PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) are man-made substances which do not exists in the natural environment. They are used in many products for their repellent and lubrication properties.
These “forever chemicals” are extremely hard to break down and have a negative effect on human health and the environment.
Due to these concerns and the increasing negative public image around PFAS, governments around the world are taking action to restrict the usage of these substances, such as the recent PFAS Annex XV proposal by Germany, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. Polymers like PTFE, ETFE, PVDF belong to the PFAS category together with 10.000 other related chemicals. This provides a challenge to the industry for phasing out these substances.
Witcom lubricated materials for improved friction and wear properties have been made with PTFE in the past, but in recent years Witcom has shifted its developments towards PTFE-free1 solutions. And with success! The current compound portfolio consists of many PTFE/PFAS free materials based on different polymer types with equal or better performance.
Witcom PFAS free solutions are already applied in many applications such as:
PTFE is widely used by the manufacturing industry in conveyor belts. Our PTFE free compounds have similar anti-adhesion properties as virgin PTFE, and are therefore an excellent replacement for your products.
Also, PTFE is used as sealings/bearings in valve components. By tweaking our custom-tailored compounds, we are able to not only improve the friction properties, but also the wear resistance can be improved with our PTFE-free compounds.
More technical information about PTFE, including more information about the (upcoming) government actions around the world, can be found here in our technical bulletin.
Please contact our engineers to discuss the possibilities for PFAS-free materials in your low friction and wear application.
1 Not intentionally used in the compound.
