R1234yf inventor Barbara H Minor honoured with prestigious Science of Chemical Industry award

Those who attended the 2015 VASA Wire & Gas convention will remember Barbara H Minor’s fascinating presentation about R1234yf, which she was pivotal in the development of.

She has now been honoured with The Science of Chemical Industry (SCI) America Perkin Medal for her contribution to the research and development of refrigerants that address ozone depletion and global warming potential (GWP).

The annual Perkin award is the United States’ highest honour for outstanding work in applied chemistry. It commemorates the discovery of the first synthetic dye by Sir William Henry Perkin in 1856.

Following her work on the R1234yf molecule for automotive applications, Minor went on to develop new low-GWP refrigerants for supermarket, transport and self-contained refrigeration and large building air-conditioning systems.

“The work Barbara has done in the world of refrigerants has resulted in innovative solutions that have a larger positive impact on people’s lives, all with a smaller environmental footprint,” said SCI America chair Craig Rogerson.

“The SCI is pleased to award Barbara’s remarkable success in the industry, her contributions to science, and her commitment to a more sustainable planet.”

She will receive her medal at a special dinner to be held at the Hyatt Bellevue in Philadelphia on September 25.

“Barbara’s innovative contributions to science and technology matched with her deep understanding of customer and market needs have been central to the success of many new refrigerants,” said Chemours CEO Mark Vergnano.

“We are so proud that she has received this richly-deserved recognition for her many contributions to Chemours, the environment, and society as a whole.”

Minor, who has more than 160 US patents for refrigerants, cleaning agents, and aerosol propellants to her name, was one of the first women in DuPont’s two-century history to be named a DuPont Fellow, the organisation’s highest technical level.