Econic Technologies has released its industrial research which demonstrates robust evidence of the increased flame retardance properties of CO₂-based polyols in rigid foam applications. The British clean-tech pioneer revealed their catalyst technology to unlock the positive potential of waste CO₂ by allowing it to be incorporated as a feedstock, thus enhancing margins and reducing the reliance on fossil fuels. Econic Technologies’ most recent innovation is tunable catalyst technology allowing tailored amounts of CO₂ to be incorporated into a polyol, delivering targeted benefits to end users. The company revealed that CO₂-based polyols produced with Econic Technologies’ tunable catalyst system can lead to several added benefits, including enhanced fire performance, cost savings and improved processability. Econic Technologies is attending UTECH Europe, where the team is showcasing samples of polyols produced by their catalyst technology and polyurethane samples with varying CO₂ content.

What are the benefits of CO₂-based polyols?

There are many benefits of CO₂-based polyols; some of these include:

• Improved performance in fire resistance and heat generation, as well as a reduction in the volume and toxicity of smoke produced;
• Polyols produced using Econic’s tunable catalyst technology can be made with application-specific viscosities, removing the need to blend the CO₂ polyols with other conventional polyols, preserving maximum benefits of the CO₂ incorporation;
• Rigid foam which contains 6-10% of its mass as carbon dioxide can be made – this could lead to over half a million tonnes of CO₂ capture and utilisation globally on an annual basis;
• Increased compatibility with pentane, one of the primary blowing agents used in the production of polyurethane rigid foam. This enables improved processing and lower density products, allowing cost savings; and
• Lower hydroxyl values than benchmarks, enabling isocyanate savings, allowing lower isocyanate usage, generating further cost savings as well as a reduction of harmful chemical handling.

Mark Andrews, senior scientist, Econic Technologies, said: “We are proud to present our latest research which truly demonstrates the positive potential of carbon dioxide and the benefits of CO₂ when it is incorporated as a feedstock. “Now that we have discovered that the use of CO₂-based polyols in rigid foam applications not only improves flame retardance but also cuts toxic smoke emissions and allows for the direct control of polyol viscosity, we hope to help manufacturers improve the safety and longevity of their products, in addition to speeding up the manufacturing process and lowering costs – all of which has the potential to dramatically change polyurethane products for the better.”   This article appeared on the SciTech Europa website at https://www.scitecheuropa.eu/econic-technologies-co2-based-polyols/86974/]]>