Foaming Agents And Compositions Containing Fluorine Substituted Olefins And Methods Of Foaming
Disclosed are bowing agent compositions, foamable compositions, foams, foaming methods and/or foamed articles comprising one or more C2 to C6 fluoroalkenes, more preferably one or more C3 to C5 fluoroalkenes, and even more preferably one or more compounds having Formula I as follows: XCF z R 3-z (I) Where X is a C 1 , C 2 , C 3 , C 4 , or C 5 unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted radical, each R is independently Cl, F, Br, I or H, and z is 1 to 3, it generally being preferred that the fluoroalkene of the present invention was at least four (4) halogen substituents, at least three of which are F and even more preferably none of which are Br.
1 . A foamable composition comprising a thermoplastic foam forming material and a blowing agent, said blowing agent comprising:
(a) trans-1, 1, 1, 3-tetrafluoropropene (transHFO-1234ze); and
(b) at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: 1,1,1,trifluoro,3chloro-propene (HFCO-1233zd) , dimethylether, ethanol, acetone, carbon dioxide and combinations of any two or more of these.
2 . The foamable composition of claim 1 wherein said at least one compound comprises HFCO-1233zd.
3 . The foamable composition of claim 2 wherein said HFCO-1233zd comprises trans-1,1,1,trifluoro,3chloro-propene (trans-HFCO-1233zd).
4 . The foamable composition of claim 1 wherein said at least one compound-is present in the composition in an amount of from about 1 wt % to about 50 wt %.
5 . The foamable composition of claim 1 wherein said at least one compound is present in the composition in an amount of from about 20 wt % to about 80 wt %.
6 . The foamable composition of claim 1 wherein said foam forming agent comprises at least one thermoset foam component selected from components capable of forming polyurethane foam, polyisocyanurate foam, phenolic foam, and two or more of these.
7 . The foamable composition of claim 1 wherein said foam forming agent comprises at least one thermoplastic foam component is selected from monovinyl aromatic compounds, ethylene-based compounds, propylene-based polymers, and combinations of these.
8 . A foam premix composition comprising the foamable composition in accordance with claim 1 .
9 . A method of forming a foam comprising foaming the foamable composition in accordance with claim 1 .
10 . A foam comprising a plurality of polymeric cells and a composition contained in at least one of said cells, said composition comprising at least the foamable composition in accordance with claim 1 .
11 . The foam of claim 10 in the form of one or more of a block, a slab, a laminate, a rigid foam, an open cell foam, a closed cell foam, a flexible foam, an integeral skin foam, refrigerator foam, and a freezer foam.
12 . The foam of claim 10 having a k-factor (BTU in/hr ft 2 ° F.) at 40° F. of not greater than about 0.14.
13 . The foam of claim 12 in the form of one or more of a block, a slab, a laminate, a rigid foam, an open cell foam, a closed cell foam, a flexible foam, an integeral skin foam, refrigerator foam, and a freezer foam.