Working with Refrigerants

September 02, 2022

After Billy Durant purchased the Guardian Refrigerator Company with his own money in 1918, he incorporated the business into General Motors (GM) and renamed it Frigidaire. By 1929, Frigidaire had sold over one million refrigerators, the only trouble was, the nasty nature of refrigerants like sulfur dioxide, methyl chloride and even ammonia, kept Billy awake at night. Thus, GM created a subsidiary company designed to monitor the exploration of alternative refrigerants.

One scientist, Thomas Midgley fashioned a team of researchers that developed dichlorodifluoromethane, branded Freon 12 (R-12). Midgley, a shameless self-promoter, loved to boast the compound was completely safe. So much so, he demonstrated his claim publicly by inhaling a lung-full of R-12 and then exhaling the chemical onto the flame of an open candle. No fire, no explosion, and Midgley was unharmed. Must be safe, no?

The chemical was deemed safe, but unbeknown to anyone, including Midgely, the Ozone Layer was being attacked. Read more