Abstract: Rigid polyurethane foam (RPUF) is a widely used material for insulation, construction, and packaging applications. However, RPUF has some drawbacks, such as high flammability, low thermal stability, and environmental issues. To overcome these problems, researchers have explored the use of isoamyl and cyclopentane blends as blowing agents for RPUF. Blowing agents are substances that create gas bubbles in the foam, affecting its density, thermal conductivity, and mechanical properties. Isoamyl and cyclopentane are both hydrocarbons that have low ozone depletion potential (ODP) and global warming potential (GWP), making them more eco-friendly than conventional blowing agents. Moreover, they can improve the flame retardancy, thermal stability, and mechanical strength of RPUF. This article introduces the basic concepts of RPUF and blowing agents, and reviews the recent studies on the effects of isoamyl and cyclopentane blends on the properties and performance of RPUF.

Keywords: rigid polyurethane foam, blowing agent, isoamyl, cyclopentane, thermal conductivity, flame retardancy

As a leading chemical company, at Junyuan Petroleum Group we are committed to providing high-quality and innovative products to our customers around the world. However, delivering chemical samples to different countries and regions is not a simple task. It requires careful planning and execution, as well as compliance with various laws and regulations. To ensure the safety and legality of our sample shipments, we follow these steps: – We identify the type and hazard level of our chemical samples, and whether they need any special permits or certificates. – We choose the appropriate shipping service and mode of transportation, such as air, land or sea, that meet the international or domestic transport rules. – We use proper packaging materials and labels, to prevent leakage, damage or mishandling of our samples. – We fill out complete and accurate shipping documents, including the information of the recipient and the sender, as well as the name, quantity, hazard level and other relevant information of our samples. – We hand over the shipping documents and samples to the shipping service provider, pay the corresponding fees, and track the shipping status. By following these steps, we can ensure that our samples reach our customers in a timely and efficient manner, and that we maintain our reputation as a reliable and trustworthy partner. We are always ready to serve our customers with our best products and services. Some of our most popular products are n-Pentane, Isopentane, Cyclopentane, Blowing Agents, n-Hexane, Isohexane, n-Heptane, n-Butane and Isobutane. These products are widely used in the production of insulation materials, such as Polyurethane (PU) and Polystyrene (PS) foams. They have different properties and advantages, depending on the application and the desired insulation performance¹². For example, Cyclopentane offers an extremely high and lasting insulating effect, as it remains partially in the cells of PU and PIR foams after foaming¹. N-Pentane and Iso-Pentane have a lower insulating effect than Cyclopentane, but they are more stable and the individual cells are firmer and finer². Blowing Agents are mixtures of different Pentanes, which can optimize the costs and foam properties¹. We test these products in our state-of-the-art laboratories, to ensure their quality and safety. We also customize the products according to the specific needs and preferences of our customers. For example, we can adjust the purity, viscosity, boiling point, and flash point of the products, to suit different applications and climates. The typical amount of samples that our customers request is around 250 milliliters, but this may vary depending on the product and the customer’s requirements. We always try to accommodate the requests of our customers, as long as they are reasonable and legal. We also provide technical support and guidance, to help our customers use our products effectively and efficiently.

Source:
(1) Which Pentanes are suitable for the production of insulating materials?
(2) Which Pentane Blowing Agent is Best for Your Application?
(3) Cyclopentane, as a blowing agent in Polyurethane (PU) foams, is the …. https://junyuanpetroleumgroup.com/chemical-manufacturer-supplier-distributor/cyclopentane-as-a-blowing-agent-in-polyurethane-pu-foams-is-the-most-important-raw-material-for-high-performance-insulation-in-refrigerators/.
(4) N-Heptane Vs N-Pentane

n-Pentane, Isopentane and Cyclopentane are all saturated hydrocarbons that have five carbon atoms. They have different molecular structures and physical properties, which make them suitable for different uses. Some of the common applications for these Pentane isomers are:

• Blowing agents for insulation materials: Pentanes are the foaming agent of choice for producing Polyurethane (PU) and Polystyrene (PS) insulation boards. They have a high performance and sustainability, as they do not deplete the ozone layer or contribute to global warming. Cyclopentane has the best insulating effect, while n-Pentane and Isopentane have more stable and finer foam cells².
• Refrigerants: n-Pentane can be used as a refrigerant in air conditioning or refrigeration systems, as an alternative to ammonia or fluorinated hydrocarbons. It has a low boiling point and a high latent heat of vaporization, which means it can absorb a lot of heat when it changes from liquid to gas¹.
• Non-polar solvents: Pentanes are almost insoluble in water, but show very good solubility or unlimited miscibility with many organic solvents such as paraffins, ethers, esters, aromatics or chlorinated hydrocarbons. They are also very volatile, which means they evaporate quickly and leave no residue. Therefore, they are suitable for cleaning in the aerospace, automobile, electronic, and defense manufacturing industries¹⁵.
• Process media for polyethylene and polypropylene: Pentanes can be used as process media for the production of polyethylene (PE, LLDPE) and polypropylene (PP), which are widely used plastics. Pentanes help to control the molecular weight, branching and crystallinity of the polymers, which affect their mechanical and thermal properties¹.

