Blowing Agents: The Next Generation

Decaire, B.R.; Pham, Hai The; Richard, R. G.; Shankland, I. R.

doi:10.1177/0021955x9403000101

Cited by 9 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Characteristics of first-, second-, and third-generation ABAs. 7 compounds. Also, EPA considers HFC-134a an acceptable substitute for HCFC-141b.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…6 Despite the deferment of the decision that HCFC141b is unacceptable as an ABA, polyurethane foam manufacturers are currently investigating third-generation ABAs, and two of the most highly regarded classes of compounds are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and saturated light hydrocarbons, such as HFC-134a and cyclopentane. 7 The absence of Cl may render these molecules innocuous to the ozone layer; however, the tradeoffs in using these third-generation ABAs in terms of safety-related risks and other environmental impacts (particularly global warming) are not known.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Life-Cycle Comparison of Several Auxiliary Blowing Agents Used for the Manufacture of Rigid Polyurethane Foam

Katz

Lindner

2003

Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association

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In a commitment to zero ozone depletion, the United Nations and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have called for the phase-out of the manufacture and import of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), used as auxiliary blowing agents (ABAs) in the manufacture of polyurethane foams. As a result, more environmentally benign alternative ABAs are being sought by the foam-blowing industry. This study examined the life cycle of HCFC-22, hydrofluorocarbon-134a (HFC-134a), and cyclopentane, which are currently used or considered as potential alternative ABAs in the manufacture of rigid polyurethane foams that serve as insulation in a model North American refrigerator. The raw material extraction/refining, manufacturing, use, and disposal stages of the life cycle of each ABA were considered, and their resulting relative impacts on ozone depletion and global warming were compared. The manufacturing, use, and disposal stages were determined to affect ozone depletion and global warming to the largest extent, emphasizing the need for a greater focus on pollution prevention opportunities in these stages. The HFC-134a life cycle yields no impact on ozone depletion and a significantly decreased global warming impact compared with its predecessor, HCFC-22, and a tradeoff of slightly higher global warming impact and fewer added safety concerns compared with its more flammable counterpart, cyclopentane.

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“…Characteristics of first-, second-, and third-generation ABAs. 7 compounds. Also, EPA considers HFC-134a an acceptable substitute for HCFC-141b.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Life-Cycle Comparison of Several Auxiliary Blowing Agents Used for the Manufacture of Rigid Polyurethane Foam

Katz

Lindner

2003

Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association

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“…Consequently, the principal use for HFC-245fa is in blowing plastic foam matrices, particularly polyurethane. Important applications are in high-performance insulating foam, where optimum insulation is required in a restricted space (for example in appliances such as refrigerators and freezers) [2][3][4][5]. HFC-245fa is also useful in refrigeration and air conditioning, particularly in the sort of equipment previously served by CFC-11, such as large centrifugal chillers [6,7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life Cycle Inventory Analysis of the Production of a High-performance Foam Blowing Agent HFC-245fa (1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane)

McCulloch

2009

Journal of Cellular Plastics

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A life cycle inventory analysis is described for the production of HFC-245fa (1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane) from basic raw materials to the pure product ready for shipment to customers. The analysis was based on typical industrial operations, assumed to be located in southern USA. It showed the mineral requirements to be mainly salt, fluorspar, sulphur, and limestone, together with natural gas and oil used as feedstock. Energy required in processing totaled 4.4 tons of CO 2 equivalent per ton of product, including the energy required to transport raw materials and intermediates between facilities and also a 2% contribution from the release of greenhouse gases other than CO 2 . Other environmental releases were waste salt brine (to the sea), mineral tailings (landfilled at the fluorspar mine) and anhydrous calcium sulphate (to inert landfill). The quantities of sulphur dioxide and volatile organic compounds released into the atmosphere were calculated to be 5 and 1 Kg per ton, respectively. Spent catalysts are not inert and were assumed to be sent to specialist contractors for reclamation or disposal; the transport and energy requirements for this were also included.The process energy requirement amounts to 55% of the global warming potential of HFC-245fa indicating that the principal way of reducing the climate impact of HFC-245fa is to minimize emissions of the material itself during use and during disposal of equipment containing it. *

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“…as these substances are also not entirely non-ozone depleting. Consequently, there was an urgent need for the foam industry to replace these ozone-depleting substances with more environmentally benign, non-flammable, less toxic, low molecular weight, and less expensive substances [5]. Considering these factors, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are one class of compounds that have been identified as long-term replacements to these ozone-depleting substances.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Considering these factors, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are one class of compounds that have been identified as long-term replacements to these ozone-depleting substances. In addition to the above-mentioned characteristics, HFCs also possess appropriate volatility, low vapor thermal conductivity, and low diffusion rate through polymer, thus making them ideal candidates for blowing agents for use in the polyurethane foam industry [5]. In addition to HFCs, various hydrocarbons and hydrofluoroethers (HFEs) are being used and/or considered for use as blowing agents for polyurethane foams.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluating the SAFT-VR and the Sanchez–Lacombe EOS for Modeling the Solubility of Blowing Agents in Polyols

Challa

Visco

2005

Journal of Cellular Plastics

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The statistical associating fluid theory with variable range (SAFT-VR) is a robust equation of state (EOS) with six parameters that describe the thermodynamics of complex systems. Earlier works with this EOS have already predicted the phase co-existence properties of various refrigerants and higher order alkane series compounds, along with their mixtures. In this work, the SAFT-VR EOS has been used to correlate the P–V–T properties of three polyols, namely Pluracol 355, Pluracol 975, and Terol 352. The solubility of nine, zero ozone-depleting blowing agents in these three polyols has been correlated wherever the experimental data are available, and the solubility curves have been produced. The solubility results obtain from SAFT-VR EOS have been compared to a lattice theory based EOS known as Sanchez–Lacombe (SL). In addition, the solubility results of some blowing agents are predicted using the SAFT-VR EOS and the SL EOS, in the above-mentioned polyols wherever there is no experimental data. In general, the SL EOS predicts the solubility of the blowing agents in the polyols more accurately than the SAFT-VR EOS.

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Blowing Agents: The Next Generation

Cited by 9 publications

References 6 publications

A Life-Cycle Comparison of Several Auxiliary Blowing Agents Used for the Manufacture of Rigid Polyurethane Foam

A Life-Cycle Comparison of Several Auxiliary Blowing Agents Used for the Manufacture of Rigid Polyurethane Foam

Life Cycle Inventory Analysis of the Production of a High-performance Foam Blowing Agent HFC-245fa (1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane)

Evaluating the SAFT-VR and the Sanchez–Lacombe EOS for Modeling the Solubility of Blowing Agents in Polyols

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