Definitions
Chemical Classes and Individual Substances

Fluorinated greenhouse gases, a group of man-made substances with very high global warming potential that are tightly controlled by UK/EU regulation.

Global Warming Potential. A number showing how much heat a gas traps in the atmosphere compared to CO₂ over 100 years — the lower the GWP, the better for the climate.

Volatile Organic Compound. A carbon-based chemical that evaporates easily at room temperature and can contribute to air pollution and ground-level ozone.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances – a large family of synthetic ‘forever chemicals’ valued for performance but scrutinised for persistence in the environment.

Further FAQs on PFAS can be found here: https://www.frasertech.co.uk/pfas-faqs/

Hydrofluoroolefin.  A newer class of fluorinated chemicals used in Opteon™ fluids, offering high performance with a much lower GWP than older alternatives.

Hydrofluorocarbon. An older generation of fluorinated refrigerant/solvent chemicals with high GWP, being phased down under F-Gas rules.

Hydrofluoroether.  A family of fluorinated solvents (e.g. 3M™ Novec™) used for cleaning; some grades are now listed in F-Gas legislation.

Hydrochlorofluorocarbon. A transitional class of solvents/refrigerants (e.g. R-141b) largely phased out because they still damage the ozone layer.

Chlorofluorocarbon. The original ozone-depleting solvents/refrigerants (e.g. CFC-113) banned under the Montreal Protocol.

Perfluorocarbon. Fully fluorinated compounds with extremely high GWP, generally being replaced by HFO-based fluids.

Perfluoropolyether.  A class of specialist fluorinated lubricants/fluids being replaced in many applications by HFO alternatives such as Opteon™ SF33.

n-Propyl Bromide. An older solvent used in vapour degreasing, heavily restricted due to health concerns (exposure limit around 0.1ppm).

Trichloroethylene. A traditional chlorinated degreasing solvent now restricted under REACH because of toxicity and carcinogenicity.

Perchloroethylene. A chlorinated solvent historically used for degreasing and dry cleaning, now subject to increasing regulation.

DCM is dichloromethane. A powerful chlorinated solvent with significant health risks, widely restricted for general use.

Methyl Chloroform. A legacy chlorinated solvent phased out under the Montreal Protocol due to ozone depletion.

Trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene. A component used in some fluorinated solvent blends to boost solvency; considered safe when used within engineered azeotropic products.

An engineered alcohol-based solvent used in some hermatically sealed vapour degreasing systems (such as AVD); non-carcinogenic and recyclable in-machine.