These are some of the main applications for n-Pentane, Isopentane and Cyclopentane. I hope this overview is helpful for you.

n-Pentane and isopentane are two isomers of pentane, a hydrocarbon with five carbon atoms and 12 hydrogen atoms. They have the same molecular formula, C5H12, but different structures. n-Pentane has a straight chain of five carbon atoms, while isopentane has a branched chain with four carbon atoms in a row and one carbon atom attached to the second carbon atom. The difference in structure affects their physical properties, such as boiling point. The boiling point of a substance is the temperature at which it changes from liquid to gas. In this report, we will compare the boiling points of n-pentane and isopentane and explain the factors that determine them.

Results and Discussion

The data shows that the boiling point of n-pentane is higher than that of isopentane. According to the web search results, the boiling point of n-pentane is 36.1°C, while the boiling point of isopentane is 27.9°C. This means that n-pentane requires more energy to vaporize than isopentane. The reason for this difference is the intermolecular forces between the molecules. Intermolecular forces are the attractions between molecules that hold them together in a liquid or a solid. The stronger the intermolecular forces, the higher the boiling point.

The main type of intermolecular force in n-pentane and isopentane is the van der Waals force, which is a weak attraction between the temporary dipoles of the molecules. A dipole is a separation of positive and negative charges in a molecule. A temporary dipole is a dipole that forms when the electrons in a molecule are unevenly distributed at a certain moment. The temporary dipole of one molecule can induce a temporary dipole in another molecule, creating a van der Waals force between them.

The strength of the van der Waals force depends on the size and shape of the molecules. The larger and more elongated the molecule, the stronger the van der Waals force. This is because a larger and more elongated molecule has more surface area for the temporary dipoles to interact. n-Pentane has a larger and more elongated molecule than isopentane, as shown in the figure below.

![n-pentane and isopentane structures]

Therefore, n-pentane has stronger van der Waals forces than isopentane, and thus a higher boiling point.

Conclusion and Recommendations

In conclusion, we have analyzed the boiling points of n-pentane and isopentane and found that n-pentane has a higher boiling point than isopentane due to the stronger van der Waals forces between its molecules. This analysis demonstrates the importance of molecular structure in determining the physical properties of substances. We recommend that you use this knowledge to understand the behavior of other hydrocarbons and their isomers.

Choosing between n-Pentane, Isopentane and Cyclopenane depends on the intended use. Here are some general differences between them:

• Pentane is a colorless, volatile liquid, mainly used for chemical experiments, solvent and solvent mixture preparation, and also an important raw material in the petroleum industry.
• When buying pentane, you should pay attention to the following aspects:
  • Purity: The higher the purity of pentane, the better its performance and quality, but the higher the price. According to different uses, you can choose different purity grades, such as AR, CP, GCS, GR, HPLC, agricultural residue grade, etc.
  • Packaging: Pentane is a flammable liquid and should be packed and stored in suitable sealed containers to prevent leakage and fire. Generally speaking, the packaging specifications of pentane are 200L steel drums and ISO tank containers.
  • Price: The price of pentane is affected by many factors such as market supply and demand, raw material cost, transportation cost, etc., generally ranging from hundreds of USD to thousands of USD. When buying, you should compare the quotations of different manufacturers and channels, and choose products with high cost performance.
  • Manufacturer: There are many manufacturers of pentane, and there are great differences in production scale, technology level, product quality, etc. You should fully understand the qualifications, reputation, after-sales service, etc. of the manufacturers when buying. You can choose regular, professional and reliable manufacturers through the Internet, industry associations, peer recommendations, etc.

SINOPETROCHEM reported on April 19th that the EXW quotation for pentane foaming agents (with a total pentane content >99%) in the Chinese market is CNY 7,350/MT, and production and sales are normal.

April 19, 2023 USD TO CNY TODAY

Actual USD to CNY exchange rate equal to 6.8750 Chinese Yuans per 1 Dollar.

