Dover Chemical's Strategic Shift to PFAS-free Alternatives
Last update on Dec 24, 2024
An Interview with Shawn Cook, Sales Manager for Polymer Additives at Dover Chemical Corporation
The future of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) regulations will be a game changer worldwide. We can expect the regulation to tighten, with outright bans likely in many applications. However, exceptions may be made for essential uses where no alternatives exist.
Industries like polymers are already exploring innovative ways to adapt. Leading this charge is Dover Chemical, with its groundbreaking products like:
- Doverphos® LGP-12 and
- DoverClear™
They showcase the potential of PFAS-free materials. These advancements not only act as thermal stabilizers but also serve as fluorine-free process aids. Thus, paving the way for large-scale adoption in polymers. However, from rigorous testing across the product lifecycle to ensuring food-contact compliance in polyolefins, PFAS-free material adoption comes with many challenges.
We interviewed Shawn Cook, Sales Manager for Polymer Additives at Dover Chemical, who explains how Dover Chemical is setting a benchmark by developing sustainable, future-forward solutions. Also, the application of their PFAS-free products extends beyond polymers to other critical sectors.
#1. How do you see evolving regulations around PFAS influencing product development and industry practices over the next 5-10 years?
I don't think it is a groundbreaking opinion to predict that PFAS will continue to be regulated or outright banned in the next 5-10 years. I was recently at a conference where a lobbying group stated they have given up on preventing PFAS bans in plastics and are now focusing on modifying the language of regulations to help ensure that those who are acting in good faith are not unfairly targeted. I think that on a large scale (remember, 'PFAS' includes >15000 chemicals!), we will see broad sweeping bans with some exceptions where the product and application are essential and there are no alternatives available. That will not be the case in the polymer industry.
#2. How are customer demands and public perception shaping the transition away from PFAS in key industries?
The push to replace PFAS has been unprecedented in its scale and speed. What makes this situation so interesting is how pervasive PFAS are in our everyday lives, which means that there are a lot of players across multiple industries all trying to find solutions simultaneously.
#3. What advancements are being made in developing PFAS-free materials, and how viable are these for large-scale adoption?
Dover has developed the Doverphos® LGP-12/DoverClear™ concept to be truly advanced in polymer systems in that it acts as both a thermal stabilizer and a fluorine-free process aid. It is truly new and unique chemistry. Most of the other solutions are advancements in existing chemistries; however, in the past, there was little incentive to develop these because the PFAS materials worked so well.
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#4. What challenges are associated with ensuring compliance and testing for PFAS levels in complex polymer systems?
When it comes to polyolefins especially, the biggest hurdle is to ensure food-contact compliance. Testing nowadays is far more rigorous (and expensive) than it was just 10 years ago. But that is just the first hurdle. Testing needs to be conducted in every aspect of the product lifecycle: resin producer, compounder, converter, and recycler.
Various Stages of Testing of the Product Lifecycle
There are chemical and performance-based tests at every level. And in many cases, the PFAS alternative is not a drop-in replacement. It will also involve equipment variables, requiring input from engineers, chemists, production people, and regulatory groups. Coordinating such trials across all product lines takes a Herculean effort and manpower.
#5. You have developed phosphite antioxidants with a “future forward” approach. Can you tell us more about this (in brief)?
When developing a molecule, we try to take our experience and current knowledge of the regulatory landscape to determine what a molecule should or should not have in order to ensure (to the extent possible) that we have a clean molecule going forward where we feel that the chemical group will not be targeted in the future. In the case of Doverphos® LGP-12, we made it a polymer to decrease bioavailability, used bio-based raw materials, and performed some of the most extensive testing for low toxicity in the industry.
#6. What future developments or innovations can we expect from Dover Chemical in the realm of sustainable materials?
Dover Chemical is always looking towards the future. We currently have solutions to aid the processibility of post-consumer recycled materials, but we are also developing additional solutions in our R&D center. We are not stopping at the polymer industry either – we are looking to create more sustainable materials applicable to our other core industries as well, such as metalworking and flame retardants.
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