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# News Release

Contact: Jeanne Cobetto Media Line: 412-777-5200 Fax: 412-778-4430 E-mail: Jeanne.Cobetto.b@bayer.com



### Bayer MaterialScience Researcher Evaluates HFC Emissions During Foaming Operations

HOUSTON, Oct. 17, 2005 — Following the HCFC-141b production phase-out in 2002, the U.S. appliance industry converted to HFC-245fa and HFC-134a as its polyurethane foam blowing agents. While these hydrofluorocarbons do not deplete the ozone layer, they are greenhouse gasses whose atmospheric emissions should be minimized. Although previous studies have looked at the emissions of blowing agents from refrigerators after they are foamed, only minimal information has been reported on the amount of blowing agent that is lost during foaming. ABayer MaterialScience researcher will provide insight into the amount of HFC-245fa and HFC134a released to the atmosphere during foaming operat ions as a function of foam formulation and processing conditions at the Alliance fo r the Polyurethanes Industry’s Polyurethanes Technical Conference & Trade Fair, taking place Oct. 17-19, 2005, in Houston.

Steve L. Aprahamian, Ph.D., senior scientist, Technical Insulation Development Group, Bayer MaterialScience, will present his paper, Quantification of HFC Blowing Agent Emissions of Typical Appliance Insulating Foam, 10:45 a.m., Tuesday, October 18. J.M. Bowman, principal engineer, Blowing Agent Technical Service and Development Group, Honeywell International Inc., also authored the paper. Bayer MaterialScience LLC 100 Bayer Road Pittsburgh, PA 15205-9741 412-777-2000Bayer MaterialScience Researcher Evaluates HFC Emissions During Foaming Operations - 2

-moreIn all polyurethane foaming operations, some quantity of blowing agent is lost during the foaming process. This is reflected by the fill density – the amount of foam required to fill the mold or part. According to Aprahamian, the intent of the study was to quantify the emission of blowing agents during the foaming process by replicating the foaming operations of a generic refrigerator factory. In a typical commercial refrigerator manufacturing process, both cabinets and doors of various sizes are foamed. The surrogate process used in this study involved foaming of a Bosch mold of known volume under controlled conditions.

In this study, the main predictor of blowing agent losses was the ‘volatility’ of the blowing agent in the foam formulation, which includes blowing agent boiling point and its solubility in the polyol, among other factors. Aprahamian points out that further study in a commercial refrigeration operation would be beneficial, as it would allow for the incorporation of vessel levels, vessel pressure and foam head conditions, as well as other operational characteristics.

Reducing HFC blowing agent emissions is not on ly positive for the environment, but can also lead to reduced costs for appliance manufacturers, according to Aprahamian. “If there is less material in the air, there is more material in the part, so less liquid would be needed for the same part weight. Less loss of blowing agent can lead to reduced part density through increased blowing in the system. Additionally, more blowing agent in the cells will help to lower the k-factor of the foam and increase its insulating ability,” he explained.

For more information about polyurethane technologies or a copy of this technical paper, call 1-800-662-2927 or visit www.BayerMaterialScienceNAFTA.com.

Bayer MaterialScience LLC is one of the leading producers of polymers and highperformance plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer MaterialScience business with 18,000 employees at 40 sites around the world and 2004 sales of 8.6 billion euros. Our innovative developments in coating, adhesive and sealant raw materials, polycarbonates, polyurethanes and thermoplastic urethane elastomers enhance the design and functionality of products in a wide variety of markets, including the automotive, construction, electrical and electronics, household and medical industries, and the sports and leisure fields. Our inorganic basic chemicals unit produces chlorine and related essential products for the chemicals industry. Let us give life to your vision. Bayer MaterialScience – Where VisionWorks.Bayer MaterialScience Researcher Evaluates HFC Emissions During Foaming Operations - 3

Bayer Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, is part of the worldwide Bayer Group, an international health care, nutrition and innovative materials group based in Leverkusen, Germany. In North America, as of April 2005, Bayer employed about 16,000 and had net sales of 8.3 billion euros. Bayer’s three operating companies – Bayer HealthCare LLC, Bayer CropScience LP and Bayer MaterialScience LLC – improve people’s lives through a broad range of essential products that help diagnose and treat diseases, protect crops and advance automobile safety and durability.

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