How can CoatOSil™ Additives Replace PFAS-Containing Materials in Coatings?

Momentive, a global leader in silicone and silane specialties, strives to create Solutions for a Sustainable World™. We are a global organization with manufacturing, technical, and development capabilities in key regions to prioritize speed, communication, and support for our customers.

At Momentive, we develop innovative products that solve sustainability challenges for our customers and society. For example, identifying alternatives for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is a critical challenge faced in many applications and Momentive is pioneering sustainable replacement solutions.
 

Both academic and industry experts consider silicones as the next-best alternative to PFAS-containing materials. Reducing the surface energy is a fundamental feature of PFAS-containing materials that gives rise to excellent release properties. PTFE is known to have one of the lowest surface energies of approximately 18-20 mJ/m².

Traditional silicone elastomers/resins can reach a surface energy of approximately 20-24 mJ/m². Other plastic materials typically have surface energies close to or higher than 30 mJ/m². Silicones come closest to matching the lower surface energies that PFAS-containing materials provide. Momentive is exploring new solutions to further reduce the surface energy of silicones by using synergistic chemistries.

Silicones have multiple decades of proven weatherability, waterproofing, and thermal resistance in the real world, which makes them an ideal choice when excellent durability is desired.

 

To replace PFAS-containing additives like fluorosurfactants, Momentive has excellent functional-silicone alternatives that could deliver low-surface energy, hydrophobicity, anti-blocking, stain resistance, and substrate wetting for both waterborne and solvent-borne coatings. However, silicones may not be a 'drop-in' or 'one-to-one' replacement for fluorosurfactants and some formulation optimization may be needed.

Compared to fluorosurfactants, silicones may need a slightly higher loading but could still have an equal to or better cost-performance balance. In some cases, one or more functional-silicone additives may be preferred to match or exceed performance benefits delivered by PFAS-containing additives. Momentive is also working on enhancing the oleophobicity of our silicone-based solutions, where we still have some gaps vs. PFAS-containing additives.

 

PFAS-containing materials have been under the microscope for decades. They are one of the substances that can be seen as 'forever chemicals' and take significantly longer to degrade when compared to silicones. Silicones also tend to be less bio-accumulative and toxic to humans and the environment. However, it is important to note that both types of materials have environmental, health, and safety considerations, and use and disposal per the safety data sheet is always recommended.

 

Momentive's tagline is Solutions for a Sustainable World™ and the future innovation plans are aligned with that. The company is on target to reach its goal of achieving 75% of new product sales that deliver sustainability improvements by 2025. Momentive is committed to continuously reducing the carbon footprint of its products by optimizing the supply chain and further enhancing sustainability practices in its manufacturing plants by reducing waste, and utilizing energy from renewable sources, etc.

Lower VOC, PFAS- and hazard-free solutions are the primary criteria for all ongoing R&D efforts. For the coatings market, Momentive is focusing on developing innovative solutions for waterborne, solvent-free, and high-solids systems that can match the performance of traditional solvent-borne counterparts. We are also exploring bio-based and renewable raw materials in developing new chemistries and products.

Finally, to replace PFAS-based resins like PVDF and FEVE for super-durable coatings, silicone-based resins are well known to deliver:
 

• excellent UV durability,
• thermal stability,
• adhesion to multiple substrates, and
• resistance to corrosion/chemical/water

Similar to PFAS-based resins, silicone-based resins are mostly supplied in solvents, but Momentive has been working on replacing these with new waterborne solutions. Silicone resins typically need thermal curing to achieve optimal performance. Developments to achieve curing at room temperature are ongoing.

 

About Kadriye Hieronymi Kadriye Hieronymi is the Product Stewardship Business Partner for CAS/PE at Momentive. Kadriye focuses on segment strategy and operating as the Product Stewardship point of contact for the CAS/PE segment within the Performance Additives Business Unit. She is responsible for providing a proactive view of regulatory impacts on current and future products and their uses. Kadriye has over 10 years of experience in Product Safety and Regulatory Affairs, in the EU and United States. Before joining Momentive, she worked as a Regulatory Affairs Manager for Biocides, leading the Global Registrations for the repellent active ingredient icaridin/picaridin. Before that, she served at ADM as Manager of Global Regulatory Science.   About Dr. Yogesh Tiwary Dr. Yogesh Tiwary is the Coatings Technology Leader at Momentive Performance Materials located in Bangalore, India. He is responsible for the development of innovative silane and silicone-based solutions for architectural, industrial, and construction chemicals. He has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Pennsylvania State University and has been a part of the paints and coatings industry for the past 15 years.

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