MORRIS PLAINS, N.J.—Honeywell announced that one of its new insulating materials was given the top 2015 innovation award by a leading industry group. Solstice Liquid Blowing Agent (LBA), a critical material used in energy-efficient polyurethane foam insulation, was named the winner of the 2015 Polyurethane Innovation Award by the American Chemistry Council’s Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI).
Foam blowing agents allow closed-cell polyurethane foam insulation to expand and provide the majority of the foam’s excellent insulating properties. Solstice LBA has a global warming potential that is significantly lower than higher global warming hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) blowing agents while providing excellent insulating properties.
Widespread adoption of Solstice LBA would result in a reduction of more than 25 million metric tons per year of CO2-equivalent in the U.S. alone; globally this number could exceed 90 million metric tons per year, which is equivalent to permanently taking 19 million cars off the road.
“This innovation award is another recognition of the efforts by our world-leading fluorine researchers, who have developed a range of low-global-warming materials for applications ranging from insulation to automotive and commercial air-conditioning,” said Sanjeev Rastogi, Business Director for Honeywell Fluorine Products. “I want to congratulate the other finalists, Dow Chemical and Novomer, as well all of the nominees. We are very proud that Solstice LBA is making a positive contribution by increasing foam performance and energy efficiency, while dramatically reducing climate impact.”
Three Finalists in Award Competition
Solstice LBA was voted top innovation from among three finalists by judges and attendees of the CPI Polyurethanes Technical Conference in Orlando, Fla. The award highlights the role that innovation plays in the polyurethane industry and recognizes companies and individuals whose vision and perseverance bring new products, technologies and initiatives to the marketplace.
“After more than 80 years, we are still seeing exciting and meaningful innovation in the polyurethanes industry,” said Lee Salamone, Senior Director of CPI. “Honeywell’s Solstice LBA, which we honored today, continues this tradition and sets the bar high for next year’s innovation award nominees. I’m proud to say that we received a record number of submissions for the Innovation Award this year, and I know we will continue to see the technical excellence exhibited by all of our finalists.”
Global regulators are increasingly moving to phase out higher-global-warming foam blowing agents, refrigerant and other materials based on HFC technology. On July 20, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published landmark regulations that will phase out the use of many HFC blowing agents. The new regulation, parts of which are effective in January 2017, will require manufacturers to discontinue use of many standard HFC blowing agents and blends in certain applications.
Solstice LBA, which is based on hydrofluoro-olefin technology, has an ultra-low global warming potential of 1, which is 99.9 percent lower than HFC blowing agents it replaces and equal to carbon dioxide. It is non-ozone-depleting and nonflammable. Solstice LBA has received EPA approval under the Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program, and is volatile organic compound (VOC)-exempt per U.S. EPA.
Honeywell also manufactures Solstice Gas Blowing Agent, which replaces HFC-134a in insulation for commercial appliances and extruded polystyrene boardstock insulation for homes and buildings.
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