Process Solutions for Alternative Blowing Agents

A large portion of the polyurethane industry is being forced to evaluate the use of alternative blowing agents. While we have heard many updates on the chemical alternatives that are being developed, little has been said about the equipment modifications that will be required in order to process each of the new alternatives. Manufacturers will need to decide which blowing agent to switch to, but in order to do this; they need to evaluate the equipment impact associated with each potential change. They need to know the design changes, cost, and production impact of the new equipment or retrofits in order to make a final decision. This paper will present the latest updates in the regulatory codes, the subsequent process modifications that will be required, the modifications’ suitability for use with other alternatives (in the event that a processor would be required to switch again), as well as the estimated costs associated with the implementation of each of these solutions.