Honeywell, DuPont in joint venture to make new auto refrigerant

Diversified indutrial group Honeywell and chemicals and petrochemicals giant DuPont today announced a manufacturing joint venture to produce a new refrigerant for use in automotive air conditioning systems, which the companies say has 99.7-per cent lower global warming potential (GWP) than the current refrigerant.

DuPont and Honeywell developed the product jointly but will market and sell it separately.

Under the agreement, DuPont and Honeywell will share financial and technological resources with the intent to jointly design, construct and operate a world-scale manufacturing facility for the new refrigerant, known as HFO-1234yf.

According to the companioes, the product meets European Union regulatory requirements for lower GWP refrigerants for automobile air conditioning systems.

''Through this manufacturing partnership, Honeywell and DuPont will deliver to the automobile industry this environmentally preferable solution that meets both operational and regulatory requirements," said Terrence Hahn, vice president and general manager for Honeywell's Fluorine Products business. "Globally, consumers will benefit from this new technology, which reduces greenhouse gas emissions.''

Hahn said, ''This complements Honeywell's significant energy efficiency and environmental solutions portfolio, which is positioned to deliver efficiency advantages to a wide array of industries while benefiting the environment.''