A Change for the Better: Polyiso Industry’s New Blowing Agent
On Jan. 1, 2003, the polyiso industry began using new, zero-ozone-depleting blowing agents and zero-global-warming agents in the manufacturing of its foam insulation products. Blowing agents are one of the three basic components of polyiso insulation. The blowing agent is the ingredient that expands the foam and then remains contained in the closed cells, thereby enhancing the foam’s thermal performance. This new generation of polyiso foam insulation is manufactured with hydrocarbon blowing agents instead of HCFC-141b.
The use of hydrocarbons is the latest in a series of improvements the polyiso industry has made to help protect the stratospheric ozone layer. Seven years ago, the industry successfully converted from the blowing agent CFC-11 to HCFC-141b, resulting in a 90-percent reduction in ozone depletion potential over the previously used CFC-11. Polyisocyanurate Insulation Manufacturers Association (PIMA) members received the EPA’s Stratospheric Ozone Protection Award for this action. It was recognized at the time that HCFC-141b was to be phased out in the future and polyiso manufacturers began the search for a third generation blowing agent that would meet its requirements for performance in both the product and the environment. After extensive research, hydrocarbons were selected because they met all physical and thermal product performance requirements as well as environmental considerations.