Fluoroiodocarbon blends as CFC and halon replacements

• US 5,444,102 A
• Filed: 06/30/1994
• Issued: 08/22/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ikon Corporation
• Original Assignee: Tahoma Technology, Inc. (Ricoh Company Limited)
• Inventors: Nimitz, Joathan S., Lankford, Lance H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Shean
• Assistant Examiner(s): ANTHONY, JOSEPH DAVID
• Application Number:
  US08/269,324
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 521/50, 521/72, 521/910, 521/131, 521/98, 264/DIG. 5, 252/364
• US Class Current: 521/131
• CPC Class Codes: A62D 1/0057 Polyhaloalkanes A62D1/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2203/12 Organic compounds only containing carbon, hydrogen and oxygen atoms, e.g. ketone or alcohol
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2203/14 Saturated hydrocarbons, e.g. butane; Unspecified hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2203/142 Halogenated saturated hydrocarbons, e.g. H3C-CF3
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2203/146 Saturated hydrocarbons containing oxygen and halogen atoms, e.g. F3C-O-CH2-CH3
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 2207/04 Aerosol, e.g. polyurethane foam spray
• CPC Class Codes: C08J 9/149 Mixtures of blowing agents covered by more than one of the groups C08J9/141 - C08J9/143
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2205/11 Ethers
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2205/112 Halogenated ethers
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2205/12 Hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2205/122 Halogenated hydrocarbons
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2205/128 Perfluorinated hydrocarbons C09K2205/124, C09K2205/126 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 2205/32 The mixture being azeotropic
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 3/30 for aerosols aerosol containers B65D83/14
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 5/044 comprising halogenated compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C09K 5/045 containing only fluorine as halogen
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 264/05 Use of one or more blowing agents together
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 422/90 Decreasing pollution or environmental impact
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 521/909 Blowing-agent moderator, e.g. kickers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 521/91 Plural blowing agents for producing nonpolyurethane cellular products

Abstract

A new set of effective, environmentally safe, nonflammable, low-toxicity refrigerants, solvents, foam blowing agents, propellants, and firefighting agents is disclosed. The agents are clean, electrically nonconductive, and have short atmospheric lifetimes, zero ozone-depletion potential, and low global warming potentials. The agents comprise at least one fluoroiodocarbon agent satisfying the general formula C_a H_b Br_c Cl_d F_e I_f N_g O_h, wherein a is between and including 1 and 8; b is between and including 0 and 2; c, d, g, and h are each between and including 0 and 1; e is between and including 1 and 18; and f is between and including 1 and 2, either neat or mixed with additives selected from the group consisting of: alcohols, esters, ethers, fluoroethers, hydrocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, and perfluorocarbons.

Claims

1. A method of using a foam blowing agent comprising the steps of:

a) injecting a foam blowing agent into a monomer, where the foam blowing agent is a fluoroiodocarbon having the general formula C_a H_b Br_c Cl_d F_e I_f N_g O_h, wherein a is between and including 1 and 8;

b is between and including 0 and 2;

c, d, g, and h are each between and including 0 and 1;

e is between and including 1 and 17, and f is between and including 1 and 2;

b) allowing the monomer to polymerize;

c) allowing the said foam blowing agent to substantially vaporize; and

d) allowing the cell walls to harden.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of placing a quantity of foam blowing agent comprises placing at least one fluoroiodocarbon selected from the group consisting of bromodifluoroiodomethane, chlorodifluoroiodomethane, difluorodiiodomethane, difluoroiodomethane, fluoroiodomethane, 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoro-2-iodopropane, 1,1,2,2,3,3,3-heptafluoro-1-iodopropane, iodoheptafluorocyclobutane, iodopentafluorocyclopropane, N-iodobis(trifluoromethyl)amine, 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,4-nonafluoro-1-iodobutane, pentafluoroiodoethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-1,2-diiodoethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-1-iodoethane, 1,1,2-trifluoro-1-iodoethane, trifluoroiodomethane, and trifluoromethyl-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoro-2-iodoethyl ether.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of providing an additive.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the step of providing an additive comprises providing an additive comprising a member selected from the group consisting of:

ethers, fluoroethers, hydrocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, ketones, and perfluorocarbons.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of providing an additive comprises providing pentane and the step of providing a fluoroiodocarbon comprises providing a fluoroiodocarbon selected from the group consisting of:

CF₃ I, CF₃ CF₂ I, and CF₃ CF₂ CF₂ I.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of providing an additive comprises providing an ether selected from the group consisting of:

diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, dimethyl ether, di-n-butyl, di-n-propyl ether, 1,4-dioxane, ethylene oxide, propylene oxide, and tetrahydrofuran.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of providing an additive comprises providing a fluoroether selected from the group consisting of:

bisdifluoromethyl ether, hexafluorodimethyl ether, hexafluorooxetane, methyl trifluoromethyl ether, octafluorodimethoxymethane, octafluoro-1,3-dioxolane, pentafluorodimethyl ether, 1,1,2'"'"',2'"'"',2'"'"'-pentafluoro methyl ethyl ether, and 1-trifluoromethoxy-1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of providing an additive comprises providing a hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of:

butane, cyclopropane, 2,2-dimethylpropane, hexane, isobutane, ligroin, 2-methylbutane, 3-methylpentane, pentane, petroleum ether, and propane.

9. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of providing an additive comprises providing a hydrofluorocarbon selected from the group consisting of:

difluoromethane, 1,1-difluoroethane, 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane, pentafluoroethane, 1,1,2,2,3-pentafluoropropane, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,1-trifluoroethane, and trifluoromethane.

10. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of providing an additive comprises providing a perfluorocarbon selected from the group consisting of:

decafluorobutane, dodecafluoropentane, hexafluorocyclopropane, hexafluoroethane, octafluorocyclobutane, octafluoropropane, and tetrafluoromethane.

11. The method of claim 4 wherein the foam blowing agent is trifluoroiodomethane and the additive is difluoroethene.