Technical aerosols

The F-Gas Regulation 517/2014 banned the use of HFCs with GWP of 150 or more, in technical aerosols from 1 January 2018, except when required to meet national safety standards or when used for medical applications.

Technical aerosols (excluding medical applications) are pressurized with a propellant and used in a range of applications including industrial lubricants, mould release agents during product manufacturing, pressure dusters and aircraft insecticide sprays.

A technical aerosol is pressurized with a propellant that expels its contents through a nozzle. Liquified compressed gases are widely used as they maintain a relatively constant pressure as the contents are used up, maintaining consistent droplet size and spray rate which may be required for technical aerosols. Compressed gases, such as carbon dioxide, cannot produce a consistent particle size and spray rate which limits their applicability.

As well as the propellants, solvents may be used with other substances to achieve the required technical performance.

N

The vast majority of aerosols use highly flammable propellants

(hydrocarbons and DME), but technical aerosols may require the use of low or non-flammable propellants and solvents, due to the risk of ignition or the quantities used potentially creating an ignitable gas mixture. Non-flammable HFCs were previously used but these all have GWPs >150.

N

For uses where moderate flammability is acceptable

then HFC-152a may be used as it has a GWP <150.

N

Where a non-flammable propellant and/or solvent is required

then HFOs are being used, alone or as a propellant blend. Two HFOs, which are classified as non-flammable, are HFO-1234ze(E) (boiling point -19°C , GWP <1 AR5 value) suitable as a propellant and HFO-1336mzz(Z) (boiling point 33.4°C, GWP 2 AR5 value) suitable as a solvent.

N

The applicable tests for non-flammability for aerosol

use are different to those used for refrigerant safety classification, which is why HFO-1234ze(E) is considered a non-flammable propellant, but a mildly flammable refrigerant. Other HFOs or HCFOs may be used as solvents in the aerosol formulation.

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