TRANSITIONING TO LOW-GWP ALTERNATIVES
IN NON-MEDICAL AEROSOLS
Background
This fact sheet provides current information on low-Global Warming Potential (GWP) alternatives for non-medical commercial aerosols
(i.e., excluding metered-dose inhalers (MDIs)) that have historically relied on ozone depleting substances controlled under the Montreal
Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer} Aerosols use liquefied or compressed gas to propel active ingredients in liquid,
paste, or powder form in precise spray patterns with controlled droplet sizes and amounts. Typical aerosol products use a propellant that is
a gas at atmospheric pressure, but is a pressurized liquid in the can. Some aerosols also contain a solvent. In some cleaning applications,
the propellant disperses the solvent; in other applications, the solvent product and propellant solution are evenly mixed to improve shelf-life
and product performance, such as by preventing dripping and ensuring uniform film thickness for spray paints. Non-medical commercial
aerosols can be broken down into the following two product categories:
Consumer Aerosols
» Tire inflators/sealants
Safety signal horns
Animal repellants
Personal care products (e.g., cosmetic aerosols, hairspray,
deodorants, wound care sprays,2 taping base3)
» Food dispensing products
Freeze sprays (e.g., food freezing, animal waste freezing, cold
sprays4)
Spray paint
Novelty aerosols (e.g., artificial snow, plastic string, noise
makers, cork poppers)
Miscellaneous consumer aerosols (e.g., household cleaning
products, brake cleaners,5 eyeglass and keyboard dusters,
room fresheners, spray adhesives)
Technical Aerosols
Dusters6 (e.g., for photographic negatives, semiconductor
chip manufacture, specimens for observation under electron
microscope)
« Cleaners (e.g., electronic contact cleaners,7 flux remover8)
Pesticides (e.g., wasp and hornet sprays, aircraft insecticides)
Miscellaneous technical aerosols (e.g., document preservation
sprays, freeze sprays9)
Although a large portion of the aerosol market has avoided HFC
propellants and solvents by transitioning directly to low-GWP
options and "not-in-kind" (NIK) alternatives, in 2010, global HFC
consumption from aerosols was estimated at 54 million metric
tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MMTC02eq.).Twenty-four
percent of this amount was from the non-medical commercial end-
uses described above. Developed countries accounted for nearly all
of the global HFCs used in commercial aerosols.
2010 HFC Consumption
(Estimates Presented in MMTC02eq.)
Fire Extinguishing
Solvents
Foams
11%
Ref/AC
79%
Aerosols
5%
Non-Medical
Aerosols
24%
Medical
Aerosols
76%
Global HFC Consumption Total: 1,087 MMTC02eq.
Global HFC Consumption Aerosol: 54 MMTC02eq.
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HFC Alternatives and Market Trends
Historically, CFC-12 was used as a propellant and CFCs (e.g., CFC-
11 and -113) and methyl chloroform were often used as solvents
in aerosols. In response to the CFC phaseout, these were replaced
with a variety of alternatives, including HCFCs, hydrocarbons (HCs),
oxygenated organic compounds, and NIK alternatives. HCFCs
included primarily HCFC-22 for propellants and both HCFC-141b
and HCFC-22Bca/cb for solvents.10 HCFC propellants have in turn
been replaced with high-GWP HFCsincluding HFC-134aas
well as a variety of low-GWP substitutes, such as HCs, compressed
gases, NIK alternatives, and HFC-1 B2a. Likewise, HCFC solvents have
been replaced by HFC-43-10mee, HFC-36Smfc, HFC-24Sfa, trans-
1,2-dichloroethylene, HCs, oxygenated organic compounds, and
hydrofluoroethers (HFEs). Other low-GWP fluorinated compounds
are also in use or under development, including HFOs.11 These
alternatives are described further below.
HCs
Propane, butane, and isobutane blends used for propellants
Hexane, heptane, and other HCs used as solvents
Used in technical and some consumer aerosols
Plant modifications needed to address flammability/
safety concerns
Local use restrictions may apply due to concerns over
volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, in particular in
the United States
Oxygenated Organic Compounds
Dimethyl ether (DME) used for propellants
Esters, ethers, alcohols, and ketones used as solvents
Used in technical and consumer aerosols
Plant modifications needed to address flammability/
safety concerns
Local use restrictions may apply due to concerns over
VOC emissions, in particular in the United States
NIK
Finger/trigger pumps, powder formulations, sticks, rollers, brushes,
bag-in-can/piston-can systems, wipes, sand-blasting, brushing,
and abrasion used in place of propellants and solvents in technical
and consumer aerosols
Mixing balls and dip tubes also used in place of high-GWP
solvents in technical aerosols; propellants still required
Europe's Experience
Europe is the world's largest producer of aerosols, with 5.5
billion units produced in 2011 representing nearly 46% of global
production. Of these, 5.1 billion were produced in the European
Union (EU). Shortly after the signing of the Montreal Protocol,
the EU aerosol industry transitioned from CFCs to HCFCs for the
majority of non-medical aerosols in 1989, and then transitioned
away from HCFC propellants to HFCs (primarily HFC-134a), HCs,
and NIK devices by 1995. In 2002, the European industry voluntarily
began the transition away from HFCs through the Code of Practice
on HFC Use in Aerosols of the European Aerosol Federation, which
specified that HFC propellants only be used when no other safe,
practical, economic, or environmentally acceptable alternatives exist.
