R-218
Perfluorocarbon (PFC) — octafluoropropane (C₃F₈). All-fluorine, no hydrogen, no chlorine. ASHRAE A1. GWP 8830, atmospheric lifetime 2600 years — one of the most persistent climate-active gases produced commercially. Niche use in specialty low-temperature cascade refrigeration and as fire-suppression agent FE-13.
Lower toxicity (Occupational Exposure Limit ≥ 400 ppm). No flame propagation in air at standard atmospheric pressure and 60°C. R-134a, R-22, R-410A, R-404A, R-744 (CO2) are A1.
- Flammability
- None (no flame propagation)
- Toxicity
- Lower (OEL ≥ 400 ppm)
Classification per ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 34-2022. See full reference.
Saturation pressure-temperature curve
Saturation values from CoolProp 7.2.0 R218. Operating pressure on a running system differs — see the operating-pressure references for in-use values.
R-218 PT chart PDF — printable saturation table
Looking for the R-218 PT chart PDF for shop reference? The complete pressure-temperature saturation table is below — every 1° increment from −40°F to 150°F (or to the refrigerant's critical temperature). Use the Print / Save as PDF button in the table header to download a clean, table-only PDF (the rest of the page is hidden from the print output). Important service temperatures (normal boiling point, freezing point of water, residential AC evap and condenser targets) are tinted and tagged in the table for at-a-glance shop reference.
R-218 PT Chart — Pressure-Temperature Saturation Table
1° increments · Source: CoolProp 7.2.0 / manufacturer datasheet · hvacptcharts.com
| Temp (°F) | Pressure (PSIG) |
|---|---|
| -40°F | -2.0 |
| -39°F | -1.7 |
| -38°F | -1.4 |
| -37°F | -1.0 |
| -36°F | -0.7 |
| -35°F | -0.3 |
| -34°FNBP (atmospheric) | 0.1 |
| -33°F | 0.5 |
| -32°F | 0.8 |
| -31°F | 1.2 |
| -30°F | 1.6 |
| -29°F | 2.0 |
| -28°F | 2.4 |
| -27°F | 2.9 |
| -26°F | 3.3 |
| -25°F | 3.7 |
| -24°F | 4.2 |
| -23°F | 4.6 |
| -22°F | 5.1 |
| -21°F | 5.5 |
| -20°F | 6.0 |
| -19°F | 6.5 |
| -18°F | 7.0 |
| -17°F | 7.5 |
| -16°F | 8.0 |
| -15°F | 8.6 |
| -14°F | 9.1 |
| -13°F | 9.6 |
| -12°F | 10.2 |
| -11°F | 10.7 |
| -10°F | 11.3 |
| -9°F | 11.9 |
| -8°F | 12.5 |
| -7°F | 13.1 |
| -6°F | 13.7 |
| -5°F | 14.3 |
| -4°F | 14.9 |
| -3°F | 15.6 |
| -2°F | 16.2 |
| -1°F | 16.9 |
| 0°F | 17.6 |
| 1°F | 18.2 |
| 2°F | 18.9 |
| 3°F | 19.6 |
| 4°F | 20.4 |
| 5°F | 21.1 |
| 6°F | 21.8 |
| 7°F | 22.6 |
| 8°F | 23.3 |
| 9°F | 24.1 |
| 10°F | 24.9 |
| 11°F | 25.7 |
| 12°F | 26.5 |
| 13°F | 27.3 |
| 14°F | 28.2 |
| 15°F | 29.0 |
| 16°F | 29.9 |
| 17°F | 30.7 |
| 18°F | 31.6 |
| 19°F | 32.5 |
| 20°F | 33.4 |
| 21°F | 34.4 |
| 22°F | 35.3 |
| 23°F | 36.2 |
| 24°F | 37.2 |
| 25°F | 38.2 |
| 26°F | 39.2 |
| 27°F | 40.2 |
| 28°F | 41.2 |
| 29°F | 42.2 |
| 30°F | 43.3 |
| 31°F | 44.3 |
| 32°FH₂O freeze | 45.4 |
