Organosilicon chemistry offers an alternative to PFAS in the food and medical industry

Many medical products require hydrophobic coatings to prevent cell adhesion or to optimize sliding and frictional properties. Fraunhofer IFAM has developed a fluorine-free coating that mimics the properties of previously available fluoropolymers, as demonstrated by hydrophobic coatings on synthetic nonwovens. Credit: Fraunhofer IFAM
Due to the unique properties of PFAS, few chemicals can compete with them. This is why it is so difficult to find replacements for these toxic “forever chemicals” that accumulate in the environment and do not break down over time.
A team at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials IFAM has successfully developed a targeted alternative solution to PFAS in fields such as medical engineering.
The European Union’s planned ban on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is having a dramatic impact on medical technology. These substances have many properties that are essential in medicine and are currently used in many standard products.
Given the time it takes to bring a product to market (which typically far exceeds the proposed transition period to date), the medical technology industry can move quickly, adopt quickly, and meet the industry’s demanding You need to find an alternative that meets safety. standard.
Leveraging proven methods for medical applications
Fraunhofer IFAM researchers have set themselves the mission of supporting companies in these efforts. Dr. Ralph Wilken, director of the institute’s surface technology division, is an expert on PFAS. Long before toxic substances started receiving negative attention, he wanted to find an alternative.
The results were impressive. “We have now been using organosilicon chemistry for more than 20 years to find effective replacements for the wide range of positive properties of PFAS,” Wilken said.
The solution developed by Wilken and his colleagues is currently being implemented in areas such as the food industry and meets the standards required for use in medical technology. It is biocompatible, meaning it is tolerated by the body and inert. It does not react or reacts very little with other substances.
Experts have also successfully developed a number of coatings that have electrically insulating properties and can optimally tune the way they interact with cells through their surfaces.


Vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) modification of silicone surfaces is a potential alternative to gas-phase fluorination. Functional dirt-repelling and abrasion-resistant coatings enable a wide range of applications in medical technology, from feel-tuned prostheses to dirt-repellent respiratory masks. A treated silicone hand (left) shows how the coating prevents dirt particles from adhering to the surface. Credit: Fraunhofer Gesellschaft
custom fit solution
One key point when replacing PFAS without loss of functionality, whether used in the product itself or in a production environment, is to ensure that the solution is customized for the specific use case. It’s about checking. “A detailed analysis of the components that need to be replaced allows us to narrow down replacements that exactly match the desired characteristics.
“At the same time, we can offer our partners thorough support in the form of proven processes, knowledge of surfaces and functional materials, and experience in which materials can be effectively replaced and how.
“It doesn’t take long to get results that our customers can work on,” explains Dr. Kai Borcharding, Head of the Medical Technology and Life Sciences Business Unit at Fraunhofer IFAM.
The experts will be attending the COMPAMED 2024 trade fair from November 11 to 14 and will present their solutions at the Fraunhofer joint booth in booth G10, hall 8a. Solutions on display include innovative coatings, ReleasePLAS plasma polymer functional release coating that enables the production of plastic parts without the use of mold release agents, PLASLON non-stick coating, and Vacuum Ultraviolet (VUV) modified Includes surface functionalization solutions such as silicone. ) Radiation.
Provided by Fraunhofer Gesellschaft
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