What are Aerosols?
Aerosols use liquefied or compressed gas to propel active ingredients, in liquid, paste, or powder form in precise spray patterns with controlled droplet sizes and amount. Typical aerosol products use a propellant that is a gas at atmospheric pressure, but is a pressurized liquid in the can. Some aerosols may contain a solvent. In some cleaning applications, the propellant disperses the solvent; in other applications, the solvent product and propellant are evenly mixed to improve shelf-life and product performance.
Active chemicals in liquid, paste, or powder form are propelled as aerosols in precise spray patterns with managed droplet sizes and amounts using liquefied or compressed gas. The propellant used in typical aerosol products is a pressurized liquid in the can but is a gas at atmospheric pressure. Solvents may be present in some aerosols, and in certain cleaning applications, the propellant disperses the solvent; in others, the propellant and solvent product are evenly combined to enhance the shelf life and performance of the finished product.
Aerosol Propellant Chemicals
Government and environmental authorities now closely monitor aerosol propellant usage since propellants like CFC, HCFC, and HFC damage the ozone layer. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Department of Transportation (DOT), and other governmental organizations have established severe VOC (volatile organic compound) rules that aerosol propellants must adhere to.
Personal care goods like deodorants, antiperspirants, hair mousse, hair sprays, and many other items are mostly produced using aerosol propellants. Insecticides, textile/fabric care, air fresheners, and other household items also employ them. Aerosol propellants are also crucial in medical applications.
Major nations committed to gradually replacing HFC use with low global warming potential (GWP) aerosol products such as HFO under the Montreal Protocol. Due to its high GWP, HFC is phasing out of applications like personal care, home, automotive, industrial, and technical items as of January 2017. HFOs are said to be one of the most environmentally friendly type of aerosol propellant at the moment because they are made of hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon, have zero ODP, and a very low GWP.
