DuPont developes Next Generation Refrigerant for Automotive Air Conditioning
The new refrigerant for automotive air conditioning offers a considerably lower global warming potential than hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) R-134a, which is used today. The new refrigerant candidate, hydrofluoro-olefin (HFO)-1234yf, is the product of a joint development agreement between DuPont and Honeywell, which have been working closely with automotive manufacturers and their suppliers to conduct extensive safety, environmental and performance testing. Based upon equivalent cooling and energy performance and global adoption of one refrigerant by the year 2017, the use of the new refrigerant in new cars has the potential to save more than 2,200 million liters (about 590 million gallons) of fuel annually – the equivalent of taking approximately 1.5 million cars off the road each year, compared to the in-kind product. Although specific plans have not yet been announced pending commercial agreements, DuPont is developing plans for HFO-1234yf production that would allow automotive manufacturers to meet the 2011 timeframe imposed by the EU directive. DuPont – one of the first companies to publicly establish environmental goals 18 years ago – has broadened its sustainability commitments beyond internal footprint reduction to include market-driven targets for both revenue and research and development investment. The goals are tied directly to business growth, specifically to the development of safer and environmentally improved new products for key global markets. Quelle: Dupont USA |