Arkema, one of the world’s largest producers of fluorochemicals, continues its program of major investments in both advanced refrigerant technology and expansion of its global capacity to meet the current and future needs of the refrigerant market. Arkema will meet the short-term needs of the refrigerant market through the use of HCFC-22 alternatives, reclaim services, and the full range of refrigerant products. For longer-term needs, Arkema is investing in HFC production capacity and low GWP product development.

According to the company’s press release, Arkema has expanded its HFC refrigerant line to the HVACR industry with better solutions for retrofitting R-22 systems using Forane®427A and Forane®407A refrigerant.

Furthermore, Arkema has invested in manufacturing capacity for all four key HFC components (R-32, R-125, R-134a, R-143a), which may be combined to manufacture all the major HFC blends used in HVACR. As part of this investment, Arkema is starting up its HFC-125 refrigerant production at the world-scale Changshu, China operation, the first of its size in Asia.

Arkema continues to develop next-generation fluorochemicals to help minimize greenhouse gas emissions. As part of this initiative, Arkema has announced plans to produce R-1234yf on an industrial scale. With negligible GWP, R-1234yf is a substitute for HFC-134a in automotive air-conditioning systems. In addition to this investment, Arkema has initiated further development of low GWP products to replace those with higher GWP in all refrigerant market sectors.

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