Motion plastics specialist igus has provided dedicated research engineers and engaged in sector-specific discussions to counter the potential ban on PFAS at an early stage and is able to offer all its customers PTFE-free and PFAS-tested alternatives.
Restrictions on the use of a group of polymers with wide industrial applications – organic fluorine compounds, fluoropolymers or PFAS – are being assessed in a consultative process that may result in a total ban. Super-versatile and resilient PFAS, which are used to make everything from dental floss to non-stick pans, are believed to have eco-toxicological and human toxicological effects and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) has published a proposal to restrict the manufacture, commercialisation and use of these substances, that could lead to an outright ban.
High chemical and temperature resistance, as well as good insulating and water repellent properties of PFAS, have made them a favourite material for hundreds of applications, ranging from electronic components and fuel cell membranes to solid lubricants in plastics.
Wider restrictions and a full ban will be determined on the completion of a four-phase process that takes several years. This involves consulting with industry, reports by The Scientific Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) and the Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC), a series of decisions by the European Commission and a transitional period. A ban would have serious implications for many businesses that use PFAS and their less harmful derivatives, PTFE.
Stepping up to replace PFAs
igus, a company with strong environmental and net zero commitments, is taking the potential ban seriously. For more than a year, a team of plastics engineers at igus have been working on PFAS properties and, together with igus product managers, have developed solutions that are closely aligned with the needs of their customers.
A huge industrial application for PFAS is bearings. As soon as the ECHA published its proposals in 2021, understanding the direction of travel of these restrictions, igus developed specialist polymer bearings that are made from PFAS-tested materials, or are “PFAS-free”. PFAS-free is how igus denotes all materials that have been tested for approximately 100 PFAS materials considered dangerous to the environment and health according to the SQP M1227 test method (LC-MS/MS and GC-MS).
PTFE, while considered a harmless chemical, is also a popular solid lubricant at igus and is contained in many bearing materials. In addition, igus already has many materials without PTFE in its existing product range and is gradually developing others.
Examples of popular bearings that comply with this are iglidur FPF, a new PTFE-free variant of the conductive iglidur F material, particularly suitable for applications with ESD requirements, PTFE-free and PFAS-tested drylin linear guides, and igus chainflex cables: 95% of all igus cables are free of PTFE and other PFAS chemicals.
“Plastics have a challenging environmental reputation, that both igus and the industry are working very hard to resolve,” says igus UK managing director Matthew Aldridge. “In recent years, we have launched multiple programmes to reduce carbon in our products and company while developing waste plastic recycling programs – such as our “chainge” recycling plan for end-of-life e-chains and development of the recycled plastic bike, RCYL. PFAS are chemicals that are known to damage the environment, although the extent of their effects is still unknown – see the igus PFAS page for more information. Our R&D team is working around the clock to develop PFAS-tested, and PFAS- and PTFE-free alternative materials so that customers have a full range of product solutions that are compliant with any future PFAS ban, or extensive restrictions.”
Progress achieved by listening to key sector partners
igus serves 188,000 companies from over 80 countries in more than 50 different industry sectors. Their products are essential in the design and manufacture of many products, and especially in big, signature industries such as automotive, packaging machinery and medical devices where PFAS materials are often used. Developing ranges of PFAS-free and PFAS-tested bearings, linear guides, e-chains and other components used in these sectors was only possible by close consultation between igus product managers and customers, to ensure their needs are met.
Industry specialists sought direction from big and small customers in various sectors, and then liaised with the relevant teams to help develop these products quickly and accurately.
“A car might have 30 sub-component families supplied by igus, from pumps and gears to seat systems and headlights – historically many of these parts are PFAS based because of their excellent properties” says Aldridge. “So to develop a range of viable, and tested, non-PFAS substitute components is a huge task and shows the time and investment igus has made in this important shift – and customers are grateful for this diligence.”