| 33°F | 46.5 |
| 34°F | 47.6 |
| 35°F | 48.7 |
| 36°F | 49.9 |
| 37°F | 51.0 |
| 38°F | 52.2 |
| 39°F | 53.4 |
| 40°F | 54.6 |
| 41°F | 55.8 |
| 42°F | 57.0 |
| 43°F | 58.3 |
| 44°F | 59.5 |
| 45°F | 60.8 |
| 46°F | 62.1 |
| 47°F | 63.4 |
| 48°F | 64.7 |
| 49°F | 66.1 |
| 50°F | 67.5 |
| 51°F | 68.8 |
| 52°F | 70.2 |
| 53°F | 71.6 |
| 54°F | 73.1 |
| 55°F | 74.5 |
| 56°F | 76.0 |
| 57°F | 77.5 |
| 58°F | 79.0 |
| 59°F | 80.5 |
| 60°F | 82.0 |
| 61°F | 83.6 |
| 62°F | 85.2 |
| 63°F | 86.8 |
| 64°F | 88.4 |
| 65°F | 90.0 |
| 66°F | 91.6 |
| 67°F | 93.3 |
| 68°F | 95.0 |
| 69°F | 96.7 |
| 70°F | 98.4 |
| 71°F | 100.2 |
| 72°F | 102.0 |
| 73°F | 103.8 |
| 74°F | 105.6 |
| 75°F | 107.4 |
| 76°F | 109.3 |
| 77°F | 111.1 |
| 78°F | 113.0 |
| 79°F | 114.9 |
| 80°F | 116.9 |
| 81°F | 118.8 |
| 82°F | 120.8 |
| 83°F | 122.8 |
| 84°F | 124.8 |
| 85°F | 126.9 |
| 86°F | 128.9 |
| 87°F | 131.0 |
| 88°F | 133.1 |
| 89°F | 135.3 |
| 90°F | 137.4 |
| 91°F | 139.6 |
| 92°F | 141.8 |
| 93°F | 144.1 |
| 94°F | 146.3 |
| 95°F | 148.6 |
| 96°F | 150.9 |
| 97°F | 153.2 |
| 98°F | 155.6 |
| 99°F | 157.9 |
| 100°F | 160.3 |
| 101°F | 162.8 |
| 102°F | 165.2 |
| 103°F | 167.7 |
| 104°F | 170.2 |
| 105°F | 172.7 |
| 106°F | 175.3 |
| 107°F | 177.9 |
| 108°F | 180.5 |
| 109°F | 183.1 |
| 110°F | 185.8 |
| 111°F | 188.5 |
| 112°F | 191.2 |
| 113°F | 193.9 |
| 114°F | 196.7 |
| 115°F | 199.5 |
| 116°F | 202.3 |
| 117°F | 205.2 |
| 118°F | 208.1 |
| 119°F | 211.0 |
| 120°F | 214.0 |
| 121°F | 217.0 |
| 122°F | 220.0 |
| 123°F | 223.0 |
| 124°F | 226.1 |
| 125°F | 229.2 |
| 126°F | 232.3 |
| 127°F | 235.5 |
| 128°F | 238.7 |
| 129°F | 241.9 |
| 130°F | 245.2 |
| 131°F | 248.5 |
| 132°F | 251.9 |
| 133°F | 255.2 |
| 134°F | 258.6 |
| 135°F | 262.1 |
| 136°F | 265.6 |
| 137°F | 269.1 |
| 138°F | 272.6 |
| 139°F | 276.2 |
| 140°F | 279.9 |
| 141°F | 283.5 |
| 142°F | 287.2 |
| 143°F | 291.0 |
| 144°F | 294.8 |
| 145°F | 298.6 |
| 146°F | 302.5 |
| 147°F | 306.4 |
| 148°F | 310.4 |
| 149°F | 314.4 |
| 150°F | 318.4 |
| Temp (°C) | Pressure (kPa) |
|---|---|
| -40°C | -14 |
| -39°C | -10 |
| -38°C | -5 |
| -37°CNBP (atmospheric) | -1 |
| -36°C | 4 |
| -35°C | 9 |
| -34°C | 13 |
| -33°C | 19 |
| -32°C | 24 |
| -31°C | 29 |
| -30°C | 35 |
| -29°C | 41 |
| -28°C | 47 |
| -27°C | 53 |
| -26°C | 60 |
| -25°C | 66 |
| -24°C | 73 |
| -23°C | 80 |
| -22°C | 88 |
| -21°C | 95 |
| -20°C | 103 |
| -19°C | 111 |
| -18°C | 119 |
| -17°C | 128 |
| -16°C | 136 |
| -15°C | 145 |
| -14°C | 155 |
| -13°C | 164 |
| -12°C | 174 |
| -11°C | 184 |
| -10°C | 194 |
| -9°C | 205 |
| -8°C | 216 |
| -7°C | 227 |
| -6°C | 238 |
| -5°C | 250 |
| -4°C | 262 |
| -3°C | 274 |
| -2°C | 287 |
| -1°C | 300 |
| 0°CH₂O freeze | 313 |
| 1°C | 327 |
| 2°C | 341 |
| 3°C | 355 |
| 4°C | 370 |
| 5°C | 385 |
| 6°C | 400 |
| 7°C | 416 |
