WILMINGTON, Del. - DuPont and Rhodia announced the signing of an agreement by which DuPont plans to purchase the ISCEON® hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant blends business from Rhodia, pending regulatory approvals. The transaction will likely be finalized sometime in the third quarter.

The ISCEON range of refrigerants comprises non-ozone-depleting blends used as a replacement for ozone-depleting refrigerants in air conditioning, cold storage, domestic refrigeration, and process cooling.

"This acquisition will en-large our HFC product portfolio, and enable us to offer customers additional sustainable refrigerant solutions to accelerate the reduction of ozone-depleting substances around the world," said Mark Baunchalk, global business manager - refrigerants, DuPont Fluorochemicals.

"DuPont has been a pioneer in the science of refrigerants for 75 years and is committed to continue developing science and technology to bring more sustainable cooling and environmental solutions to customers around the world. This acquisition supports that effort and will strengthen our business."

The transaction is part of the divestiture of non-strategic activities being undertaken by the Rhodia Group.

Publication date: 07/11/2005