Mexichem Fluor’s HFO-refrigerant blend AC6 has now joined AC5 in gaining recognition from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).
Following the official designation of AC5 as R-444A, AC6 has completed the ASHRAE peer review process and been awarded the refrigerant number R-445A.

This follows the publication of a recent SAE International report on the use of HFO-blend refrigerants AC5 and AC6 as low GWP alternatives to R-134a and R-1234yf for car air conditioning.

AC6 is non-flammable at room temperature, only becoming flammable above 50°C and requiring higher surface temperatures than R-1234yf before ignition. Like AC5 and R-1234yf, AC6 is classified as A2L with an Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL) set at 930ppm.

Both AC5 and AC6 are blends based on R-1234ze, AC6 having R-134a(9%) and CO2(6%) as the other components. Both AC5 and AC6 are fully compliant with the European MAC Directive.

Simon Gardner, business development manager, Mexichem Fluor said: '1234ze based blends look likely to offer a future competitive and high performance solution for low GWP mobile air conditioning. As well as low GWP, blends based on R-1234z offer the potential to meet the increasing volume demands from car manufacturers now seeking to meet the tight timescales of European regulation. Production of 1234ze is already proven at large scale and is already a commercial product in its own right.

'ASHRAE designation is the first step on the regulatory approval pathway for use in the United States. Preparations for the next stage, submission to the US Environmental Protection Agency's Significant New Alternatives Program (EPA SNAP) for AC6 are already well developed and submission is expected in Q3 2013.'