A 37 per cent reduction under the 2018 F-Gas phasedown has forced the Chemours Company and Arkema to sign a distribution deal to increase the availability of XP40 (R-449A) in the European Union.
High demand for low Global Warming Potential (GWP) alternatives to replace legacy products such as R-404A and R-507A has seen gas shortages emerge throughout the EU.
Opteon XP40, better known as R449A, is one of the leading retrofit gases for R404A/R507, particularly in the supermarket refrigeration sector.
Arkema will sell the refrigerant under its own brand as Forane 449A (XP40).
Vice president of Chemours Fluorochemicals, Diego Boeri, said XP40 is currently the refrigerant of choice among leading supermarkets, retailers, contractors, distributors and end-users in the EU for retrofit and new equipment.
“We are pleased to be able to expand the access of XP40 in the EU market via Arkema, another leading supplier of fluorochemical refrigerants,” Boeri said.
”Since 2015, XP40 has played a critical role in allowing the market to comply with the F-Gas Regulation.
“We are committed to continuing to help the industry succeed under the F-Gas Regulation while enabling customers and the marketplace to ensure business continuity.”