flammable gas)
Stability: Chemically stable under normal conditions; decomposes at high temperature to hydrogen fluoride and hydrogen chloride fumes
OSHA PEL: None established
NIOSH REL: 1,000 ppm (6,320 mg/m³) TWA
Ozone Depletion Potential: High; classified as a controlled substance under the Montreal Protocol
Global Warming Potential: High; recognized as a potent greenhouse gas
Regulatory Status: Production and consumption banned since January 1, 1996 under the Montreal Protocol; use restricted to reclaimed/recycled material
Food Additive Designation: E945 (aerating agent/propellant), subject to jurisdiction-specific approval
Storage Temperature: Ambient, in accordance with compressed-gas cylinder storage regulations
Shelf Life: Indefinite when stored properly in sealed, undamaged cylinders

FIRST AID

Inhalation
Remove to fresh air immediately.
Administer oxygen or artificial respiration if breathing is difficult or has stopped, and obtain medical attention promptly.
Keep the affected person at rest and monitor for signs of asphyxiation or oxygen deprivation, particularly following exposure in confined or poorly ventilated spaces.

Skin Contact
In case of contact with rapidly expanding or liquefied gas, treat for frostbite by warming the affected area gradually with lukewarm water.
Remove any contaminated clothing carefully, taking care not to further damage frostbitten tissue.
Seek medical attention if frostbite symptoms, persistent numbness, or skin damage are present.

Eye Contact
Rinse immediately and continuously with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes.
Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do so, then continue rinsing.
Seek medical attention if irritation, pain, or visual disturbance persists.

Ingestion
Ingestion is unlikely under normal handling conditions, as the substance is a compressed gas.
If accidental ingestion of the liquefied material occurs, do not induce vomiting and seek immediate medical attention.
Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.

Note to Physicians
Treat symptomatically and provide supportive care, with particular attention to respiratory and cardiac function following significant inhalation exposure.
Consider the potential for cardiac sensitization to catecholamines following high-level exposure to halocarbon gases, and avoid administering epinephrine or similar agents unless clearly necessary.
Monitor frostbite injuries for delayed complications and manage according to standard cold-injury protocols.

HANDLING AND STORAGE

Handling
Handle only in well-ventilated areas, as the gas is heavier than air and can accumulate in low-lying or enclosed spaces, creating an asphyxiation hazard.
Use appropriate pressure-regulating equipment designed for compressed gas cylinders, and avoid mechanical shock or damage to cylinders and valves.
Wash hands and exposed skin after handling and avoid direct contact with rapidly expanding or liquefied gas, which can cause frostbite.

Engineering Controls
Use local exhaust ventilation or general ventilation sufficient to prevent accumulation of gas in the work area, particularly in confined spaces.
Install gas-detection and oxygen-monitoring equipment in enclosed storage or handling areas where significant quantities are used.

Personal Protection
Wear insulated or cryogenic-rated gloves when handling cylinders or connections where contact with liquefied gas is possible.
Wear safety goggles or a face shield to protect against splashing of liquefied material and potential frostbite injury.

Storage
Store compressed gas cylinders in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, secured upright and protected from physical damage.
Keep cylinders away from open flames, strong oxidizing agents, strong bases, alkaline-earth metals, and reactive metals such as aluminum powder.
Store in compliance with applicable regulations for controlled ozone-depleting substances, including any required inventory tracking or reporting.

Material Compatibility
Avoid contact with strong oxidizers, strong bases, and reactive metals, which may cause hazardous reactions.
Use only brass, steel, or other compatible regulators and fittings rated for this gas, as recommended by the cylinder supplier.

Spill and Leak Procedures
Evacuate the area and ventilate thoroughly, as the gas can displace oxygen and create an asphyxiation hazard in enclosed spaces.
Stop the source of the leak if it can be done safely, and allow the gas to dissipate in a well-ventilated area.
Notify the cylinder owner or supplier, as federal regulations restrict refilling and handling of compressed gas cylinders to authorized parties.

Decontamination
Ventilate the affected area thoroughly before permitting re-entry.
Inspect and, if necessary, remove damaged cylinders from service in accordance with supplier and regulatory guidance.

Handling Precautions
Handle as a controlled substance under the Montreal Protocol, ensuring all use, storage, and disposal comply with applicable ozone-protection and greenhouse-gas regulations.
Maintain oxygen-monitoring and emergency ventilation equipment in areas where cylinders are stored or used in quantity.
Follow the current safety data sheet, cylinder handling procedures, and all applicable transport and hazardous-materials regulations.