HFC-245fa:An Ideal Blowing Agent for Integral Skin Foam

摘要

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons have been baned in the US from use in integral skin foam applications for over five years.During this period,CO_2 (water) and HFC-134a have been used with varying degrees of success in these formulations.However,compared to CFC-11,foams blown with water and HFC-134a are both characterized by poor skin formation.Since the phase-out of HCFCs in integral skin foam in January 1,1994,Honeywell has done considerable work to develop a next generation blowing agent and is now commercializing HFC-245fa (1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane) to replace HCFCs.A world-scale HFC-245fa plant is now being built by Honeywell in Geismar,Louisiana.The plant is on schedule to be commercially operational by mid-2002.HFC-245fa is well known as a third generation blowing agent with zero ozone depleting potential (ODP),non-flammability,and acceptable global warming potential (GWP).With the commercialization of HFC-245fa,applications like integral skin foam that need a better performing blowing agent may find a solution to problem areas that have not been met by water and HFC-134a.