Honeywell Begins Production of Solstice HFO-1234ze

Honeywell announced on Jan. 6 that it has started full-scale commercial production of a low-global-warming-potential (GWP) material used as an aerosol propellant, insulating agent and refrigerant.

“We are seeing increasing demand for our entire Solstice line of low GWP materials, and this new product has already been adopted by a range of customers globally.” — Ken Gayer

The material — HFO-1234ze, and marketed by Honeywell under its Solstice line of low-global-warming materials — is being produced at the Honeywell Fluorine Products facility in Baton Rouge, LA.

“Honeywell’s Baton Rouge production facility is ready to serve customers around the world with this innovative material, which has an ultra-low GWP of less than 1,” said Ken Gayer, vice president and general manager of Honeywell’s Fluorine Products business. “We are seeing increasing demand for our entire Solstice line of low GWP materials, and this new product has already been adopted by a range of customers globally.”

Honeywell’s Baton Rouge facility was built in 1945 and continues to serve as one of Honeywell’s main manufacturing sites for its Performance Materials and Technologies business. The site employs more than 200 people.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal said, “Honeywell helps support hundreds of jobs in our state, and we’re proud the company is expanding in Baton Rouge with a brand new product line. This project is a good example of how Louisiana’s outstanding business climate is convincing companies like Honeywell to reinvest in our state, retain great existing jobs and create additional new career opportunities for our people.”

In September 2014, at an event sponsored by the White House, Honeywell announced that it will increase production of its low GWP refrigerants, insulation materials, aerosols and solvents, and, prior to 2020, will drive a 50 percent reduction in its annual production of high GWP hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) on a CO2 equivalent basis. The company projects that use of its low GWP Solstice materials to replace HFCs will eliminate more than 350 million metric tons in CO2 equivalents by 2025, equivalent to removing 70 million cars from the road for one year.

Profile of HFO-1234ze

• HFO-1234ze is a next-generation material that is non-ozone-depleting, non-flammable per ASTM E681 and ISO 10156:2010 testing, and has a low-global-warming-potential of less than 1. 
• It is also not a volatile organic compound (VOC), as determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the California Air Resource Board (CARB).
• HFO-1234ze is considered a preferred replacement for both HFC-134a (which has GWP of 1,300) and HFC-152a (which is flammable and has a GWP of 138) in aerosol applications and thermal insulating foams, including extruded polystyrene board and polyurethane foams.
• It is also being considered to replace HFC-134a for large stationary and commercial refrigeration applications
• Compared to other low GWP refrigerant options, Honeywell’s HFO-1234ze provides energy efficiency benefits.

Sources report that HFO-1234ze is part of Honeywell’s line of Solstice hydrofluoro-olefin (HFO) products that have extremely low global warming potentials — either equal to or less than carbon dioxide — and that are safe, available today and capable of making a significant positive environmental impact. Honeywell’s Solstice HFOs are alternatives to high GWP HFCs and are energy-efficient, safe to use, non-ozone-depleting and have a minimal global warming profile.

Honeywell’s Solstice line of HFOs includes:

• Solstice yf for automobile air conditioning
• Solstice Propellant for aerosol applications
• Solstice Liquid Blowing Agent and Gas Blowing Agent for foam applications
• Solstice Performance Fluid for use as an industrial solvent.

Each of these products has been approved under the EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program.

In addition to its industry-leading line of low-global-warming-potential HFOs, Honeywell’s Fluorine Products business manufactures and supplies non-ozone-depleting refrigerants used by top air-conditioning and refrigeration makers worldwide, blowing agents for energy-efficient foam insulation, hydrofluoric acid used in gasoline and steel manufacturing, and precursors for nuclear fuel.