The New Wonder Refrigerants
As early as the 1890s, Belgian scientists experimented with chemical compounds containing the elements chloride, fluoride and carbon, known as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). These compounds are chemically highly stable and transport heat well. They were consequently selected for a wide range of technological applications, including refrigeration.
The technology was adopted by industry in the 1930s. During the 1950s and 1960s it was applied in cars, fridges and freezers – all products of postwar affluence.
In the mid-1970s, the environmental effects of CFC gases came into question. Research indicated that these gases depleted the ozone layer and contributed to global warming. The following years saw a heated debate on the possible harmful effects of these substances, and intensive research for alternative refrigerants began.
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