Pentane is colourless with a very low odour and high volatility thanks to its low, narrow boiling range – it is among the lowest boiling hydrocarbon liquids and so evaporates at a very high rate. It is used principally as a blowing agent in foam production, as a propellant in aerosols and as reaction media for polymerisation processes.

Isopentane, Cyclopentane and Normal Pantene Blend Market Growth and Share Research 2023 | by Industry Types [Pentane 85/15, Pentane 80/20], and Applications [EPS Blowing Agent, Electronic Cleaning ,Chemical Solvent], Global Cyclopentane, Isopentane and Normalpentane Blend key players include Shell, Phillips 66, Junyuan Petroleum Group, ExxonMobil Chemical, TOP Solvent, etc.

China is the largest market, with a share over 30Percent, followed by Europe and North America, both have a share about 50Percent.
In terms of product, Pentane 60/40 is the largest segment, with a share over 30Percent. And in terms of application, the largest application is EPS Blowing Agent
, followed by Chemical Solvent, Electronic Cleaning, etc.

Cyclo-isopentane polyurethane foam insulation meets EU ROHS directive for a green and safe environment. Optimized hydrocarbon refrigeration system. As a blowing agent, cyclo- pentane has been confirmed as a long-term alternative to. R11. The mixture of isopentane and pentane was also.

Junyuan Petroleum Group is one of the largest n-Pentane, Isopentane and Cyclopentane manufacturers in China and your partner for tailor-made n-Pentane, iso-Pentane, Cyclopentane and blends.

Many manufacturers will be using a new, more environmentally friendly insulation material, called cyclopentane, in the manufacture of select refrigerators and freezers. Cyclopentane is a blowing agent for the polyurethane foams that are used to insulate refrigerators and freezers. Unlike some other chemicals used to insulate refrigerators, cyclopentane does not contain hydro-fluorocarbons (HFCs). Using cyclopentane results in significant reductions in equivalent CO₂ emissions. The most common foam-blowing agents currently used in the U.S. are R134a and R245fa. These industry-standard insulations can have a global warming potential (GWP) as high as 1300 (134a) and 950 (245a). In contrast, the foam-blowing agent cyclopentane has a GWP of approximately 10. When it comes to GWPs, the lower the number is, the better it is for the environment, so cyclopentane is clearly the more environmentally friendly choice. Cyclopentane increases the efficiency of the insulation foam by approximately 4 percent over the R134a foam currently used in most refrigeration products. Cyclopentane has been very popular as a blowing agent in Europe since the early 1990s, but the cost of retrofitting existing production facilities and the lack of U.S. regulations restricting the use of HFCs has delayed implementation in the U.S. However, there are other manufacturers currently selling refrigerators in the U.S. that use cyclopentane. Compared to other insulating foams, cyclopentane is competitively priced and relatively easy to produce. Like many gases, in its pure form, cyclopentane is a highly evaporative and flammable material. However once foamed, the unit is no more hazardous than a unit foamed with other blowing agents. As with any of our manufacturing processes, we’ve integrated a wide variety of redundant engineering and operational safeguards. To learn more about cyclopentane, click here.

 Common questions about cyclopentane

Q: What is this new material being used in the foam insulation?
A: The new material is called cyclopentane, a highly evaporative gas that is used to apply the foam insulations in refrigeration units. 

Q: What is cyclopentane?
A: Cyclopentane is a blowing agent for the polyurethane foams that are used to insulate refrigerators and freezers. 

Q: What are the benefits of using cyclopentane instead of other materials?
A: From an environmental perspective, unlike some other chemicals used to insulate refrigerators, cyclopentane does not contain hydro-fluorocarbons (HFCs). Using cyclopentane results in significant reductions in equivalent CO₂ emissions. 

Q: What foam-blowing agents are most commonly used in the U.S.? How is cyclopentane different?
A: The most common foam-blowing agents in the U.S. right now are R134a and R245fa. These two industry-standard insulations can have a global warming potential (GWP) as high as 1300 (134a) and 950 (245a). Comparatively, the foam-blowing agent cyclopentane has a GWP of approximately 10. When it comes to GWPs, the lower the number is, the less adverse impact on the environment, so cyclopentane is clearly a better choice. 

Q: Are there significant insulating advantages, as well?
A: Yes, cyclopentane is approximately 4 percent more efficient than the R134a foam we currently use in most of our products. 

Q: Do other refrigerators available in the U.S. market use cyclopentane?
A: There are other manufacturers currently selling refrigerators in the U.S. that use cyclopentane. 

Q: Why hasn’t cyclopentane caught on in the United States?
A: It has been very popular as a blowing agent in Europe since the early 1990s, but the cost of retrofitting existing production facilities and the lack of U.S. regulations restricting the use of HFC’s has delayed implementation in the U.S. 

