Honeywell’s Developmental Blowing Agent Meets EU Global Warming Regulatory Requirements

New technology targets future one-component insulating foam sealant applications and
has zero ozone-depletion potential

MORRIS TOWNSHIP, N.J.,— Honeywell (NYSE: HON) announced today it has developed a blowing agent that would replace R-134a, a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) used to make one-component foam expand, and would meet European Union regulatory requirements for reducing the use of high global warming potential (GWP) substances.

One-component foam is easily dispensed from a can and requires no mixing. This energy-saving foam is commonly used to seal gaps around windows and doors. According to industry estimates, there were more than 120 million cans of one-component foam sold throughout Europe in 2004, the last year for which comprehensive data are available.

Under the European Union Fluorine-gas regulation, the use of high-GWP substances will be prohibited for several applications. The regulation is based on predictions that long-term use of these substances could contribute to global warming. Honeywell’s new developmental product has a very low GWP.

“We are committed to developing environmentally preferable products for the global construction industry,” said Terrence Hahn, vice president and general manager for Honeywell’s Fluorine Products business. “Our new technology is part of Honeywell’s continued efforts to address current and potential regulatory requirements and to meet the evolving needs of insulating foam makers and consumers worldwide.”

Ian Shankland, technology leader for Honeywell’s low-GWP initiative, said, “The results of our initial overall performance testing are very favorable. Testing has shown that our new technology can be used as a direct replacement for R-134a with minimal process modifications in one-component foam applications.”

Honeywell’s developmental blowing agent has performance properties similar to R-134a. It also has zero ozone-depletion potential.

Honeywell is a recognized leading innovator in high performance blowing agent technology for foam insulation, as well as advanced energy-efficient refrigerants for refrigeration and air conditioning applications. In the 1990s,

Honeywell helped manufacturers replace ozone-depleting substances and improve the energy efficiency of stationary air conditioning systems.

The company announced last year a different low-GWP solution to replace R-134a in automotive air conditioning systems.

Honeywell Specialty Materials, based in Morristown, N.J., is a $4.7 billion, global leader in providing customers with high-performance specialty materials, including fluorine products; specialty films and additives; advanced fibers and composites; intermediates; specialty chemicals; electronic materials and chemicals; and technologies and materials for petroleum refining.