Where are substances of the PFAS group used?

In the case of cookware, the fluoropolymer PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), the substance that gives a classic non-stick coating its non-stick properties in the first place and which is often referred to as "Teflon" (Teflon® is, however, a trademark of Chemours for its non-stick coatings), should be mentioned from the PFAS group.
In addition, substances of the PFAS group can also be found in countless other areas of daily life. The following are just a few examples:
• in low-friction and low-wear seals of hydraulic and pneumatic systems
• in plain bearings of various machines and aggregates
• in medical devices and implants
• in chemical plant and apparatus engineering (e.g. in pipelines of large-scale plants for protection against aggressive substances)
• in membranes of fuel cells and electrolysers
• as cable insulation in HF electronics
• in semiconductor manufacturing
• in fire extinguishing foam
• in paints and varnishes
• in coated papers (baking paper, label carriers, food cartons)
• in impregnation of textiles / upholstery / carpets
• in dental floss
• in technical sprays and lubricants

What is the problem with PFAS?

The problem with many substances in the PFAS group is basically their greatest advantage: they react with almost nothing. The chemist calls it inert, that is, inert to reaction. Let's take as an example a classic non-stick pan, i.e. one sealed with the fluoropolymer PTFE. Regardless of whether you boil acetic acid in a PTFE-coated pan or pour a strong alkaline solution into it, whether you let large amounts of salt act on it or do any other nonsense that irreparably damages uncoated stainless steel, iron or even enamel, the PTFE in the non-stick coating does not dissolve, release any substances or react in any other way. Even aqua regia, a strong acid mixture that even dissolves gold, has no appreciable effect on PTFE.

And this is the point that can be considered problematic, especially in manufacturing: If PFAS substances are released during processing steps in production and enter the environment through wastewater or exhaust air, for example, they react there with virtually nothing and therefore can hardly degrade, even after years and decades. For this reason, the voices in (environmental protection) associations and political parties advocating a complete ban on all PFASs have developed the catchy and, admittedly, media-sweet buzzword of "eternity chemicals".

With thousands of inert substances in countless fields of application and more than half a century of production, some of which was initially quite unhesitating, it is hardly surprising that, thanks to the fine detection capabilities of modern laboratory analytics, PFAS compounds can now be detected almost everywhere on the planet in water, in the earth and subsequently also in living creatures.
The extent to which these PFAS compounds, which occur in trace amounts, interact with living organisms is not conclusively and unequivocally clarified at present due to the large number of substances and is therefore the subject of further research, particularly in the USA and Europe.
However, in the case of some fluorinated surfactants, such as PFOA, which are mainly used as auxiliaries in chemical processes, there are findings that suggest health risks, at least in the case of heavy exposure. As a result, voluntary agreements have been reached in some cases with industry to avoid emissions of PFOA by 2015 (USA) or a complete ban on the production of PFOA by 2020 (EU).

As far as long-chain fluoropolymers with a high molecular weight such as PTFE are concerned, on the other hand, there are many more findings which, as before, give reason to sound the all-clear regarding possible bioavailability or bioaccumulation, i.e. the effect on the organism.

What is the current state of the discussion on PFAS?

As of spring 2023, it looks like there is a proposal from ECHA, the European Chemicals Agency, to ban PFAS.² The initiative for this came from Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

Public consultations have been ongoing since March and will continue until September 2023. If the proposal prevails, the ban would be expected to enter into force at the end of 2025, with a transition period of 18 months. For some applications (mainly commercial/industrial applications), the proposal provides for exemptions ranging from 5 to 12 years.
The very long exemption periods indicate that the initiators of the ban proposal are well aware, or at least have an inkling, that there are currently no adequate alternatives to substances of the PFAS group in many areas of application. Nevertheless, the hope seems to be that adequate substitutes will be found and tested in time after a ban has been imposed.

However, no exceptions are planned for consumer products such as cookware with non-stick coatings, so that there would be no more newly manufactured non-stick coatings (PTFE) here after the transition period has expired. Definitive. Without exception.

Special attention should also be paid to the initially inconspicuous area of "other applications", for which no exceptions are provided either. Since thousands of applications in the most diverse areas of daily life can be found in this area, this prohibition position contains enormous economic-political explosive power. The owner and managing director of a German mechanical engineering company is therefore also very clear in a newspaper article when he says: "If this all comes about as it is currently planned, we can close down!" ³

There are ceramic coatings after all. What's the problem?

Yes, in cookware, ceramic coatings, sometimes called ceramic nonstick coatings, have been available for some time as an alternative to the PTFE-based classic nonstick coatings that belong to the PFAS group. Ceramic coatings do not contain PTFE or other substances from the PFAS group. And initially, these ceramic coatings also usually have a very good non-stick effect, which is not infrequently even better than that of a new PTFE-coated non-stick pan. Unfortunately, the non-stick effect of ceramic coatings diminishes over time, sometimes to a much greater extent than with classic non-stick coatings.

This is not the result of ill will on the part of the coating manufacturers, but is simply due to the fact that PTFE is almost perfect in terms of its non-stick effect and chemical-physical insensitivity.
Ceramic coatings derived from sol-gel processes can be used in an attempt to get closer to this ideal state. But it remains an approximation.

Does ceramic coatings currently not an absolute full-fledged replacement for PTFE nonstick coatings?

No. Coating manufacturers have been working for years on ceramic coatings with a longer-lasting non-stick effect and have also achieved quite respectable successes. A ceramic coating from 2023 lasts significantly longer than one from 2013, and the non-stick qualities already match the best PTFE products in the long term.

Shangwey adopts the highest grade SOL-GEL ceramic coating in the world, combined with our unique extended non stick technology, making the non stick coating non stick performance and long-lasting at the same level as PTFE.

This not only reduces household costs, but also from the perspective of environmental protection or sustainability, extends the service life, thereby greatly saving raw materials and energy. This will be an inevitable trend in the development of non stick pans.

CONCLUSION

So will the non-stick pan (PTFE) actually be banned?

The European Union is considering a proposal to ban the widespread use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as "forever chemicals". This could have a significant impact on supply chains across multiple industries, including nonstick pans.

Due to its extremely stable chemical structure and unique chemical properties, including water and oil resistance, PFAS has long been favored by manufacturers and is used in products such as non-stick pans and waterproof clothing fabrics. However, research in recent decades has found strong links between PFAS and health risks such as cancer, hormone dysfunction, weakened immune systems, and environmental damage.
Although countries such as Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have proposed banning the use of about 10,000 PFAS in the EU, this proposal still needs to be reviewed by the European Chemicals Agency and comply with EU law. If the proposed legislation is approved, it could come into effect as early as 2026.

Therefore, the EU has not yet completely banned non-stick pans containing PFAS, but relevant bans may be introduced in the future. When purchasing and using non-stick pans, consumers can pay attention to the materials and production processes of the products, and choose products that do not contain PFAS or have lower PFAS content to protect their own health and environmental safety.