Q: Is it more expensive than other insulating materials?
A: It is competitively priced and relatively easy to produce. 

Q: Is it dangerous?
A: Like many gases, in its pure form, cyclopentane is a highly evaporative and flammable material. However once foamed, the unit is no more hazardous than a unit foamed with other blowing agents. As with any of our manufacturing processes, we’ve integrated a wide variety of redundant engineering and operational safeguards.

The difference between EPS fire resistance grades A, B, and B1:

1. Fire resistance coefficient: Class A is non combustible; Level B is further divided into three levels, with B1, B2, and B3 having different levels of combustion.
2. Flammability: Class A has zero flammability;, B1 is flame retardant, B2 is flammable, and B3 is flammable.
   At present, the common A-grade products in the market include phenolic aldehyde, rock wool, insulation mortar, foam ceramics, foam glass, and foam concrete. At present, the most advantageous A-grade material is foamed concrete, also known as foamed cement.
   EPS polystyrene board itself is a flammable material, so it is not a fireproof material in terms of fire rating. So it’s not at all A-level or B1 level. The fire resistance rating of polystyrene boards on the market is only B2 (flammable) and B3 (flammable).
   Extended Information:
   EPS physical and mechanical properties:
3. Density
   The density of EPS is determined by the expansion ratio of polystyrene particles during the forming stage, which is generally between 10 and 45kg/m3. As EPS used in engineering, its apparent density is generally between 15 and 30kg/m3.
   At present, the density of EPS used as lightweight filling material in road engineering is 20kg/m3, which is 1% to 2% of that of ordinary road filling material. Density is an important indicator of EPS, and its mechanical properties are almost directly proportional to its density.
4. Deformation characteristics
   When the confining pressure exceeds 60KPa, the yield strength significantly decreases, which is clearly different from the variation law of the soil. When axial strain ε When a ≤ 5%, regardless of the confining pressure, the volumetric strain ε V is close to axial strain ε a. The lateral deformation of EPS is small, which means the Poisson’s ratio is small.
   To minimize post construction settlement, after laying the EPS material layer, fill 1.2m of soil on it for preloading. The average compressive settlement of the EPS material layer is 32mm, and it can be calculated that the elastic modulus of EPS is 2.4MPa, and the EPS material is still in the elastic deformation stage.
5. Self-reliance
   The self-sustaining nature of EPS is very beneficial for the stability of high slopes. Due to the small lateral pressure generated by the vertical compression of EPS, the use of EPS as filling material for the roadbed at the bridge head can greatly reduce the soil pressure behind the abutment, which is very beneficial for the stability of the abutment.
   The friction coefficient f between EPS block and sand is 0.58 (dense)~0.46 (loose) for dry sand and 0.52 (dense)~0.25 (loose) for wet sand; The range of f between EPS blocks is between 0.6 and 0.7.
6. Water and temperature characteristics
   The closed cavity structure of EPS determines its good insulation performance. Its biggest characteristic when used as insulation material is its extremely low thermal conductivity, with various specifications of EPS boards having thermal conductivity ranging from 0.024W/m.K to 0.041W/m.K. EPS is a thermoplastic resin that should be used below 70 ℃ to avoid thermal deformation and strength reduction.
   Simultaneously utilizing this feature, electric heating wire processing can be used. Flame retardants can be added in production to form flame retardant EPS. Flame retardant EPS extinguishes itself within 3 seconds after leaving the ignition source. Due to the much lower bulk density of EPS compared to soil, the 1% to 10% increase in bulk density caused by water absorption can have negligible impact on engineering.
7. Durability
   EPS has stable chemical properties in water and soil, and cannot be decomposed by microorganisms; The cavity structure of EPS also makes water infiltration extremely slow; If exposed to ultraviolet radiation for a long time, the surface of EPS will change from white to yellow, and the material will appear brittle to some extent; EPS has stable properties in most solvents, but can be dissolved in organic solvents such as gasoline, diesel, kerosene, toluene, acetone, etc. This indicates that EPS fillers require a good protective layer.
   
   Reference Source: JUNYUAN PETROLEUM GROUP – EPS Blowing Agent Department (Folystyrene Foam)

Expandable polystyrene (EPS)

Revolutionary patented polystyrene production method

Expandable polystyrene (EPS) consists of polystyrene micro-pellets or beads containing a blowing agent and other additives for foaming. We have developed a continuous production process in which the blowing agent is directly injected into the melt, combined with subsequent underwater pelletization.

