The upgrading of refrigeration environmental materials is driving the global refrigeration industry towards a low-carbon, efficient, and sustainable transformation. The following analysis covers four dimensions: refrigerants, thermal insulation materials, policy drivers, and market applications, combined with the latest technological breakthroughs and industry trends:
I. Refrigerants: Collaborative Innovation from High-GWP to Natural and Synthetic Materials
1. Large-Scale Application of Natural Refrigerants
- R290 (Propane) and R600a (Isobutane): As natural hydrocarbons with ODP (Ozone Depletion Potential) of 0 and GWP (Global Warming Potential) close to 0, they are being rapidly adopted in commercial and household refrigeration equipment. For example, Jiangsu Kaim科斯 Chemical Co., Ltd. invested 3 million RMB to upgrade production lines, increasing the proportion of R290 and R600a in its annual 256,000-ton refrigeration material output to replace high-GWP HFCs.
- CO₂ (R744): Performs excellently in supercritical cycle systems. Bitzer's ECOLINE 8-cylinder piston compressor, suitable for industrial refrigeration, can withstand 80 bar high pressure, meeting the needs of cold chain logistics and large-scale cold storage.
2. Technological Breakthroughs in Low-GWP Synthetic Refrigerants
- HFOs (Hydrofluoroolefins): Honeywell and DuPont's jointly developed HFO-1234yf (GWP=4) has been applied in over 120 million vehicle air conditioners globally, reducing energy consumption by 5-15% compared to traditional HFCs.
- Blended Refrigerants: R454B (GWP=466), as a substitute for R410A, achieves a 10% energy efficiency improvement and has passed EU F-GAS certification, suitable for household air conditioners and heat pumps.
3. Policy-Driven Phase-out and Replacement
- EU F-GAS Regulation: Prohibits the use of refrigerants with GWP ≥ 150 in commercial refrigerators from 2025, and aims for full elimination of GWP ≥ 150 fluorinated gases by 2030.
- China's Quota System: Reduces production quotas for second-generation refrigerants (e.g., R22) by 18% by 2025, while increasing quotas for third-generation refrigerants (e.g., R32, R245fa), driving the industry towards low-GWP alternatives.
II. Thermal Insulation Materials: Dual Breakthroughs in Nanotechnology and High-Temperature Protection
1. Industrialization of Aerogel Materials
- Performance Advantages: Thermal conductivity as low as 0.012-0.024W/(m·K), 2-3 orders of magnitude lower than traditional materials. Tsinghua University's self-propagating high-temperature synthesis technology reduces costs to 5 RMB per liter and increases production speed by 10 times, suitable for industrial furnaces and data centers.
- Application Case: Shandong Industrial Ceramics Research Institute's aerogel materials applied in the cement industry reduced decomposition furnace temperature by 43℃, saving 10,572 tons of standard coal annually.
2. Nanofibers and New Composite Materials
- Electrospun Fibers: Bioactive glass fibers developed by the University of Birmingham, UK, weigh 1/100th of traditional ceramic fibers and can withstand 1000℃ high temperature, used in military equipment and spacecraft thermal protection.
- Vacuum Insulation Panels (VIPs): Using nanoporous core materials and high-barrier films, with thermal conductivity ≤ 0.0025W/(m·K), reducing packaging thickness by 50-70% in cold chain logistics, such as BASF SLENTEX® materials applied in South Korea's FMS cold chain platform.
3. Innovations in High-Temperature Insulation Materials
- Silicon Carbide Aerogel: Tsinghua University's flash synthesis technology enables large-scale production with compressive strength maintaining after 100 cycles, suitable for aerospace and high-temperature industrial equipment.
- Ceramic Matrix Composites: Shandong Industrial Ceramics Research Institute's lightweight high-temperature materials for hypersonic vehicles can withstand temperatures over 1600℃, solving the problem of non-reusability of traditional ablative materials.
III. Policies and Markets: Global Collaboration and Regional Differentiation
1. Tightening International Regulations
- EU: F-GAS regulation targets "zero release" of HFCs by 2050 and prohibits fluorinated gases in household refrigerators by 2026.
- Japan: Bans 138 types of perfluorinated compounds from 2025, promoting fluorine-free refrigeration technologies.
- USA: Federal regulations may relax environmental standards, but states like California maintain strict energy efficiency norms, driving HFO and natural refrigerant adoption.
2. China's Policy and Market Dual Drive
- Quota System: Reduces HCFC production quotas by 67.5% by 2025, concentrating HFC import quotas among leading enterprises to accelerate industry consolidation.
- Regional Actions: Guangdong Province's "Green and Efficient Refrigeration Action Plan" aims to increase the market share of efficient refrigeration products by 20% and improve data center cooling system energy efficiency by 25% by 2025.
3. Growing Market Demand
- Cold Chain Logistics: After retrofitting, the ammonia-related area of Southwest Suburban Cold Storage was reduced to 1/15th, using CO₂ and HFO refrigerants with an annual shipment volume of 400,000 tons.
- Data Centers: McQuay's magnetic levitation units based on R1233zd(E) (GWP=1) have a single-unit cooling capacity of 2300RT, serving enterprises like Alibaba and Tencent.
IV. Future Trends: Technological Integration and Circular Economy
1. Material Technology Integration
- Interdisciplinary Innovation: Composite materials combining aerogels and nanofibers offer ultra-low thermal conductivity and flexible processability for complex surface insulation.
- Intelligent Integration: Huawei Digital Power's photovoltaic-energy storage-refrigeration integrated solution generates 5.8 million kWh annually in data centers, reducing carbon emissions by 30%.
2. Circular Economy Models
- Refrigerant Recycling: China's full-component clean utilization technology for waste lead-acid batteries achieves over 98% lead recovery, saving 66,500 tons of water annually.
- Material Regeneration: Shandong Industrial Ceramics Research Institute's atmospheric drying process for aerogels reduces energy consumption by 90%, promoting industrial waste recycling.
3. Cost and Scaling Challenges
- Aerogel Industrialization: Tsinghua University's technology reduces silicon carbide aerogel costs to 5 RMB per liter, projecting over 50% market share by 2030.
- Natural Refrigerant Adoption: R290 application in air conditioners is limited by safety standards, requiring improved explosion-proof design and installation specifications.
Conclusion
The upgrading of refrigeration environmental materials has shifted from single substitution to systematic innovation, driven by policy pressure, technological breakthroughs, and market demands. The deep integration of low-GWP refrigerants, nanothermal insulation materials, and intelligent systems will accelerate the global refrigeration industry's journey toward the "zero-carbon" goal. Enterprises should pay attention to regional regulatory differences, increase R&D investment, and explore material recycling models to gain a competitive edge in sustainable development.