Challenges and Developments With the Upcoming Ban of PFOA

The European Union has put forth a regulation requiring a limitation of no more than 25 parts per billion (grams per thousand tons) of Per Fluoric Octanoic (PFOA) in PTFE micro-powder, effective July 4th, 2020. The requirements of the REACH legislation pose a challenge to the coatings industry, as many possible raw materials will be banned. Although there is already an exemption for thermal-treated or irradiated PTFEs for another two years, there will be a need to reformulate or to make...