Honeywell, DuPont Team up to Make New Refrigerant

According to the Associated Press, diversified manufacturer Honeywell International Inc., and chemical maker DuPont Co., have formed a joint venture to make a new refrigerant for use in automobile air conditioning. The companies will share financial and research responsibilities to jointly design and build a factory for the refrigerant, which is named HFO-1234yf. The refrigerant has 99.7 percent lower global warming potential that current chemicals used in air conditioners, the companies said in a statement. Honeywell and DuPont said the new product meets European Union requirements for lower global warming potential. The companies developed the refrigerant together, but they will sell it separately, the statement said. The companies together will start making the refrigerant before the new factory is done, supplying it in the fourth quarter of next year in order to meet new European Union regulations.