| 8°C | 432 |
| 9°C | 448 |
| 10°C | 465 |
| 11°C | 482 |
| 12°C | 500 |
| 13°C | 518 |
| 14°C | 536 |
| 15°C | 555 |
| 16°C | 574 |
| 17°C | 594 |
| 18°C | 614 |
| 19°C | 634 |
| 20°C | 655 |
| 21°C | 676 |
| 22°C | 698 |
| 23°C | 720 |
| 24°C | 743 |
| 25°C | 766 |
| 26°C | 790 |
| 27°C | 814 |
| 28°C | 838 |
| 29°C | 863 |
| 30°C | 889 |
| 31°C | 915 |
| 32°C | 942 |
| 33°C | 969 |
| 34°C | 996 |
| 35°C | 1,025 |
| 36°C | 1,053 |
| 37°C | 1,082 |
| 38°C | 1,112 |
| 39°C | 1,143 |
| 40°C | 1,174 |
| 41°C | 1,205 |
| 42°C | 1,237 |
| 43°C | 1,270 |
| 44°C | 1,303 |
| 45°C | 1,337 |
| 46°C | 1,372 |
| 47°C | 1,407 |
| 48°C | 1,443 |
| 49°C | 1,479 |
| 50°C | 1,517 |
| 51°C | 1,555 |
| 52°C | 1,593 |
| 53°C | 1,633 |
| 54°C | 1,673 |
| 55°C | 1,714 |
| 56°C | 1,755 |
| 57°C | 1,798 |
| 58°C | 1,841 |
| 59°C | 1,885 |
| 60°C | 1,930 |
| 61°C | 1,975 |
| 62°C | 2,022 |
| 63°C | 2,070 |
| 64°C | 2,118 |
| 65°C | 2,168 |
Full saturation values at 1° increments — toggle between °F / PSIG and °C / kPa. Use Print / Save as PDF for laminated shop reference, or download the CSV / JSON below for use in other tools. R-218 PT chart data: CoolProp 7.2.0 (REFPROP-compatible Helmholtz EOS) or manufacturer datasheet, validated against AHRI Standard 700-2019.
At a glance
Chemistry
Lubricant compatibility
Perfluorocarbon (PFC). Extremely long atmospheric lifetime and high GWP. Used in specialty low-temperature applications and as a fire suppression agent (FE-13).
Common applications
- Low-temperature cascade refrigeration (specialty)
- Fire suppression (clean agent, legacy)
- Electronics testing baths
Properties
- Boiling point (1 atm)-36.8°C / -34.2°F
- Critical point161.4°F at 368 PSIG
- Molar mass188.02 g/mol
- Temperature glideNegligible (0.00°F)
- ODP0
- GWP (AR5, 100-yr)8830
- GWP (AR6, 100-yr)9290
- Atmospheric lifetime2600 years
What is R-218?
R-218 is octafluoropropane (C₃F₈) — a perfluorocarbon (PFC) where every hydrogen of propane has been replaced with fluorine. PFCs have no chlorine (zero ODP) and no hydrogen for atmospheric OH-radical attack (extremely long atmospheric lifetimes). R-218's atmospheric lifetime is 2,600 years; its GWP is 8,830. These are among the worst environmental profiles for any commercially-used refrigerant.
Commercial use of R-218 is restricted to specialty applications where its specific properties (low boiling point -34°F, A1 non-flammability, chemical inertness) are essential and where the climate impact is manageable through tight containment. Applications include specialty cascade low-temperature refrigeration (mid-stage in some autocascade designs), electronics testing baths (chemical inertness allows direct immersion of powered electronics), and as fire-suppression agent FE-13 in some applications (though FM-200 / HFC-227ea has largely displaced FE-13).