Commercial EPS is manufactured with the addition of a blowing agent, typically a chlorinated hydrocarbon or a low-boiling petroleum-derived agent with the presence of pentane. These substances are highly flammable; by reducing the amount of flame retardant due to the addition of gypsum, they ignited during the flame propagation test, increasing the burn rate of the GPS.

Main benefits

• The patented EPS process is economical, compact, and easy to operate
• Continuous process for consistent product quality
• Dispersing a wide range of additives and pigments is possible
• Minimized waste production
• Reduction of wastewater and process water
• Recycling possibility for waste EPS pellets/beads/foam
• Process allows developing innovative applications

Main applications

• Expandable Polystyrene

EPS Panel

The self-extinguishing, fire-retardant EPS Panel foam is manufactured from 100% virgin bead and oven-cured after manufacture to ensure the resulting blocks are completely dry and free from all residual pentane.

EPS Panel is a lightweight, CFC-free, non-brittle, closed cell insulator with more consistent thermal performance over time. It has a high dimensional stability and low water vapor transmission.

A special chemical coated to the Expanded Polystyrene beads (raw material) distinguished it from standard/common EPS Panel. Fire-Retardant EPS Panel is a self-extinguishing, non-combustible material.

Fire-retardant EPS Panel with a density of 15 kg/m3 is used for clean rooms, food processing facilities and modular buildings, while the 20 kg/m3 is used for industrial and commercial cold storage.

Core

Width (cover mm)
Thickness (mm)
Length
Exterior Facing Skin
Internal Facing Skin
Standard Colors
Joint System
Finishes
Type of SkinEPS
(Expanded Polystyrene)
1,160
50, 75, 100, 125, 150, 200, 250
Up to 12 meters
0.5mm, 0.6mm G300 CRP Steel
0.5mm, 0.6mm G300 CRP Steel
Off White
Slip Joint
Plain, Ribbed, Diamond
Anti Bacterial (AB)
Food Grade (FG)
Xterior Roof and Wall (XRW)

Features and Advantages

• Fire retardant
• Meets safety requirements
• Energy saving
• Longer lifetime
• Resistant to termites and rodents
• Customized design
• Easy to install saving cost of installation time
• High performance on insulated panel

Top 5 Uses of Pentane

Pentane is a cost-effective liquid that has several different industrial and laboratory applications.

1. Laboratory Solvents

They are the most volatile liquid alkanes (at room temperature). Because of this, they are commonly used in laboratories as solvents. Although, due to their lack of functionality and non-polarity, they only dissolve other nonpolar and alkyl-rich compounds. Pentanes are miscible with other solvents like ethers, aromatics, and chlorocarbons.

2. Chromatography

Pentane is commonly used in chromatography – which is a laboratory technique to separate components in a mixture. The mixture is passed in a suspension or solution through a medium where the components each move at different rates.

3. Blowing Agent

Pentane is used as the primary blowing agent in the production of foams like polystyrene. A blowing agent is a substance that is capable of producing a cellular structure through a foaming process. These foams are often used as insulating material in refrigerators and heating pipes

4. Binary Fluid

Because of its low boiling point, pentane is used in geothermal power stations as a binary fluid.

5. Industrial Ingredient Uses

Due to its ready availability and low cost, pentane is also used as a solvent in many common products like pesticides. It can also be used in making other chemicals, plastics, and low-grade thermometers. Acid-catalyzed isomerization can produce isopentane, which can be used in making fuels.

Polyurethane foam is widely used in construction, refrigeration, piping and other fields due to its low density, good thermal insulation, low water absorption, low toxicity, and good processability. The blowing agent is an important auxiliary agent for the production of polyurethane foam plastics. Since the second-generation blowing agent HCFC-141b has an ODP value of 0.11 and a GWP value of 725, it has a great impact on the ozone layer and the greenhouse effect, so it can only be used as a transitional agent. use of sex substitutes. According to China’s polyurethane foam industry HCFC-141b phase-out plan (second phase), the polyurethane foam industry will gradually reduce HCFC-141b consumption based on the results achieved in the first phase, and will achieve industry-wide phase-out by the end of 2025. At present, the commonly used substitutes for HCFC-141b blowing agent mainly include pentane, water, hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), liquid carbon dioxide, hydrofluoroolefin (HFO) and methyl formate. Among them, pentane is widely used due to its advantages of environmental protection, low price, and easy availability. However, pentane is flammable and explosive, and is a dangerous chemical. The use of this kind of blowing agent requires safety renovation of production equipment and workshops. Although the initial investment of pentane foaming replacement technology is relatively high, in the long run, the comprehensive economic benefits are obvious, and it is an ideal substitute for HCFC-141b.