Tag Archives: Honeywell

Honeywell and DuPont Receive Statement of Objection

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There has been a long battle over which refrigerants should and shouldn’t be used in air conditioning systems and there has been a strong force within the industry to try and make refrigerants more environmentally friendly not only for the greater good but also to ensure that businesses adhere to the law.

However, the European Commission has recently sent a Statement of Objections to Honeywell and DuPont. The statement was sent in regards to the refrigerant R-1234yf. It said, “The European Commission has informed Honeywell International Inc. and E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (DuPont) of its preliminary view that the refrigerant for use in car air conditioning systems (R-1234yf), may have limited its availability and technical development, in break of EU antitrust rules.” Continue reading

New Refrigerant Causing Controversy

When we think of air conditioning we think of the cool air but since a new refrigerant has entered the market, things are starting to heat up! The European Union are pushing for refrigerants in cars made from this year onward to be switched from R-134a to the new R-1234yf. Daimler, the car manufacturer is not happy about this and is standing their ground.

DuPont and Honeywell developed the new refrigerant and spent many years and millions of investment creating it as they believe that it is 99.7% more environmentally friendly that the refrigerant that is currently used, the R-134a. It has passed all the protocols enforced by the EU and they like it so much that they have announced all cars made in 2013 should be using it.

Daimler is refusing this and is still using the former refrigerant. They have conducted a series of tests using the new refrigerant and they believe it is far more dangerous. The most recent test they conducted was a head on collision with B class at the Sindelfingen track. They conducted 20 tests and from the 20 results the discovered that when the coolant hits the heated engine it catches fire. Also, R-1234yf became hydrogen fluoride in the tests. This is very dangerous to humans especially in high amounts.

Apparently the results of the tests showed that there was enough hydrogen fluoride produced to the windshield white. After they had conducted these tests Daimler recalled all the vehicles they had produced with the new refrigerant.

A report by Bloomberg also reported that Volkswagen had similar complaints. On top of this there are some fire fighter organisations in Germany and Australia that are protesting against the new refrigerant as well as some testing agencies who are lobbying to get the coolant banned. After the results of the Daimler tests there are also thirteen other car companies that are now conducting their own tests.

However, on contrast to this, Toyota completed their own tests and they had no such results and they are currently supporting the new change to the new very eco-friendly refrigerant. Chevrolet and GMC are among others who are also supporting the change.

DuPont and Honeywell have announced that the refrigerant is completely safe to be used in vehicles. They claim that a reason why Daimler might be against the new chemical is because it is more expensive than the R-134a.