1,1,1-Trifluoroethane, or R-143a or simply trifluoroethane, is a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) compound that is a colorless gas.

[1] Trifluoroethane is used as a refrigerant either by itself or more commonly as a component of blended mixtures.

It is also used as a propellant in canned air products used to clean electronic equipment.

Unlike CFCs used as refrigerants, trifluoroethane has no chlorine atoms and therefore is not ozone-depleting.

Its high chemical stability and infra-red absorbency make it a potent greenhouse gas with a lifetime of about 50 years and a global warming potential of 4300, which are at the high end compared to many other commonly used HFC refrigerants.