Honeywell Solstice Liquid Blowing Agent Receives VOC-Exempt Status From U.S. EPA
MORRIS TOWNSHIP, NJ – October 24, 2013 – Honeywell announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has added Solstice™ Liquid Blowing Agent, also known as 1233zd, to the list of materials exempted from volatile organic compound (VOC) regulations. T
The exemption further demonstrates the environmental benefits of Solstice LBA, which has a global warming potential (GWP) of 1 (equal to carbon dioxide), significantly lower than the GWP of traditional hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) blowing agents, and an order of magnitude lower than the GWPs of many hydrocarbons.
Blowing agents allow closed-cell foam insulation to expand and provide the majority of the foam's excellent insulating properties. They are used by refrigerator manufacturers, spray foam insulation formulators and insulated panel manufacturers to provide superior insulating properties to a variety of end-use products including appliances, roofs and walls.
"Customers need a blowing agent that offers both outstanding thermal insulation performance and superior environmental properties. Solstice LBA offers just that – it is VOC-exempt, has an ultra-low GWP, and is nonflammable," said Rajiv Banavali, chief technology officer for Honeywell Fluorine Products.
Solstice LBA is a cost-effective, energy-efficient, safe and environmentally preferable alternative to high-global-warming-potential HFC blowing agents and flammable and non-VOC-exempt hydrocarbons.
VOCs are organic compounds that break down quickly in the lower atmosphere and participate in chemical reactions that ultimately create tropospheric (ground-level) ozone, which is an irritant and a major component of smog. The EPA provided the VOC exemption for Solstice LBA based on the material's low photochemical reactivity and negligible contribution to the generation of ground-level ozone.
In addition to Solstice Liquid Blowing Agent, Honeywell's family of Solstice-branded products includes stationary and mobile refrigerants, gaseous blowing agents, propellants and solvents based on Honeywell's new hydrofluoro-olefin technology that helps customers lower their carbon footprint without sacrificing end-product performance. The products have been developed and are being commercialized by Honeywell's Fluorine Products business, a leader in the manufacture and supply of non-ozone-depleting blowing agents for energy-efficient foam insulation.
About Honeywell: Honeywell 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. Based in Morris Township, N.J., Honeywell's shares are traded on the New York, London, and Chicago Stock Exchanges. For more news and information on Honeywell, please use the contact information and links provided below.
