Impacto ambiental: pentano frente a hidrofluorocarbonos (HFC)

Outdated blowing agents like hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are being phased out due to their significant environmental impact. Historically used in spray foam roof adhesives, insulation, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems, HFCs are now being replaced by pentane because of their high global warming potential (GWP).

HFCs were originally developed to replace ozone-depleting substances such as HCFCs and CFCs. However, HFCs are potent greenhouse gases that can persist in the atmosphere for 15 to 29 years. Although they constitute only about one percent of total greenhouse gases, their impact on global warming can be hundreds to thousands of times greater than that of carbon dioxide per unit of mass.

In late 2021, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initiated a program to phase out the production of harmful HFCs, continuing a decades-long effort to adopt less harmful blowing agents. The chemical industry introduced HFCs in the 1990s as replacements for HCFCs, which themselves had replaced the even more damaging CFCs in the 1980s.

Pentane has emerged as a more environmentally friendly alternative to HFCs. With a GWP of less than 10, pentane is far less impactful on global warming compared to HFC-134a, the most widely used HFC, which has a GWP of 1,430. Beyond its environmental benefits, pentane also offers other advantages for businesses, making it a superior choice for modern insulation and refrigeration applications.