DuPont Fluorochemicals (DuPont) announced significant progress in delivering a new foam expansion solution based on hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) technology, which offers breakthrough reduction in global warming potential (GWP) as well as energy efficiency benefits. DuPont has established firm plans to start-up small-scale production in 2014 of HFO-1336mzz, which will be marketed as Formacel 1100 foam expansion agent. The company also is forming plans for world-class commercial capacity to meet the long-term needs of polyurethane foam customers for high efficiency, low GWP solutions.DuPont is actively engaged in the development of Formacel 1100 foam expansion agent as part of its expanding portfolio of low GWP products. In addition, the company is exploring the potential to use HFO-1336mzz in refrigerant applications.
Formacel 1100 foam expansion agent, based on HFO-1336mzz, can help significantly reduce the environmental footprint of rigid polyurethane foam insulation around the world. In addition to its extremely low global warming potential and zero ozone depletion potential, Formacel 1100 also offers excellent thermal insulation performance allowing for reduced energy consumption, which further reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
"At DuPont we apply science to create sustainable solutions that meet marketplace needs," said Thierry F.J. Vanlancker, president, DuPont Chemicals & Fluoroproducts. "The commercialization of DuPont Formacel 1100 is a great example of this as it will enable our customers to operate more sustainably. The product not only has zero ozone depletion potential and greater than 99 percent lower global warming potential compared to the HFCs used in rigid polyurethane insulating foam today, but also delivers significant energy efficiency benefits."
"DuPont Fluorochemicals will continue to develop new offerings based on our breakthrough HFO technology and will pursue investments in large-scale and lower-cost production to enable adoption of DuPont Formacel 1100," said Kathryn K. McCord, global business director, DuPont Fluorochemicals.
DuPont is one of the first companies to publicly establish environmental goals more than 20 years ago has broadened its sustainability commitments beyond internal footprint reduction to include market-driven targets for both revenue and research and development investment.
