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Arkema reveals new low-GWP blowing agent for polyurethane foams
MATERIALS
in the company’s portfolio in terms of production volume and importance to customers. Originally a Dynamit Nobel business, Sachtleben was acquired in 2004 by Rockwood Holdings, which in turn has recently agreed to sell the company to Huntsman [see p.5 and ADPO, April 2013]. Contact: Sachtleben Chemie GmbH, Duisburg, Germany. Tel: +49 20 66 22 0, Web: www.sachtleben.de Or contact: Rockwood Holdings, Inc, Princeton, NJ, USA. Tel: +1 609 514 0300, Web: www.rockwoodspecialties.com
Arkema reveals new low-GWP blowing agent for polyurethane foams
F
rench chemicals producer Arkema has announced a new molecule, Forane® 1233zd, for use as a low global warming potential (GWP) blowing agent for polyurethane foams. According to the company, the new molecule provides ‘exceptional energy performance and environmental benefits’ compared to existing blowing agents, such as hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC), hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and hydrocarbon molecules. The new product will be commercialized in 2014. Forane 1233zd is high-purity trans-1-chloro-3,3,3trifluoropropene. The liquid halogenated olefin, which was known in its development phase as AFA-L1, is a non-ozone depleting, non-flammable, high-performance blowing agent with a GWP of 7, Arkema reports. The use of Forane 1233zd as a blowing agent in the manufacture of polyurethane foams is covered by US patent 8,314,159 and European patent EP 2,129,709. The company says that the development of the Forane 1233zd blowing agent is the latest milestone in its ‘well-established strategy’ to bring next-generation, low-GWP technology to its global markets, in response to ongoing regulatory changes and demand for environment-friendly solutions. In trials at a manufacturer of household refrigerators and freezers, an unoptimized system based on Forane 1233zd delivered a 3% improvement in energy efficiency versus HFC 245fa blowing agent and surpassed 2014 DOE energy standards, according to Arkema. In
November 2013
other evaluations conducted by Arkema, Forane 1233zd provided a 6% improvement in insulation value versus HFC 245fa, a 7% improvement versus HCFC 141b and a 16% improvement versus hydrocarbons, the company claims. ‘In all of these evaluations, in several different polyurethane foam applications, Forane 1233zd blowing agent has consistently demonstrated outstanding ease of use’, notes Nancy Storoz, Arkema’s global business manager for fluorochemicals, foams and 134a refrigerants. ‘It requires minimal equipment modifications and formulation changes, while outperforming HCFCs, HFCs and hydrocarbons in terms of energy efficiency, R value and vapour pressure’, she adds. Target markets for Forane 1233zd include polyurethane foams used in the manufacture of household refrigerators and freezers, commercial refrigeration, spray foam, and polyurethane panels for commercial and residential building and construction applications. Contact: Arkema, Colombes Cedex, France. Tel: +33 1 4900 8080, Web: www.arkema.com
Momentive extends Niax range and invests in PU additives facilities
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ilicones specialist Momentive Performance Materials Inc (MPM) has launched a number of new silicones, catalysts and process modifiers for polyurethane (PU) under its long-standing Niax brand. The new products, which were introduced at PU China 2013 in September, target a range of applications, including appliances, automotive, bedding, carpet, construction, furniture and sports gear. In related news, MPM reports that it has made a number of investments worldwide in support of its PU additives product line, adding manufacturing capacity, technology resources and personnel to several sites in response to increasing demand. For automotive moulded foam applications, the company has introduced Niax Silicone L-3639, which can be considered for a wide variety of MDI-based formulations, it says. The new patent-pending product typically provides a lower siloxane emission when compared to
Additives for Polymers
3
in the company’s portfolio in terms of production volume and importance to customers. Originally a Dynamit Nobel business, Sachtleben was acquired in 2004 by Rockwood Holdings, which in turn has recently agreed to sell the company to Huntsman [see p.5 and ADPO, April 2013]. Contact: Sachtleben Chemie GmbH, Duisburg, Germany. Tel: +49 20 66 22 0, Web: www.sachtleben.de Or contact: Rockwood Holdings, Inc, Princeton, NJ, USA. Tel: +1 609 514 0300, Web: www.rockwoodspecialties.com
Arkema reveals new low-GWP blowing agent for polyurethane foams
F
rench chemicals producer Arkema has announced a new molecule, Forane® 1233zd, for use as a low global warming potential (GWP) blowing agent for polyurethane foams. According to the company, the new molecule provides ‘exceptional energy performance and environmental benefits’ compared to existing blowing agents, such as hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC), hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) and hydrocarbon molecules. The new product will be commercialized in 2014. Forane 1233zd is high-purity trans-1-chloro-3,3,3trifluoropropene. The liquid halogenated olefin, which was known in its development phase as AFA-L1, is a non-ozone depleting, non-flammable, high-performance blowing agent with a GWP of 7, Arkema reports. The use of Forane 1233zd as a blowing agent in the manufacture of polyurethane foams is covered by US patent 8,314,159 and European patent EP 2,129,709. The company says that the development of the Forane 1233zd blowing agent is the latest milestone in its ‘well-established strategy’ to bring next-generation, low-GWP technology to its global markets, in response to ongoing regulatory changes and demand for environment-friendly solutions. In trials at a manufacturer of household refrigerators and freezers, an unoptimized system based on Forane 1233zd delivered a 3% improvement in energy efficiency versus HFC 245fa blowing agent and surpassed 2014 DOE energy standards, according to Arkema. In
November 2013
other evaluations conducted by Arkema, Forane 1233zd provided a 6% improvement in insulation value versus HFC 245fa, a 7% improvement versus HCFC 141b and a 16% improvement versus hydrocarbons, the company claims. ‘In all of these evaluations, in several different polyurethane foam applications, Forane 1233zd blowing agent has consistently demonstrated outstanding ease of use’, notes Nancy Storoz, Arkema’s global business manager for fluorochemicals, foams and 134a refrigerants. ‘It requires minimal equipment modifications and formulation changes, while outperforming HCFCs, HFCs and hydrocarbons in terms of energy efficiency, R value and vapour pressure’, she adds. Target markets for Forane 1233zd include polyurethane foams used in the manufacture of household refrigerators and freezers, commercial refrigeration, spray foam, and polyurethane panels for commercial and residential building and construction applications. Contact: Arkema, Colombes Cedex, France. Tel: +33 1 4900 8080, Web: www.arkema.com
Momentive extends Niax range and invests in PU additives facilities
S
ilicones specialist Momentive Performance Materials Inc (MPM) has launched a number of new silicones, catalysts and process modifiers for polyurethane (PU) under its long-standing Niax brand. The new products, which were introduced at PU China 2013 in September, target a range of applications, including appliances, automotive, bedding, carpet, construction, furniture and sports gear. In related news, MPM reports that it has made a number of investments worldwide in support of its PU additives product line, adding manufacturing capacity, technology resources and personnel to several sites in response to increasing demand. For automotive moulded foam applications, the company has introduced Niax Silicone L-3639, which can be considered for a wide variety of MDI-based formulations, it says. The new patent-pending product typically provides a lower siloxane emission when compared to
Additives for Polymers
3