What is a blowing agent, GWP, ODP & HCFC-free mean?

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What is a blowing agent, GWP, ODP & HCFC-free mean?

Date Published

Blowing Agent

Simply, it is a substance used during the manufacture of cellular foam insulation products.

These agents are typically used to enhance the thermal performance of the finished product by filling the cells within the insulation with a low thermal conductivity gas.

To manufacture our range of Kingspan Insulation products, we use blowing agents with zero Ozone Depletion Potential and low Global Warming Potential (GWP).

What is Global Warming Potential?

Global Warming Potential is a relative measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere, and in turn how much the product is estimated to contribute towards global warming.

How is Global Warming Potential measured?

It compares the amount of heat trapped by a certain mass of the gas in question to the amount of heat trapped by a similar mass of carbon dioxide.

A GWP is calculated over a specific time interval, commonly 20, 100 or 500 years.

What is Ozone Depletion Potential?

Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) is the ratio of the ability of a substance to degrade ozone, to that of chlorofluorocarbon-11 (CFC-11).

Ozone Depletion Measurements of Different Products

HCFCs are thought to be between 0.001 and 0.11, i.e. up to 1000 times less degrading than CFC-11, which has a value of 1.0, whilst other substances, such as certain types of Pentanes, have an ODP of zero., i.e. they do no harm to the ozone.

What are HCFCs?

Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are a group of compounds, whose structure is very close to that of Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), but including one or more hydrogen atom. However, they are much less stable.

HCFCs are also part of a group of chemicals known as the volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

HCFCs are often now used as blowing agents during the manufacture of foam insulation products. Especially since the complete eradication of CFCs in the UAE, Qatar and Oman in 2010.

Why should we remove them?

Releases of HCFCs can have serious environmental consequences. Although not as damaging as CFCs or Halons, they can still end up in the higher atmosphere (stratosphere) where they can trap heat within the atmosphere.

HCFCs therefore, contribute to Global Warming (through "the Greenhouse Effect") and, as such, have a high "Global Warming Potential".

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What is a blowing agent, GWP, ODP & HCFC-free mean?