All of the R-407-series refrigerants are based on blends of the three HFC refrigerants R-32, R-125, and R-134a. R-407C has been formulated as a good match to the existing HCFC refrigerant R-22 for use in air conditioning, chilling, and refrigeration applications and was the first of the R-22 alternatives to be used on a commercial scale. Suitable for retrofit and original equipment usage. 407C meets the GWP requirements beyond 2030 under the EU F-Gas Regulations for industrial and commercial refrigeration.
R-407C is a mixture of hydrofluorocarbons used as a refrigerant. It is a zeotropic blend of difluoromethane (R-32), pentafluoroethane (R-125), and 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (R-134a). Difluoromethane serves to provide the heat capacity, pentafluoroethane decreases flammability, tetrafluoroethane reduces pressure. R-407C cylinders are colored burnt orange.
This refrigerant is intended as a replacement for R-22. R-22 production will be phased out by 2020 as per the Montreal protocol.
It is not recommended to drop R-407C into R-22 systems on top of the existing charge in cases of low refrigerant levels. A licensed professional should be contracted to completely remove the R-22 and as much of the mineral oil as possible. In the case of compressor change-outs, replacement compressors are already manufactured with POE (polyolester) oil and are therefore more compatible with R-407C than returning the recovered R-22. The recovered R-22 can be sent to a facility for disposal.
It is cost-effective to replace R-22 with R-407C before there is an emergency. Preventive maintenance programs should include strong suggestions to replace ozone-depleting refrigerants such as R-22 with environmentally friendly refrigerants and it seems that R-407C has become the front runner.
There are many millions of tons of R-22 in air conditioning and refrigeration equipment in use today and most of it is destined to end up in the atmosphere in spite of efforts to curtail this probability. These efforts have been in place since the late 1980s.
Composition (wt%) R-32/R-125/R-134a = 23/25/52
Specification
| Property | S.I. Units | Value | British Units | Value |
| Molecular Weight | kg/kmol | 86.2 | lbm/lbmol | 86.2 |
| Critical Temperature | °C | 86.03 | °F | 186.85 |
| Critical Pressure | bara | 46.29 | psia | 671.42 |
| Critical Density | kg/m3 | 484.2 | lb/ft3 | 30.23 |
| Atmospheric Bubble Point | °C | -43.627 | °F | -46.5 |
| Atmospheric Dew Point | °C | -36.629 | °F | -33.9 |
| Latent Heat of Vapourisation at Atmospheric Pressure | kJ/kg | 256.29 | BTUIT/lb | 110.18 |
| Saturated Vapour Density at Atmospheric Pressure* | kg/m3 | 4.6306 | lb/ft3 | 0.29 |
| Liquid Vapour Pressure @25°C | bara | 11.903 | psia | 172.6 |
| Coefficient of Volumetric Thermal Expansion for Saturated Liquid at 25°C | °C-1 | 0.0040236 | °F-1 | 0.00224 |
| Speed of Sound* for Saturated Vapour at 25°C | m/s | 154.97 | ft/s | 508.43 |
| Adiabatic Exponent* for Saturated Vapour at 25°C | 1.33 | 1.33 | ||
| Latent Heat of Vapourisation at 25°C | kJ/kg | 188.42 | BTUIT/lb | 81.01 |
| Saturated Vapour Density at 25°C* | kg/m3 | 43.77 | lb/ft3 | 2.73 |
| Saturated Vapour Density at 0°C* | kg/m3 | 19.689 | lb/ft3 | 1.23 |
| * Vapour composition as per bulk refrigerant at dew point | ||||