MORRIS PLAINS, N.J.,
Sept. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/
-- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced today that one of
its low global-warming-potential (GWP) materials is being
incorporated into a new solution for producing foam used in
applications ranging from office furniture armrests to padded
cushions for rollercoasters.
Honeywell's low-global-warming-potential Solstice®
Liquid Blowing Agent (LBA) is being used in new foam systems
developed by The Dow Chemical Company to make integral skin, or
I-Skin, foam.
Blowing agents are critical for foam systems because they cause
the foam to expand properly, significantly impact the foam's
performance, and make it easier to manufacture. Solstice LBA was
developed as an ultra-low GWP replacement for a range of
hydrofluorocarbon, or HFC, blowing agents that are being phased out
by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce the use
of high GWP materials. Use of HFC blowing agents in I-Skin
polyurethane foam applications will be banned in the U.S. beginning
Jan. 1, 2017.
"Dow can now offer its customers I-Skin foam systems that are
HFC-free, with comparable or better performance," said Joanna Minion, global business manager for
Honeywell Fluorine Products. "With the EPA mandate to discontinue
HFCs in I-Skin foam by year-end, Dow's adoption of Solstice LBA
provides its customers the time required to convert to new
systems."
Dow collaborated with Honeywell and Air Products, which makes
catalysts designed specifically to work with Solstice LBA, to
develop the new systems.
"The result of our collaboration is best-in-class, HFC-free,
I-Skin systems that meet our high performance standards in advance
of impending environmental regulations," said Scott Snyder, marketing manager, Dow. "Our new
I-Skin systems will give our customers a competitive advantage, as
well as improve the sustainability profile of their products."
Integral skin foam is composed of a two-part polyurethane
system: a flexible, lightweight foam core encased in a thick outer
"skin" that is created in a single molding process. Tests of Dow's
new polyurethane solutions, VORALUX™ for furniture and SPECFLEX™
for custom molding, demonstrated superior results for a
variety of Shore A hardness levels, a critical quality measure.
The systems take advantage of Air Products' emissions-free
catalysts POLYCAT® 203 and POLYCAT® 204,
designed specifically to be used with Solstice LBA.
"Our emission-free catalysts, and the additional catalyst tools
like Dabco® 2040 catalyst, are targeted and designed to
increase shelf stability of Solstice LBA I-Skin recipes," said
Jane Kniss, senior application
chemist for Comfort Platform, Air Products. "The synergy of our
products in Dow's new foam systems will help Dow's customers stay
well ahead of the EPA scheduled deadline."
Solstice LBA, is based on hydrofluoro-olefin (HFO) technology
and has an ultra-low GWP of 1, which is 99.9 percent lower than
HFCs and equal to carbon dioxide. It is nonflammable (ASTM E-681)
and is not a volatile organic compound per the EPA. Solstice LBA is
listed under the EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP)
Program. In Europe, it is not
listed in the Annex I of F-Gas regulation and thus not considered
an F-Gas. It is also registered under the European Union's REACH
program. Honeywell's Solstice LBA world-scale manufacturing plant
in Louisiana started up in
May 2014.
Worldwide adoption of Solstice products has resulted in the
reduction of more than 30 million metric tons of greenhouse gases
to date, equal to eliminating emissions from more than 6 million
cars.
Solstice LBA is used in a variety of rigid foam insulation
applications, including residential and commercial refrigeration
equipment, spray foam insulation, and insulated metal panels, as
well as flexible foam applications, such as molded and slabstock
foam, and integral skin. For more information on Solstice LBA,
visit www.honeywell-blowingagents.com.
Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 diversified
technology and manufacturing leader, serving customers worldwide
with aerospace products and services; control technologies for
buildings, homes, and industry; turbochargers; and performance
materials. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit
www.honeywell.com/newsroom.
This release contains certain statements that may be deemed
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SOURCE Honeywell