Pentafluoropropane

Also known as: HFC-245fa

INCI: Pentafluoropropane | Function: Propellant | Type: Fluorinated Hydrocarbon

What Is Pentafluoropropane?

Pentafluoropropane (HFC-245fa) is a hydrofluorocarbon gas used as an aerosol propellant in cosmetic spray products. It replaced ozone-depleting CFCs and is non-flammable, making it safe for pressurized packaging. It provides consistent spray patterns in deodorants, hair sprays, and body mists, evaporating rapidly without leaving residue.

Key Skin Benefits

+ Non-flammable propellant — safe for pressurized aerosols
+ Consistent spray pattern — uniform product delivery
+ Rapid evaporation — no residue on skin or hair
+ Replaces ozone-depleting CFC propellants

Pros

+ Non-flammable — eliminates fire risk in aerosols
+ Chemically inert — no reactivity with product contents
+ Consistent pressure across temperature range
+ Rapid evaporation without cooling effect

Cons

− Greenhouse gas — high global warming potential (GWP ~1030)
− Non-renewable — synthetic fluorinated compound
− Environmental regulation increasing — phase-down under Kigali Amendment
− No skin benefit — purely a delivery vehicle

Specifications

Property	Value
Usage Areas	Face, Body, Hair
Product Type	Leave-On, Rinse-Off
Source	Synthetic
Natural Level	Synthetic

Safety Ratings

Metric	Rating
Skin Sensitivity	0/5
Comedogenic Rating	0/5
EWG Score	3/10

Regional Regulatory Limits

Region	Leave-on %	Rinse-off %	Status
EU (CosIng)	N/A	N/A	Allowed — propellant
US (CIR/FDA)	N/A	N/A	Allowed — aerosol propellant
Japan (MHLW)	N/A	N/A	Allowed
ASEAN	N/A	N/A	Allowed
China (NMPA)	N/A	N/A	Allowed

Typical Usage % by Product Type

Product Type	Typical %
Aerosol Sprays	30–80%
Hair Sprays	40–70%
Deodorants	30–60%

References

CosIng Database — Pentafluoropropane. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/
UNEP OzonAction — HFC Phase-down under Montreal Protocol Kigali Amendment.
EWG Skin Deep — Pentafluoropropane. https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

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