At the beginning of February, Fraunhofer experts launched the “Hate-Fluor” project. The aim is to develop high-performance elastomer compounds that can replace fluoropolymers in demanding technical applications. Numerous industries could benefit from this.
Users of polyfluorinated and perfluorinated alkyl compounds (PFAS), which include fluor elastomers, are coming under increasing regulatory pressure - partly due to proposals from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). With the “Hate-Fluor” project, Fraunhofer is pursuing the development of sustainable, fluorine-free elastomers that are particularly suitable for applications with high thermal and chemical requirements, such as in sealing technology.
The project addresses the needs of a wide range of industries, including manufacturers of semi-finished and finished parts, plant and mechanical engineering, medical technology, the clean room and semiconductor industries as well as chemical process technology and electrical applications. In view of the uncertain future of PFAS, the development of alternative materials is a logical and necessary consequence.
While fluorine-free substitutes already exist for simple applications, there is a great need for customized solutions for extreme operating conditions.
PFAS alternatives: Coated elastomers and modular systems
As part of the “Hate-Fluor” project, the Fraunhofer Institute for Structural Durability and System Reliability LBF and the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM are working together to develop coated, fluorine-free elastomers and customizable modular systems to meet the growing market demand.
The solution is based on three core steps:
- Increasing the thermal stability of fluorine-free elastomers through novel antioxidants
- Development of optimized elastomer formulations
- Development of a coating system to protect against oxidative and chemical attacks
The modular structure of lacquer and plasma coatings allows a wide range of requirements in the field of alternative sealing systems to be covered. The desired material properties are based on the previous applications of fluor elastomers.
