technologyComment of latex production (RER): production by emulsion polymerization out of styrene and butadiene
technologyComment of polyurethane production, flexible foam, MDI-based (RER): Polyurethane is made by reacting diisocyanates and polyols. To generate PU foam, addition of water to the main reagents causes a side reaction producing carbon dioxide, which acts as a blowing agent. Flexible slabstock polyurethane foams are produced as large blocks using a continuous process with minimal human handling. Continuous foam machines are the standard in Europe today. Reference: The full report can be accessed here: https://www.europur.org/images/20150821_EPD_EUROPUR_PU_foam.pdf (last accessed 2020-12-14). technologyComment of polyurethane production, flexible foam, TDI-based, high density (RER): Polyurethane is made by reacting diisocyanates and polyols. To generate PU foam, addition of water to the main reagents causes a side reaction producing carbon dioxide, which acts as a blowing agent. Flexible slabstock polyurethane foams are produced as large blocks using a continuous process with minimal human handling. Continuous foam machines are the standard in Europe today. Reference: The full report can be accessed here: https://www.europur.org/images/20150821_EPD_EUROPUR_PU_foam.pdf (last accessed 2020-12-14). technologyComment of polyurethane production, flexible foam, TDI-based, low density (RER): Polyurethane is made by reacting diisocyanates and polyols. To generate PU foam, addition of water to the main reagents causes a side reaction producing carbon dioxide, which acts as a blowing agent. Flexible slabstock polyurethane foams are produced as large blocks using a continuous process with minimal human handling. Continuous foam machines are the standard in Europe today. Reference: The full report can be accessed here: https://www.europur.org/images/20150821_EPD_EUROPUR_PU_foam.pdf (last accessed 2020-12-14).
The production of fluorochemicals and PTFE monomers can be summarized with the following chemical reactions (Cedergren et al. 2001): CaF2 + H2SO4 -> CaSO4 + 2HF (1) CH4 + 3Cl2 -> CHCl3 + 3HCl (2) CHCl3 + 2HF -> CHClF2 + 2HCl (3) 2 CHClF2 + heat -> CF2=CF2 + 2 HCl (4) This dataset represents the last reaction step (4). Parts of the production are carried out at high pressure and high temperature, 590 ºC – 900 ºC. The first reaction (1) takes place in the presence of heat and HSO3 - and steam. The inventory for the production of hydrogen fluoride can be found in the report (Jungbluth 2003a). Reaction (2) is used to produce trichloromethane. Reaction 3 for the production of chlorodifluoromethane takes place in the presence of a catalyst. The production of PTFE (4) takes place under high temperature pyrolysis conditions. Large amounts of hydrochloric acid (HCl) are generated as a couple product during the process and are sold as a 30% aqueous solution. A large number of other by-products and emissions is formed in the processes (benzene, dichloromethane, ethylene oxide, formaldehyde, R134a, and vinyl chloride) and small amounts of the highly toxic perfluoroisobutylene CF2=C(CF3)2. The by-products in the production of monomers can harm the processes of polymerisation. Because of this, the refinement of the production of monomers has to be very narrow. This makes the process complex and it contributes to a high cost for the PTFE-laminates. (Cedergren et al. 2001). References: Althaus H.-J., Chudacoff M., Hischier R., Jungbluth N., Osses M. and Primas A. (2007) Life Cycle Inventories of Chemicals. Final report ecoinvent data v2.0 No. 8. Swiss Centre for Life Cycle Inventories, Dübendorf, CH.
product out of steam cracking of naphtha
technologyComment of polystyrene production, extruded, CO2 blown (CA-QC, RER, RoW): Extrusion process of expandable polystyrene including discharge via slot die. CO2 as blowing agents, aceton as Co-blowing agent. technologyComment of polystyrene production, extruded, HFC-134a blown (CA-QC, RER, RoW): Extrusion process of expandable polystyrene including discharge via slot die. HCF-134a as blowing agents. technologyComment of polystyrene production, extruded, HFC-152a blown (RER, RoW): Extrusion process of expandable polystyrene including discharge via slot die. HFC-152a as blowing agents.
technologyComment of polystyrene production, general purpose (RER, RoW): polymerization out of ethylene and benzene by free radical processes
Coverage of production capacity in Europe: 68%
Coverage of production capacity in Europe: 72%
Coverage of production capacity in Europe: 76%
Coverage of production capacity in Europe: 85%