R-406A is a

refrigerant A refrigerant is a working fluid used in the refrigeration cycle of air conditioning systems and heat pumps where in most cases they undergo a repeated phase transition from a liquid to a gas and back again. Refrigerants are heavily regulated ...

invented by George H. Goble. It is a mixture of three components:

chlorodifluoromethane Chlorodifluoromethane or difluoromonochloromethane is a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC). This colorless gas is better known as HCFC-22, or R-22, or . It was commonly used as a propellant and refrigerant. These applications were phased out under ...

(R-22),

isobutane Isobutane, also known as ''i''-butane, 2-methylpropane or methylpropane, is a chemical compound with molecular formula HC(CH3)3. It is an isomer of butane. Isobutane is a colourless, odourless gas. It is the simplest alkane with a tertiary carbo ...

(R-600a), and 1-chloro-1,1-difluoroethane (R-142b) in the ratio 55/4/41. This refrigerant was designed as a drop-in replacement for

dichlorodifluoromethane Dichlorodifluoromethane (R-12) is a colorless gas usually sold under the brand name Freon-12, and a chlorofluorocarbon halomethane (CFC) used as a refrigerant and aerosol spray propellant. Complying with the Montreal Protocol, its manufacture was ...

(R-12) which is compatible with the typical mineral oil lubricants used in R-12 systems. Since it is a

zeotropic mixture A zeotropic mixture, or non-azeotropic mixture, is a mixture with liquid components that have different boiling points. For example, nitrogen, methane, ethane, propane, and isobutane constitute a zeotropic mixture. Individual substances within th ...

, it has a range of boiling points which may increase the effectiveness of the heat transfer elements in refrigeration equipment. Because it contains R-22, its future is limited due to eventual phase-out of this refrigerant.

References

Refrigerants {{Organic-compound-stub