This transition was later boosted by EU regulation (Regulation (EC)
No. 842/2006), which banned HFC use in novelty aerosol products
as of July 2009.
Chemical
GWP
ODPa
Propellant
CFC-1 2
HCFC-22
HFC-1 34a
N2O
HFC-1 52a
HFO-1234ze(E)
Butane
Propane
Isobutane
CO2
DME
10,900
1,810
1,430
298
124
6
4
3.3
3
1
1
1
0.055
0
0.017
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Solvent
CFC-1 13
CFC-1 1
HFC-43-10mee
HFC-245fa
HFC-365mfc
HCFC-141b
HCFC-225cb
HFE-449s1 (HFE-7100)
Methyl chloroform
HCFC-225ca
HFE-569sf2 (HFE-7200)
Oxygenated Organic Compounds
-1233zd(E)(HBA-2)
Hexane
Heptane
6,130
4,750
1,640
1,030
794
725
595
297
146
122
59
<20
4.7-7
3
3
0.8
1
0
0
0
0.11
0.033
0
0.1
0.025
0
0
~0
0
0
aODP = ozone depletion potential
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Compressed Gases
Includes C02, air, nitrous oxide (N20), and nitrogen
Used as propellants in some technical and consumer
applications (e.g., dusters)
» N20 commonly used in food dispensing aerosols
HFEs
Used as solvents in technical aerosols
No flammability
May be mixed with other, more flammable compounds with
higher solvency, such as fra/?s-dichloroethylene
HFC-152a
Although an HFC, the GWP is 91 % lower than HFC-134a
Used as a propellant in technical and consumer aerosols,
particularly where VOCs are of concern, such as in the
United States
Moderate flammability
Propellant Transition in Consumer
and Technical Aerosol End-Uses
Low-GWP Fluorinated Compounds
HFO-1234ze(E) used as a propellant in technical and
consumer aerosols
Other low-GWP fluorinated compounds are becoming available
as propellants and solvents (e.g., -1233zd(E)12 used as solvent)
Depending on solvency of the fluorinated compound, it
may be mixed with other, more flammable compounds with
higher solvency
* Some exhibit low flammability, others non-flammable
Few facility modifications required to transition from HCFCs
or MFCs
Low-GWP Fluorinated
Compounds
Solvent Transition in Technical
Aerosol End-Uses
HCFCs
141b,225ca/cb)
HFCs(43-10mee
365mfc, 245fa]
Dxygenated Organic
Compounds
Low-GWP Fluorinated
Compounds
3ted
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Challenges to Market Entry and Potential Solutions
Alternative
HCs, Oxygenated Organic
Compounds
(Propellant and Solvent)
NIK
(Propellant and Solvent)
Compressed Gases
(Propellant)
HFEs (Solvent)
HFC-152a (Propellant)
Low-GWP Fluorinated
Compounds
(Propellant and Solvent)
Challenges to Market Entry
Highly Flammable
VOC Regulation and Air Quality Impacts
Lower Performance for Some Applications
Fewer Blasts per Can Compared to MFCs
Lower Performance for Some Applications
Moderate Flammability
Some Are Still Entering World Markets
Potential Solutions
Engineering Controls
Standards and Safety Regulations
Training and Education
Engineering Design
Engineering Design
Mixing with Other, More Aggressive Solvents
Engineering Controls
Standards and Safety Regulations
Training and Education
Field Testing
Future Outlook
Much of the aerosol sector has avoided the use of MFCs, transitioning from CFCs or HCFCs directly to low-GWP alternative chemicals and
NIK solutions. Together, the suite of known alternative chemicals and NIK options can significantly reduce the remaining HFC consumption
in both the near and long terms, while simultaneously helping to complete the HCFC phaseout. Although more work remains to fully adopt
these alternatives, the industries currently using HCFCs and HFCs have proven through the ODS phaseout that they can move quickly to
protect the environment.
1 Although MDIs are also transitioning away from CFC propellants to HFC propellants, critical use exemptions allow the limited use
of CFCs for safety and technical reasons.
2 Wound care sprays include germicides and spray-on bandages.
3 Taping base is used on injuries to help secure tape, underwrap, and elastic wraps.
4 Topical coolants and freeze sprays are used by medical trainers and athletes. After application, the spray evaporates from the
skin, lowering the surface temperature to alleviate pain.
5 Brake cleaners remove oil, dirt, and other debris from vehicle braking systems. Brake cleaners previously used methyl chloroform
and successfully avoided use of high-GWP HFCs by transitioning directly to perchloroethylene or carbon dioxide as a solvent/
propellant.
6 Duster sprays are com pressed gases used to blow off dust or dirt, particularly from computers and electronic equipment.
7 Electronic contact cleaners are used to dissolve and remove oil, grease, flux, condensation, and other contaminants quickly from
delicate electronic circuitry and instrumentation.
8 Flux removers are used to clean excess flux and solder residue from circuit boards and electrical components.
9 Among other uses, freeze sprays are used to test electrical conductivity of components on circuit boards, and freeze and
remove warts.
10 In the United States, the use of HCFC aerosols was banned for nonessential products in 1994. Only a few types of products
were allowed.
11 HFOs (hydrofluoro-olefins) are unsaturated HFCs.
12 -1233zd(E), an unsaturated compound, is also referred toastrans-1-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoroprop-1-eneand by trade names such
asHBA-2.
v>EPA
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
EPA430-F-13-013 www.epa.gov April 2013
r Printed on recycled paper
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References
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