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8 Solvents and Other HFC/PFC Applications

IPCC (2001) identifies a number of niche applications for which HFCs and PFCs may be used including electronics transfer, dielectric fluid and medical applications. One importer representative commented in a previous survey that they imported some specialised products containing PFCs in the past but these proved to be too expensive for the market. Recent inventory studies have found no other sources of HFC or PFC emissions from surveys and telephone contact with New Zealand chemical importers (CRL Energy 2007).

In particular, no evidence was found that HFCs or PFCs are used as solvents in New Zealand. None of the importers or distributors of HFCs and PFCs into New Zealand reported supplying bulk chemicals for solvent use. Also, none of the halocarbons normally used as solvents were imported into New Zealand in bulk. Because there has been a shift within the electronics industry towards no-clean fluxes there has been no need since at least 1999 to use a solvent cleaning process.

HFC or PFC solvents that have entered the country in pre-loaded aerosol containers are not accounted for separately in Customs data. It is therefore possible for very small quantities of solvent to be imported in these products.

There will be an ongoing need for both inventory purposes and for potential ETS coverage to check with chemical importers and sector experts whether new applications are found for HFCs and PFCs.

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