Arlington, Virginia - Appliance manufacturers interested in improving energy efficiency by using polyurethane foam insulation made with blowing agents that have low global warming potential (GWP) and zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) should be at the Polyurethanes 2009 Technical Conference, 5-7 Oct at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, just outside Washington, DC.
The conference covers energy efficiency and sustainability issues at length, and is, "an ideal place for appliance industry decision makers to hear the latest developments and trends directly from global innovators while they make new contacts and share ideas," said a CPI statement.
This year's blowing agents session will cover advances in both insulation efficiency and sustainability milestones. Industry experts from Caleb Management Services will open the session with a look at what the future holds for high GWP blowing agents in the context of the Montreal and Kyoto protocols.
Researchers from Foam Supplies will discuss a blowing agent that addresses both economic and environmental challenges, followed by a presentation by scientists from Honeywell International introducing a new polyurethane foam gaseous blowing agent with low GWP to conform with the European Union's F-Gas Regulation.
A team from France-based Arkema will discuss its development of a range of new blowing agents designed for most polyurethane applications, and scientists from DuPont will close the session with the introduction of a novel foam expansion agent that is non-flammable, exhibits excellent thermal properties, and offers a low GWP.
In addition, the Chemistry & Fundamentals session includes a paper by industry experts from Japan-based Asahi Glass on high-performance modified polyols with fluorination technologies that can be used for water-blown rigid polyurethane foams.
CPI says that appliance professionals will be interested in the session examining the legislative impacts of a "greening" regulatory landscape, as well as two related papers in the Environment, Health & Safety technical session that cover both the California Green Chemistry initiative and the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) alternative Chemical Assessment and Management Program (champ).
The Processing Innovations session also includes four papers on new, more efficient mix heads for reducing costs and saving time.
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