As a widely used synthetic material, the global consumption of polyurethane is expected to reach 28.6 million tons in 2018, and China’s polyurethane consumption accounts for about 40% of the world’s total. my country is the world’s largest producer and consumer of polyurethane, and hydrochlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons are widely used as physical foaming agents. However, both substances now have clear timetables for phase-out or restriction. If green and low-carbon alternative technologies and products are not found as soon as possible, my country’s polyurethane industry and many downstream companies will suffer a heavy blow. The research team of Bi Yusui, a professor at Shandong University of Science and Technology, spent 13 years developing a new chlorine- and fluorine-free chemical foaming agent called CFA8. Once industrialized successfully, it will play a key technical support role for the Chinese government to fulfill its international emission reduction commitments.
“Savior” becomes “culprit”
Compared with hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons are a newer generation of physical blowing agents. They were originally introduced as alternatives to Freon and other substances harmful to the ozone layer. , is widely used in air conditioners, refrigerators, sprays, foams and other refrigeration products. However, this once regarded as the “savior” of protecting the ozone layer has been proven to be a powerful greenhouse gas with a global warming potential thousands of times higher than that of carbon dioxide. It is one of the “culprits” causing global warming. . What is even more worrying is that currently, hydrofluorocarbons have become the fastest growing greenhouse gas in the world, with emissions increasing at a rate of 10% per year.
On October 15, 2016, nearly 200 parties to the Montreal Protocol signed the Kigali Amendment in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. According to this amendment, countries will include HFCs in the restricted list and gradually reduce HFCs by 80% to 85% by 2040. Developed countries will first reduce the use of HFCs from 2019, and more than 100 developing countries, including China, will freeze the use of HFCs from 2024.
Lu Guoguo, secretary-general of the China Polyurethane Industry Association, said that Chinese companies are still using hydrochlorofluorocarbons as physical foaming agents in large quantities. Due to export requirements, some companies use hydrochlorofluorocarbons. carbide. “But currently developed countries such as Europe and the United States have begun to control hydrofluorocarbons, which has a considerable impact on my country’s export products such as refrigerators and air conditioners. If relevant industries and companies cannot adjust their technical direction in time and carry out technological upgrades and transformations, the export market will face Serious green trade barriers.”
Where to find alternative materials
Eric Solheim, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program, emphasized that the HFC alternatives being studied need to have very low ozone depletion potential and global change. Warm potential value. At present, the timetable for the elimination of traditional physical foaming agents in the polyurethane industry has been clear, and the world is looking for more efficient and environmentally friendly alternatives. How should China act?
Recently, we learned from the Foreign Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Environmental Protection that my country will launch a hydrochlorofluorocarbon phase-out plan as soon as possible and will advance the phase-out time limit from 2030, the previous international commitment. By the end of 2025.
In fact, as early as the 2016 International Ozone Layer Protection Day Commemoration Conference, Zhao Yingmin, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, stated that China will issue “Recommendations for Key Alternative Technologies for Hydrochlorofluorocarbons” Catalog”, revise and improve standards and regulations for alternatives, and encourage and support the research, development and promotion of green and low-carbon alternative technologies through industrial policies, government green procurement, green product certification, public opinion publicity and guidance, etc.
Guo Xiaolin, deputy director of the Third Project Division of the Foreign Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, said: “By vigorously promoting alternative technologies that are friendly to the ozone layer and climate, we will guide relevant manufacturing industries to realize implementation from the supply side. Technology upgrading and product structure optimization will enhance the international competitiveness and sustainable development potential of my country’s related industries and products. At the same time, catalog release can increase the public’s awareness of environmentally friendly and low-carbon technologies, guide the trend of green consumption, and promote green purchasing behavior of local governments. , forming a market mechanism that is conducive to the promotion of green and low-carbon products.”
China’s plan is now emerging
In fact, new domestic alternative materials have emerged and have taken a different technical route from the past.
According to Bi Yusui, this chlorine-fluorine-free polyurethane chemical foaming agent called CFA8 does not contain halogen elements. During production and use, it fundamentally avoids strong It can effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions and meet performance requirements such as thermal conductivity of polyurethane foam.
This means that the world’s polyurethane industry is expected to get rid of the problem of powerful greenhouse gas emissions and usher in green development.
In many cities, some old residential buildings are undergoing building energy-saving renovations. The entire project often lasts for half a year or even a year, which is both complicated and inevitably disturbing to the residents. In the courtyard of Shandong Zibo Zhenghua Foam Materials Co., Ltd., technicians hold spray guns and move them up, down, left and right against the wall. After a few minutes, the wall expanded by 1 cm
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