Where R-218 is used
- Specialty low-temperature cascade refrigeration (mid-stage in some autocascade designs)
- Electronics testing baths (immersion cooling of powered components)
- Fire suppression (FE-13, legacy total-flooding systems)
- Some semiconductor manufacturing applications
- Not used in conventional HVAC
Regulatory & phase-down status
R-218 is not currently subject to a focused HVAC-segment phase-down — its use is too specialized for typical equipment regulation. However, PFC emissions broadly are subject to Kyoto Protocol Annex A reporting requirements and increasing regulatory attention given the extreme atmospheric lifetimes. The EU F-Gas Regulation includes PFCs, including R-218, in its phase-down scope; US regulation of PFCs has been more focused on semiconductor manufacturing emissions.
For applications where R-218 is currently used, the trend is toward containment improvements (closed-loop systems, reclamation programs) rather than substitution — partly because few alternatives match the specific properties of R-218 in its niche applications, and partly because the modest production volumes make targeted regulation less of a priority than larger-volume HFCs.
Service notes
POE and PAO oils are compatible. Mineral oil is not. R-218 is chemically inert, making it suitable for applications requiring direct contact with sensitive materials (electronics testing). Recovery is strictly required given the extreme atmospheric lifetime — any release contributes to atmospheric burden essentially permanently on human timescales.
EPA Section 608 covers refrigerant uses of R-218. PFC reporting requirements apply to many industrial uses regardless of HVAC classification.
Operating cycle
Phase-down timeline
No phase-down milestones documented for R-218 in this build. This may mean: (a) no regulatory phase-down currently published; (b) the refrigerant has local regulatory schedules not yet transcribed into the site dataset; or (c) it is a specialty refrigerant outside the main regulatory frameworks. For authoritative current status, consult the EPA AIM Act allocations (40 CFR Part 84), EU F-Gas Regulation 517/2014 + 2024/573, and the relevant national implementations of the Kigali Amendment.
Global warming potential, in context
No peer-comparison group is defined for R-218. Its 100-year GWP per IPCC AR5 is 8830 — above the EPA AIM Act 700 GWP cap and well above the EU F-Gas 150 cap.
Peer-comparison groups are defined for refrigerants that compete in the same application sector (residential AC, commercial MT/LT, chillers, mobile AC). Specialty or research-grade refrigerants without a clear peer set don't appear in any group; their GWP is shown above in absolute terms instead.
Frequently asked
›Why is R-218's atmospheric lifetime so long?
No hydrogen atoms. Atmospheric removal of most HFC and HCFC refrigerants begins with OH-radical attack on a C-H bond — typically within months to years. R-218 has only C-F bonds (and C-C bonds in the molecular backbone), which are essentially inert to OH attack. The only atmospheric removal mechanisms for PFCs are stratospheric photolysis by UV (very slow due to limited UV intensity at PFC absorption wavelengths) and very slow reaction with very-high-energy radicals. The result: PFCs persist for thousands of years.
›If R-218 is so environmentally damaging, why is it still used?
Niche applications where its specific properties are essential and containment is tight. Electronics immersion-cooling applications use R-218 because its chemical inertness allows direct contact with powered electronics without electrical interaction; substitutes either degrade electronics or have inadequate dielectric properties. Cascade refrigeration applications use it because its NBP (-34°F) fits a specific role between R-410A-class refrigerants and the ultra-low R-23 or R-744 cascade refrigerants. Total annual production is tiny compared to mainstream HFCs — climate impact per pound is enormous, but pounds are limited.
›What is the GWP of R-218?
8,830 per IPCC AR5. Combined with the 2,600-year atmospheric lifetime, this is among the highest climate impacts per kg of any commercial refrigerant. For comparison: R-410A is GWP 1,924; R-134a is 1,430; R-1234yf is 4. R-218 has roughly 5× the GWP of R-410A and persists in the atmosphere ~50× longer than most HFCs.
›What's FE-13?
FE-13 is the trade name for R-218 (or R-23 in some product variants — the FE family includes both) used as a clean-agent fire suppression refrigerant in total-flooding systems. FE-13 is being displaced by FM-200 (HFC-227ea) and FK-5-1-12 (Novec 1230) in most new fire-suppression installations due to either lower GWP or shorter atmospheric lifetime. FE-13 retains use in specific applications where its low NBP (allowing rapid discharge at low ambient) is critical.
›Is R-218 affected by the EPA AIM Act?
R-218 is not on the AIM Act's targeted HFC list (the AIM Act focuses on HFCs by ASHRAE designation). PFCs are addressed through different regulatory frameworks: Kyoto Protocol reporting, EU F-Gas Regulation, EPA reporting requirements for high-GWP industrial gases. The practical effect is similar — pressure to reduce emissions through containment and substitution where possible.