First-Hand News?
Obtain news and background information about sealing technology, get in touch with innovative products – subscribe to the free e-mail newsletter.
- Home
- News & Stories
-
Back to
Press Releases
- Seals without PFAS?
19.09.2024
Seals without PFAS?
Starting in January 2026, U.S. companies that have manufactured PFAS in the U.S. or imported PFAS, or semi-finished or finished products containing PFAS between 2011 and 2022 will be subject to a reporting rule. Individual states are also starting to restrict the use of PFAS or require reporting. The scope and schedules vary significantly from state to state.
On February 7, 2023, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published a proposal for a comprehensive PFAS ban. The affected companies and organizations were given the opportunity to submit feedback on the potential scientific and socio-economic impacts of such legislation by the end of September 2023. More than 4,400 stakeholders provided over 5,600 comments and additional information. Freudenberg Sealing Technologies also contributed to this consultation. “We support the goals of the European Green Deal and the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability, but are calling for a differentiated, risk-based approach to chemical regulation than is planned for PFAS,” says Dr. Ruth Bieringer, Vice President Technology & Innovation, summarizing the company's position.
Material of choice – but expensive
The newly published study by Fraunhofer IWM, titled “Replacement of Polymeric PFAS in Industrial Applications with Harsh Environments,” underscores that fluoropolymers in particular have become indispensable, especially in the sealing industry. The substances are used in numerous applications, including compressors, motors, transmissions, drive systems, as well as in hydraulics and the food and beverage industry. Fluoropolymers are often the “material of choice” when seals must meet multiple requirements – such as excellent high-temperature resistance, lubricant compatibility, or complying with stringent standards for material with food contact. Other examples include high resistance to aggressive cleaning processes and minimal absorption and transfer of aromas. But fluoropolymers are also costly materials, which are generally reserved for applications where their performance exceeds that of more economical polymers.
The authors of the study conclude that a full replacement of PFAS in the sealing industry is currently unfeasible without facing significant losses in material properties, performance, and product longevity. Given the diversity of over 10,000 PFAS compounds, they advocate for a differentiated and fact-based discussion on regulating this class of substances.
Life cycle assessment as a plausible assessment method
Dr. Raimund Jaeger, Head of the Tribology Business Unit at Fraunhofer IWM, explains: “From our perspective, assessing the life cycle of fluoropolymers, which are considered ‘polymers of low concern’, is a credible method for realistically evaluating potential risks to human health and the environment. All stakeholders involved in this study agree that the safe production and disposal of polymeric PFAS is crucial. As long as precautions are taken to avoid harmful environmental impacts, the continued industrial use of fluoropolymers should remain possible.”
A definitive timeline for the introduction of a European PFAS regulation has yet to be established. Nevertheless, the industry is already bracing for potential changes. At Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, the search for alternatives is running at full speed, despite the current indispensability of fluoropolymers: “We have unique expertise in developing polymer materials such as elastomers and thermoplastics for high-performance industrial needs. Our materials have already enabled many breakthrough technologies in the past, and our materials experts are highly motivated to continue creating innovative solutions for future challenges,” Bieringer says.
The complete PFAS study by Fraunhofer IWM is available for download:
Ulrike Reich
Head of Media Relations & Internal Communications
Telephone: + 49 (0) 6201 960 5713
ulrike.reich@fst.com chevron_rightCheryl Eberwein
Director, Corporate Communications
Telephone: +1 734 354 5373
cheryl.eberwein@fnst.com chevron_rightDownload Press Release
Download Images
News Service
You can subscribe to the Freudenberg Sealing Technologies news alert service, bringing you the news as soon as they are published. You can always unsubscribe from this service.
Subscribe now! chevron_right
Further Articles With These Taggings
Is Downtime Costing You Money?
Learn how our expertise allowed us to get a major food and beverage manufacturer in the United States back up and running at peak efficiency.
Freudenberg Xpress® Delivers Rapid Solutions
Discover how Freudenberg Xpress® rapidly got a US steel mill back into production.
Shaft Repair Sleeves: The Perfect Compliment
Don’t leave money on the table, our shaft repair sleeves deliver an excellent return on investment by extending the lifespan of your equipment’s shaft.
Solving Seal Failures in the Construction Industry
Learn how our modified radial shaft seals (oil seals) solved sealing failures for construction compactors and power trowels.
Simriz® 498 O-Ring – Rising to the Challenge
Learn how a US manufacturer used our Simriz® 498 O-rings to overcome seal degradation and reduce complexity in their pumps used in the oil & gas industry.
Ensure purity with our Simmerring® Radiamatic HTS II
Learn how we helped a United States manufacturer meet the demanding needs of their customers.
Overcoming Seal Failures With Freudenberg EPDM 291 Material
How a major US manufacturer in the health and well-being industry used Freudenberg EPDM 291 material to solve their sealing failures while delivering considerable cost-saving.
A Very Hot Item: Thermoplastics For Up To 1,200 Degrees Celsius
Freudenberg Sealing Technologies develops extremely temperature-resistant plastics for electric cars.
Simriz® – Quick Tooling Ensures a Reliable Supply of FFKM Seals
Discover how our Simriz® quick tooling & reliable supply chain ensure that an American seed and agricultural chemical company has a reliable supply of FFKM seals.
News Service
You can subscribe to the Freudenberg Sealing Technologies news alert service, bringing you the news as soon as they are published. You can always unsubscribe from this service.
Subscribe now!
Back to Top