Per- and polyfluorinated compounds (PFAS), which also include fluoropolymers, are under intense pressure due to a restriction proposal by the ECHA (European Chemicals Agency). In technical applications under particularly demanding conditions, there is therefore a considerable need to develop fluorine-free substitutes and make them accessible or adaptable for the widest possible range of different requirements.
Per- and polyfluorinated compounds (PFAS), which also include fluoropolymers, are under intense pressure due to a restriction proposal by the ECHA (European Chemicals Agency). In technical applications under particularly demanding conditions, there is therefore a considerable need to develop fluorine-free substitutes and make them accessible or adaptable for the widest possible range of different requirements.
In the “HATE-FLUOR” project, Fraunhofer LBF is working with Fraunhofer IFAM to develop a solution based on three key steps. First, new stabilizers based on new phosphorus-containing diphenylamines are being developed for use in improving the thermo-oxidative stability of elastomers. In the second step, these additives are used to produce customized elastomer formulations and optimize them for specific applications.
In the final step, a combination of plasma and paint coating is applied to provide the elastomers with even greater protection against chemical and oxidative influences. The modular design of the system and the resulting building block principle are intended to cover a wide range of applications in the field of fluorine-alternative seals, with the target properties being determined by the areas of application of fluorinated elastomers.
Various industries can benefit from the results, including semi-finished and finished product manufacturers, companies in the mechanical engineering industry, medical engineering, clean room and semiconductor technology, chemical process engineering, and electrical applications.
Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF