AHRTI continues refrigerant compatibility tests

USA: The Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Technology Institute (AHRTI) has begun Phase II of its new refrigerant compatibility and lubricants research. 

This research aims to identify potential compatibility concerns that may result from interactions between low-global warming potential refrigerants and blends with current HVACR system materials and lubricants. 

Phase II efforts will include further chemical stability testing and the material compatibility testing of elastomers, gaskets, polymers, and motors.

The Phase I report, published in March, showed good overall chemical stability across the 12 refrigerants evaluated. Only a few instances of reactivity were observed, as well as other subtleties in the interactions (physical and chemical) between the refrigerants, lubricants, and materials. 

The refrigerants tested were:

R123
R1224yd(Z)
R1233zd(E)
R1234yf
R1234ze(E)
R1336mzz(E)
R1336mzz(Z)
R450A
R454C
R455A
R466A
R468A
R513A
R514A
R515B
R516A

Overall, good chemical stability was observed across the refrigerants evaluated, with only a few instances of reactivity observed, as well as other subtleties in the interactions (physical and chemical) between the refrigerants, lubricants, and materials. 

Four refrigerants were noted to have potential for increased reactivity relative to other refrigerants. R13I1 (CF3I), contained in R466A, was found to have significant reactivity when evaluated at elevated temperatures with PAG, POE and PVE lubricants.

The full report Phase l report is available here.

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