Day 007 - 06 Jul 94 - Page 28
1 Q. We see on the other hand in Asia Pacific, in the top left
hand column, carbon dioxide makes seven appearances for
2 the first time?
A. That is correct. The new technology became available.
3
Q. Of the Asia Pacific countries, the Philippines are still
4 using a mixture of blowing agents as we saw before, and
Japan is the only other one using hydrocarbons?
5 A. Correct.
6 Q. This reflects on something you told us earlier. We see
that in Europe the use of hydrocarbons is extensive?
7 A. It is.
8 Q. Can you tell us something about the technology required to
blow polystyrene with hydrocarbons, as compared with HCFCs
9 or CFCs?
A. In CFCs blowing agents, there was no concern with
10 flammability and hydrocarbons are flammable. So, there
must be preparations to the manufacturing facility for
11 ventilation of ambient hydrocarbons whcih may escape, and
provisions to burn off hydrocarbons that are released by
12 the foam when they ---- They have to age it; they have it
to let it sit so that the hydrocarbons do come out. They
13 burn that off. There are a couple of manufacturing
adjustments that would need to be made from switching to
14 CFCs to hydrocarbons.
15 Q. Is that an expensive process?
A. Relatively, yes.
16
Q. Does it surprise you that we find the use of hydrocarbons
17 predominant, or predominantly more common, in those
relatively wealthy developed countries such as Japan and
18 most of Europe?
A. That makes sense, yes. When Asia Pacific made the
19 transition they did not want to go into a hydrocarbons
because of the expense, so they waited for technology for
20 C02 so they would not have to convert twice.
21 Q. Is that C02 technology local or did they get it from
somewhere else?
22 A. From my knowledge, they licensed it Dow Chemicals in
the USA.
23
Q. Dow Chemicals?
24 A. Dow Chemicals.
25 Q. I think I asked you this earlier: Do you regard it as
desirable that that movement towards C02 should continue?
26 A. Oh, yes.
27 Q. Can we pass away from these polystyrene foam packages to
paper? When I say "paper", Mr. Kouchoukos, unless I say
28 otherwise, or unless you correct me, I include paper
board, all right?
29 A. Okay.
30 Q. Is paper board roughly translated into English
"cardboard"?
