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Common Uses of Foam ] Polyurethane Foam Properties ] AMA Article on Toxicity ] Open Cell vs. Closed Cell ] [Blowing Agent ] HFC Comparison ]

HFC-134a as a Blowing Agent in Polyurethane Foams: The History

  1. An industry-wide response to environmental issues was prompted when scientists began to raise concerns over the effects of CFC (chlorofluorocarbon) blowing agents and other ozone depleting substances on the earth's atmosphere.

  2. HCFC R-22 was developed because it had less than 5% of the effect on the atmosphere's ozone layer than the old standard, R-11 (CFC).

  3. As a part of its commitment to energy and environmental conservation, FOAM-TECH began using HCFC as a blowing agent for polyurethane foam systems in the fall of 1991. This implementation of “ozone friendly” blowing agent technology was well in advance of the Environmental Protection Agency's deadlines for phasing out CFC blowing agents.

  4. In 1992, HFC-134a, with its “Zero Ozone Depletion Potential” (ODP) was developed to address new environmental standards.

  5. In April of 1993 FOAM-TECH introduced its newest energy conservation product SUPERGREEN™ FOAM which successfully incorporates HFC-134a as a blowing agent. SUPERGREEN™ complements FOAM-TECH’s Class II “environmentally-friendly” systems to provide a complete range of eco-safe options in field-applied insulation and flotation technology and is one of the first available with this level of ozone “friendliness”. This is the latest plus for Polyurethane foams as an already important building technology

Description

Type

Impact
(% of CFC)

% Used

Net Impact

Contents

R-11, 12, 113

CFC

100%

100

100%

Free Chlorine (CFC)

R-141

HCFC

5%

33

1.7%

Chlorine bonded (not free)

R-22*

HCFC

5%

33

1.7%

Chlorine bonded (not free)

R-HFC134a **

HFC

0%

33

0%

No Chlorine

* FOAM-TECH switched to non-CFCs in October, 1991
** FOAM-TECH introduced this in its SUPERGREEN™ FOAM in April, 1993

Note: Most of the HFC-134a remains in the foam’s cells, thus the high R-Value. This reduces the danger to the atmosphere. The effective insulating properties of the foam also reduce fossil-fuel emissions over the life of the building.