Foaming agents, foamable compositions, foams and articles containing fluorine substituted olefins, and methods of making same
Various uses of fluoroalkenes, including tetrafluoropropenes, particularly HFO-1234ze, in a variety of applications, including as blowing agents are disclosed.
1. A foamable composition comprising:
(a) a foam forming agent for forming a thermal insulating foam; and
(b) a low global warming potential GWP blowing agent having a GWP of less than about 500 and comprising at least about 15% by weight of 1,1,1,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234ze), said HFO-1234ze consisting of transHFO-1234ze.
2. The foamable composition of claim 1 wherein said foam forming agent comprises at least one thermoset foam component.
3. The foamable composition of claim 2 wherein said at least one thermoset component comprises a composition capable of forming polyurethane foam.
4. The foamable composition of claim 2 wherein said at least one thermoset component comprises a composition capable of forming polyisocyanurate foam.
5. The foamable composition of claim 2 wherein said at least one thermoset component comprises a composition capable of forming phenolic foam.
6. The foamable composition of claim 1 wherein said foam forming agent comprises at least one thermoplastic foam component.
7. The foamable composition of claim 6 wherein said at least one thermoplastic foam component comprises a thermoplastic polymer.
8. The foamable composition of claim 6 wherein said at least one thermoplastic component comprises a polyolefin.
9. The foamable composition of claim 8 wherein said polyolefin is selected from the group consisting of monovinyl aromatic compounds, ethylene-based compounds, propylene-based polymers, and combinations of these.
10. The foamable composition of claim 8 wherein said polyolefin is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene, ethylene homopolymers, polypropylene, polyethyleneterepthalate (PET) and combinations of these.
11. A method of forming a foam comprising adding to a foamable and/or foaming composition a low global warming potential GWP blowing agent having a GWP of less than about 500 and comprising at least about 15% by weight of 1,1,1,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234ze), said HFO-1234ze consisting of transHFO-1234ze.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising reacting the foamable composition under conditions effective to form a cellular structure.
13. The method of claim 11 wherein said foamable composition comprises isocyanate.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein said foamable composition comprises polyol.
15. A foam formed from the foamable composition of claim 1 .
16. An article selected from the group consisting of block, foam, and laminate comprising the foam of claim 15 .
17. The foam of claim 15 being in a form selected from the group consisting of rigid foam, open cell foam, closed cell foam, flexible foam, spray foam, one component, froths and integral skin foam.
18. A refrigerator comprising the foam of claim 15 .
19. A freezer comprising the foam of claim 15 .
20. The foam of claim 15 having a k-factor K-factor (BTU in/hr ft 2 ° F.) at 40° F. of not greater than about 0.14.