The idea of aerosol, a substance obtained under pressure that escapes from a valve, was released by Erick Rotheim, a swedish engineer whom patented it in 1926.

Since 1934 the USA started to placed on market valves that provide the substance under pressure, while in Italy, during the 1950s, with the establishment of filler companies, also started to be avalaible the first cans.  This is the beginning of the aerosol industry and cans and tubes companies started to produce them with metal, that nowadays are essential for us.

Development of aerosol industry

In 1965 was born the Italian Aerosol Society  that has the objective to establish laws and norms to control the industry of aerosol and that gathe all sector's companies. Only in 1950s cans became tinplate cans, an irom material with a lay of tin, that make them safety and resistant. During the 60s the welding process of cans started to improve with machines, that greatly increased the fast production and the safety of the final production. This bring us to 50s with the creation of filling machines, while, during the 60s, we can see the use of aluminium to give more elegance to cans, that are lithographed in four and six colors.

Since 2000 machines have started to apply sleever, an elegant film, cans were presented in different styles, and, with the use of aluminium, has changed also the shape of the product. Nowadays aerosol cans are extremely lithographeted and lacquered inside. In 2010, in the USA were created the first PET plastic cans.

Advantages and disadvantages of propellant

Nowadays the most used propellants are the hydrocarbons; these hydrocarbons are easily degradable and available on the market. It's a great propellant, but is very inflammable as well as the DME ( dimethylether) or the HFO, both presented in the market since 2007. That same year started to come up critics about HFO: despite they have GWP closer to zero, they demage the ozone for deterioration and are low inflammable. Since 2000 started to be diffused compressed gases as propellant, which means carbon dioxide and azote, that are non inflammable and eco-friendly, but they contain an high internal pressure. 

Uses of aerosol cans

Nowadays aerosol cans are used in different contexts: in our homes, for cosmetic, for varnishes, for insecticides, ludic and medical context, but also for food sector. In 2017 were produced 5,7 billions of aerosol cans and Italy is the fourth producer in Europe with 540 milions of cans. ( Federchimica Aia's data)

Settala gas and the eco- friendly aerosols 

For over 40 years Settala gas is being specialized in the production of aerosol propellant based on eco- friendly hydrocarbons with the brand PURIFAIR.

It's a long history, that begun during 70s with the creation of a desulphurisation system of hydrocarbons, to get an ecological propellant used in AEROSOL sector. This decision was born by the awareness of the high environment impact of CFC propellants and the intention to respect the MONTREAL PROTOCOL, that in 1980 gas request the substitution. During 80s Settala gas became a point of reference for the hydrocarbon sector, especially to provide the technical and normative customer's support, moving  from CFC to hydrocarbons. The range of blends ( butane, propane and isobutane) cover all pressures and requirement of specifical formulation for every customer. Nowadays, sustainable  aerosol is a product of which Settala gas is proud. Contact us for more informations.