American Pacific rides the crest of change
The future of American Pacific (AmPac; Las Vegas, NV) is riding on two products that the company is not yet selling--sodium azide--the gas-generating component of automotive air bag systems--and halon alternatives. Together the two products should generate $140 million-$150 million/year in revenue. That business depends heavily on US Navy and Environmental Protection Agency assessments of halon alternatives before AmPac can start selling its Halotron I for critical US military applications. Rooker expects approval in Europe to follow. AmPac has acquired the technology for two products: Halotron I, which replaces halon 1211, used in fire extinguishers; and Halotron II, a substitute for halon 1301 for certain flooding applications, such as in computer rooms. A competing product, 3M's perfluorohexane (C[sub 6]), has been ruled out for use in fire-fighting training, a large portion of the fire extinguishment market. And Great Lakes Chemical's FM-100 is likely to be phased out soon after halons because of its ozone depletion potential. Halotron I is a blend based on hydrofluorocarbon (HCFC)-123, and Halotron II is simply described as a proprietary blend not based on HCFCs. Other methods of fire prevention and suppression may reduce demand for halon alternatives. And AmPac's early lead will not ensure long-term dominance of the market, as competitive products are sure to make their way to market. But for the time being, AmPac's product appears to be the only candidate likely to receive EPA approval, says Brown.
- OSTI ID:
- 6148938
- Journal Information:
- Chemical Week; (United States), Vol. 152:14; ISSN 0009-272X
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
POLICY AND ECONOMY
CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS
REGULATIONS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
ECONOMIC IMPACT
BUSINESS
DEMAND
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
FIRE FIGHTING
FIRE PREVENTION
MARKET
OZONE
OZONE LAYER
SALES
TRAINING
US EPA
EDUCATION
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
LAYERS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
US ORGANIZATIONS
290201* - Energy Planning & Policy- Economics- (1992-)