HFO-1234yf inhibited solutions
The present invention provides a composition comprising 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene and α-terpinene particularly useful in automotive air conditioning systems and devices, commercial refrigeration systems and devices, chillers, residential refrigerator and freezers, general air conditioning systems, heat pumps, and the like.
1. A composition that has been stored in a container at one or more temperatures in the range of temperatures of from about −10° C. to about 50° C. over a period of at least 30 days, said composition consisting essentially of HFO-1234yf and α-terpinene, and being in the presence of least one radical initiator contaminant, wherein after said storage period in the presence of said contaminant, said composition has an NVR of HFO-1234yf that is not greater than 0.01 weight % (100 ppm).
2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the composition consists of HFO-1234yf and α-terpinene.
3. The composition of claim 1 wherein the composition is exposed in the container to a radical initiator contaminant during said storage period and wherein said composition consists of HFO-1234yf and α-terpinene.
4. The composition of claim 1 wherein the α-terpinene is present in an amount of at least about 0.0001 percent by weight-based on the amount of HFO-1234yf and α-terpinene present in the composition.
5. The composition of claim 1 wherein the α-terpinene is present in an amount of from 0.0001 to about 1 percent by weight based on the amount of HFO-1234yf and α-terpinene present in the composition and wherein said composition has a Non-Volatile Residue (NVR) value less than 100 ppm after storage for a period of 30 days at a temperature of about −10° C.
6. A heat transfer composition consisting of a composition of claim 1 .
7. The heat transfer composition of claim 1 consisting of said HFO-1234yf, at least one additional refrigerant and said α-terpinene.
8. A method of inhibiting the formation of HFO-1234yf polymerization products in the presence of least one radical initiator contaminant, said method comprising forming a refrigerant composition consisting essentially of at least one refrigerant and α-terpinene, wherein said at least one refrigerant contains said HFO-1234yf to produce a refrigerant composition having a NonVolatile Residue (NVR) of the HFO-1234yf less than 0.01 weight percent (100 ppm).
9. A closed storage container containing a refrigerant composition consisting essentially of: (a) at least one refrigerant containing HFO-1234yf; and (b) α-terpinene and having thereon a threaded valve with a cumene hydroperoxide containing sealant on the threaded valve.