Flexible and Rigid Foams

1 Sourcebook of Technologies for Protecting the Ozone Layer Flexible and Rigid Foams September 1996 Update Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol 1800 McGill College Avenue, 27th Floor Montreal, Quebec H3A 3JC. Canada United Nations Environment Programme Industry and Environment 39-43 Quai Andr Citro n 75739 Paris Cedex 15. France Printed on Recycled Paper Trademarks All trademarks or servicemarks used in this sourcebook are the trademarks or servicemarks of their respective companies. Reproduction of this Document Any or all parts of this sourcebook may be reproduced without prior written consent, as long as the reproduced portion is attributed to UNEP IE.

2 UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATION. ISBN No 92-807-1430-9. UNEP IE SEPTEMBER 1996. Disclaimer Disclaimer This document was first published in August 1994 by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). following its development by Rendan A/S and nominated reviewers. It has been updated and substantially modified by Caleb Management Services and further nominated reviewers during the Spring of 1996 and is now re-published in its current form. UNEP, Rendan A/S, Caleb Management Services, their respective employees, and the reviewers of this document and their respective employers do not endorse the performance, worker safety, or environmental acceptability of any of the technical options described in this document.

3 While the information contained herein is believed to be accurate, it is of necessity presented in a summary and general fashion. Implementing alternatives presented in this document requires careful consideration of a wide range of situation-specific parameters, many of which may not be addressed by this document. Responsibility for implementation and the resulting impacts rests exclusively with the individual or entity choosing to implement the alternative. UNEP, Rendan A/S, Caleb Management Services, their respective employees, and the reviewers of this document and their respective employers do not make any warranty or representation, either express or implied, with respect to its accuracy, completeness or utility of the information presented in this document.

4 Nor do they assume any liability of any kind whatsoever for events resulting from the use of, or reliance upon, any information, material, or procedure described herein, including, but not limited to, any claims regarding health, safety, environmental effects or fate, efficacy, performance, or cost. The lists of producers, manufacturers, suppliers and organizations provided in this document are not comprehensive. Mention of any company, association, or product in this document is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a recommendation of any such company, association, or product, either express or implied, by UNEP, Rendan A/S, Caleb Management Services, their respective employees, and the reviewers of this document and their respective employers.

5 UNEP IE SEPTEMBER 1996. Table of Contents Table of Contents Foreword .. I. Acknowledgements .. III. Background and Overview of ODS Purpose of this Sourcebook..VIII. Target Groups..VIII. How to use this IX. Requests for XIII. Guidance for Selecting Non-ODS Alternatives .. XV. 1 Flexible Polyurethane foam .. 1-1. Flexible Polyurethane foam - Slabstock .. 1-3. Flexible Polyurethane foam - Moulded .. 1-29. Flexible Polyurethane foam - Integral Skin and Others .. 1-41. Flexible Polyurethane foam - Supplier 1-51. 2 Rigid Polyurethane foam .. 2-1. Rigid Polyurethane foam - Appliance Insulation.

6 2-3. Rigid Polyurethane foam - Boardstock/ Flexible Faced Lamination .. 2-23. Rigid Polyurethane foam - Sandwich 2-37. Rigid Polyurethane foam - Spray foam Insulation .. 2-51. Rigid Polyurethane foam - Slabstock .. 2-63. Rigid Polyurethane foam - Pipe-in-pipe/Preformed Pipe .. 2-77. Rigid Polyurethane foam - One-component foam .. 2-93. Rigid Polyurethane foam - Supplier Information.. 2-103. 3 Phenolic 3-1. Phenolic foam - Technical Options 3-3. Phenolic foam - Supplier Information.. 3-9. 4. Polystyrene 4-1. Polystyrene foam - Extruded Polystyrene 4-3. Polystyrene foam - Extruded Polystyrene Board.

7 4-9. Polystyrene foam - Supplier Information.. 4-17. UNEP IE SEPTEMBER 1996. Table of Contents 5. Polyolefin foam .. 5-1. Polyolefin foam - Technical Options Overview.. 5-3. Polyolefin foam - Supplier 5-13. 6. Annexes .. 6-1. Annex A - About UNEP IE's OzonAction Programme.. 6-3. Annex B - Glossary of Acronyms and Significant Terms.. 6-7. Annex C - Contacts for Additional Information and 6-11. Annex D - References and Further Reading.. 6-21. Annex E - Information Submission Form.. 6-27. UNEP IE SEPTEMBER 1996. Foreword Foreword It is virtually universally accepted by the world's scientists, industries, policy-makers, NGOs and members of the public that chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, carbon tetrachloride, methyl chloroform, and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and methyl bromide are responsible for the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer, that segment of the earth's atmosphere which protects animal and plant life from the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation.

8 Since September 1987, when nations concerned about this crisis signed the landmark Montreal Protocol that identified the major ozone-depleting substances (ODSs) and established a timetable for the reduction and eventual elimination of their use, the list of controlled substances has increased and a number of phase-out deadlines have been advanced through a series of amendments and adjustments . Under the Protocol and its amendments, ODS production and consumption of the controlled substances are to be reduced and eliminated through the development of chemical substitutes and alternative manufacturing processes.

9 Many companies in both the developing and developed world have already switched to non-ODS. alternatives, and many countries have adopted even more ambitious phase-out schedules for some substances in light of the widespread availability alternatives. Information exchange to support this global technology transfer process is crucial. Since mid-1991, a major role of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) in its capacity as an Implementing Agency of the Multilateral Fund has been (and continues to be) to provide Article 5 ( , developing). countries with clearinghouse services to assist their expeditious phase-out of controlled ODS.

10 As enshrined in Article 10 of the Montreal Protocol, such information and training support is required by developing countries in order for them to make appropriate, informed decisions in relation to their investment project and policy-making decisions. In order to better understand the changing needs of Article 5 countries, and hence design effective demand-driven services, UNEP's Industry and Environment Programme office (UNEP IE) maintains various regular feedback mechanisms. From these, it understands the broad information needs of Article 5 countries to be a step-wise process as follows: awareness about the implications of stratospheric ozone depletion and the necessity to phase out ODS.