2002 report of the rigid and flexible foams : technical options committee: assessment

Abstract

Historically, the blowing agent selection made by the foam plastics manufacturing industry was based heavily on CFCs. This was particularly the case in closed cell insulating foams. An assortment of CFCs and other ozone depleting substances (ODSs), including CFC-11, CFC-12, CFC-113, CFC-114 and methyl chloroform were used in numerous foam plastic product applications. However, the effect of the phase-out process has been to create further diversification.The first technology transition in the early 1990s led to the introduction of transitional substances such as HCFCs as well as the increasing use of hydrocarbons and other non-ODSs. This transition is still taking place in Article 5(1) countries. In non-Article 5(1) countries, particularly in Europe and North America, attention is now firmly focused on the second phase of technology transition out of the transitional substances. This transition is concentrating attention on the emerging HFC-based technologies, although it should be stressed that much consideration is still being given to the optimisation of hydrocarbon and CO2 technologies1 and these technologies are gaining market share in several sectors.