Which refrigerant is commonly used as a replacement for R-12?

R-134a is commonly used as a replacement for R-12 due to its lower ozone depletion potential and its favorable thermodynamic properties. R-12, which is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC), has been largely phased out because of its harmful effects on the ozone layer. R-134a, on the other hand, is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) that does not contain chlorine, thus it does not contribute to ozone depletion.

R-134a is also designed to operate efficiently in systems originally designed for R-12, making it a suitable and practical alternative for vehicle air conditioning and other refrigeration systems. As a result, it has become the standard refrigerant for applications previously utilizing R-12. This transition supports environmental safety while maintaining system performance, which is critical for both commercial and residential cooling and heating applications.