Abstract
This paper reports on recent developments pertaining to a reduction in CFC usage and an eventual phase out of CFCs in PU foams.
For some integral skin foam applications it has been possible to introduce new solutions into the market that do not require a physical blowing agent at all. In other cases, predominantly in the rigid PU foam field, HCFCs with an acceptable compromise between their effects on the environment and the resulting k-factors of the foams are still our best bet for a quick and responsible phase out of the fully halogenated CFCs. In some cases the complete phase-out of CFCs will have to wait for the completion of toxicological and ecotoxicological tests and subsequent commercial availability of newly developed alternatives, e.g. HCFC 123. This may be as late as 1994/95. Benefitsand limitations of other blowing agents, especially for rigid PU-foams are discussed as well.
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