Foaming agents, foamable compositions, foams and articles containing fluorine substituted olefins, and methods of making same

Abstract

Various uses of fluoroalkenes, including tetrafluoropropenes, particularly HF0-1234ze, in a variety of applications, including as blowing agents are disclosed.

1 . A blowing agent comprising:
 (a) 1,1,1,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234ze); and   (b) at least one adjuvant selected from the group consisting of co-blowing agent(s), surfactant(s), polymer modifier(s), toughening agent(s), colorant(s), dye(s), solubility enhancer(s), rheology modifier(s), plasticizing agent(s), flammability suppressant(s), antibacterial agent(s), viscosity reduction modifier(s), filler(s), vapor pressure modifier(s), nucleating agent(s), catalyst(s A) and combination of any two or more of these.   
     
     
         2 . The blowing agent of  claim 1  wherein said 1,1,1,3-tetrafluoropropene comprises cisHF0-1234ze. 
     
     
         3 . The blowing agent of  claim 1  wherein said 1,1,1,3-tetrafluoropropene comprises transHF0-1234ze. 
     
     
         4 . The blowing agent of  claim 1  wherein said 1,1,1,3-tetrafluoropropene comprises cisHF0-1234ze and transHFO-1234ze. 
     
     
         5 . The blowing agent of  claim 1  having a Global Warming Potential 5 (GWP) of not greater than about 150. 
     
     
         6 . The blowing agent of  claim 1  having an Ozone Depleting Potential 6 (ODP) of not greater than about 0.05. 
     
     
         7 . The blowing agent of  claim 1  wherein said 1,1,1,3-tetrafluoropropene (HF0-1234ze) is present in the composition in amounts of from about 1% by weight to about 99% by weight of the blowing agent. 
     
     
         8 . The blowing agent of  claim 1  wherein said 1,1,1,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234ze) is present in the composition in amounts of from about 5% by weight to about 95% by weight of the blowing agent 
     
     
         9 . The blowing agent of  claim 1  wherein said 1,1,1,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234ze) is present in the composition in amounts of from about 40% by weight to about 90% by weight of the blowing agent. 
     
     
         10 . The blowing agent of  claim 1  wherein said adjuvant comprises at least one co-blowing agent. 
     
     
         11 . The blowing agent of  claim 10  wherein said co-blowing agent is present in the blowing agent in amounts of from about 5% to about 95% by weight of the blowing agent composition. 
     
     
         12 . The blowing agent of  claim 10  wherein said co-blowing agent is present in the blowing agent in amounts of from about 5% to about 65% by weight of the blowing agent composition. 
     
     
         13 . The blowing agent of  claim 10  wherein said co-blowing agent comprises H2O in amounts of from about 5% to about 65% by weight of the blowing agent composition. 
     
     
         14 . The blowing agent of  claim 10  wherein said co-blowing agent comprises H2O in amounts of from about 10% to about 40% by weight of the blowing agent composition. 
     
     
         15 . The blowing agent of  claim 10  wherein said co-blowing agent comprises H2O in amounts of from about 10% to about 20% by weight of the blowing agent composition. 
     
     
         16 . The blowing agent of  claim 10  wherein said co-blowing agent comprises CO2 in amounts of from about 5% to about 60% by weight of the blowing agent composition. 
     
     
         17 . The blowing agent of  claim 10  wherein said co-blowing agent comprises CO2 in amounts of from about 20% to about 50% by weight of the blowing agent composition. 
     
     
         18 . The blowing agent of  claim 10  wherein said co-blowing agent comprises CO2 in amounts of from about 40% to about 50% by weight of the blowing agent composition. 
     
     
         19 . The blowing agent of  claim 10  wherein said co-blowing agent comprises one or more alcohols in amounts of from about 5% to about 40% by weight of the blowing agent composition. 
     
     
         20 . The blowing agent of  claim 10  wherein said co-blowing agent comprises one or more alcohols in amounts of from about 10% to about 40% by weight of the blowing agent composition.