Blowing agent gets exemption from EPA
Foam Supplies Inc. said its new blowing agent for polyurethane has received exempt status for volatile organic compounds from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Ecomate is Foam Supplies' trade name for methyl formate, which the Earth City, Mo., firm touts as a replacement for hydrochlorofluorocarbon 141b. The VOC-exempt status implies Ecomate does not contribute to lower-atmosphere ozone production, as occurs with nitrogen oxides and other VOCs.
Foam Supplies said Ecomate qualifies for the EPA's Significant New Alternatives Program for PU blowing agents. Ecomate has thermal efficiency equal to or better than HCFC-22 and HFC-134a and requires only minor equipment changes, according to the company.
Tel. (314) 344-3330 or (800) 325-4875, fax (314) 344-3331, e-mail [email protected]
New coating method smooths film surface
Techni-Met Inc. has developed a new film-coating technology that smooths the surface to improve performance in demanding applications.
The firm uses vacuum-sputtering technology and an acrylic monomer to lay down an acrylic polymer surface on film. The acrylic bonds to the film substrate by cross-linking. Films conducive to the technology include PET, polyethylene naphthalate, PVC and polyimide.
The Windsor, Conn., company claims its technology provides superior water, oxygen and optical properties. Its target markets include medical, pharmaceutical, electronics, automotive and fuel cells. It said treated films can be thinner and made of less-costly materials. Expensive laminations can be avoided in some cases.
Techni-Met has installed a production system for the technology in Windsor.
Its in-line, roll-to-roll line smooths film with substrate bumps and depressions as big as 0.75 microns. The new line complements Techni-Met's traditional business of sputtered-metal film coating.
Tel. (860) 688-2300, fax (860) 688-0278, e-mail [email protected]
