Honeywell is developing a new low-global-warming-potential blowing agent for energy-efficient polyurethane foam insulation.

The announcement was made at the UTECH Europe conference and expo held in Maastricht, The Netherlands, where polyurethane industry leaders gather every three years to discuss issues and opportunities facing the industry.

“This product is another example of how our expanding low-global-warming product portfolio is both meeting our customers’ needs and providing superior environmental performance,” said Rene Mueller, managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa for Honeywell Fluorine Products. “Honeywell is committed to building on its strong history of innovation to meet new challenges.”

The new blowing agent being developed is a non-flammable liquid that will assist customers in reducing the overall environmental impact of foam. Honeywell expects the blowing agent will offer performance benefits comparable to those of other fluorocarbons, but with a low global-warming-potential that is less than 15. In addition, the blowing agent will have an atmospheric lifetime of just a few days. These properties are expected to result in lower greenhouse gas emissions impact on the environment while also providing the foam’s high insulation performance, dimensional stability and compressive strength.

The non-flammable liquid blowing agent will provide customers with an alternative to hydrocarbons and traditional hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).

Honeywell expects the product will be available in limited sample quantities for customers later this year.

Polyurethane foam is primarily used as a cost-effective and highly energy-efficient insulation for appliances and homes, as well as for commercial roofing systems. Blowing agents allow foam to expand and provide many of the foam’s key performance characteristics, including its high R-value, which is the measure of insulating capability. Fluorinated blowing agents provide the highest degree of thermal insulation for polyurethane foams.

Honeywell is a recognized innovator in high-performance blowing agent technology for closed-cell foam insulation and advanced energy-efficiency refrigerants for heating, ventilation and air conditioning, as well as other heat transfer fluid applications. Honeywell has consistently helped manufacturers replace ozone-depleting and global warming substances, improving the energy efficiency of stationary air conditioning systems. Honeywell has ongoing research and development efforts to develop environmentally superior solutions for customers around the world.

In 2006, Honeywell introduced its low-GWP portfolio, which is based on hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) technology. Last year, Honeywell commercialized HFO-1234ze, a low-GWP gaseous blowing agent for one-component foam in Europe. Honeywell has also announced a low-GWP refrigerant for mobile air-conditioning.

For more information about Honeywell's low-GWP blowing agent, visit http://www51.honeywell.com/sm/lgwp-uk/