PFAS ban: Significant impact on industry and consumers
Per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFAS) have come under increasing criticism since several countries submitted a ban proposal to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). In many cases, however, this prejudgement appears to be unfounded from a scientific point of view. Nevertheless, many companies that rely on PFAS are facing great uncertainty. Despite the search for alternatives, which often have limited success, the fact remains: In most applications, PFAS cannot currently be replaced without significant losses in functionality, product life or production costs. However, in large parts of the population, but also in the manufacturing industry, little is known about how widespread PFAS actually are in numerous processes and products and that strict regulation, which would be equivalent to an effective ban, would have far-reaching effects on everyday life.
Innovative PFAS-free coatings for the food and medical industries
However, there has also been remarkable progress in the development of alternatives to PFAS. One promising development is a PFAS-free ceramic nano-coating that is applied using a sol-gel process. This coating system, which has been on the market for some time, outperforms traditional PFAS coatings in terms of robustness and efficiency and has been able to demonstrate consistent and very good non-stick properties not only in the laboratory but also in many practical applications. Particularly noteworthy is the improved heat conduction compared to classic Teflon coatings, which offers clear advantages in the baking and food industry in particular. In addition, the coating is already certified for use in the food industry and shows potential for the medical industry, although complex certification processes still need to be completed.
More details in the next issue of the surface technology magazine mo
Find out more about these and other developments in the next issue of surface technology magazine, mo 5-6/2024, which will be published in June 2024. You will also soon find additional information and practical application examples online at oberflaeche.de.