The Tornado project is moving to a new PFA-free coating with water and oil repellent following a safe and environmentally friendly solution.
The broad portfolio of coatings has excellent surfactant properties due to its variety of unique properties, including excellent water and oil repellency, high thermal stability, outstanding oxygen affinity, and excellent surfactant properties. PFA is a class of thousands of substances produced since the 1940s and used in a wide range of consumer products and industrial applications.
PFA explanation
PFA is called “eternal chemicals” because it presents a strong carbonfluorin bond. This makes it extremely resistant to natural decomposition. This means that it can exist in the environment for decades, centuries, or even longer. PFAS emissions, which are releases to the environment, occur at various points during the lifecycle. The main sources and routes are as follows:
End of use phases of PFAS industry and manufacturing facility product manufacturing
And during their lifecycle, they can do the following:
Atmosphere: Volatile PFAs can move globally through the air. Water cycle: They easily move water and contaminate interconnected aquatic systems and groundwater. Bioaccumulation and bioexpansion: They accumulate in organisms, concentrate the food chain, and create an ongoing cycle of exposure to humans and wildlife.
Because of its widespread production and use and the ability to travel and sustain in the environment, people can be exposed to some PFAs. Scientific studies suggest that exposure to specific PFAs can lead to health outcomes. Current peer-reviewed scientific studies show that certain levels of PFA exposure can lead to:
Reproductive effects such as lowering birth rates and increasing hypertension in pregnant women. Developmental effects or delays in children, including low birth weight, accelerated adolescence, bone variability, or behavioral changes. Increased risk of some cancers, including prostate, kidney, and testicular cancer. A decrease in the body’s immune system’s ability to fight infections, including reduced vaccine responses. Interference with the body’s natural hormones. Risk of increased cholesterol levels and/or obesity.
The European Commission has committed to taking action to address the use and pollution of PFA through the EU’s chemical substance law (reach) and other targeted environmental and health directives.
In 2020, the European Commission announced its chemical strategy on sustainability, part of the EU’s zero pollution ambitions and the European green trade. That same year, the EU published regulations (EU 2020/784) that amended current EU laws to limit the continuous use of organic pollutants. The new regulations specifically restrict the use of PFOA (PerfluoroOctanoate), salts, and PFOA-PFOA and its salts. Also, the maximum concentration of 1 mg kg-1 of PFOA-related compounds, or a combination of these compounds. 2023. Perfluorocarboxylic acids (C9-C14 PFCAS), their salts and related substances have been restricted since February 2023. There is a continuous evolution in the uptake of new PFAs in regulations. An important aspect of this strategy is its commitment to phase out the use of mere fluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) in the EU, unless its use is essential.
Tornado Project
The Tornado Project offers an alternative to the goals presented by the European Commission to better protect human health and the environment, as part of an ambitious approach to tackling pollution from all sources and moving towards toxic environments. Therefore, especially in consumer products, chemicals that have chronic effects on human health and the environment must be replaced. Based on these EU objectives, minimizing the environmental footprint of new non-toxic coatings with the same functionality as PFA-based coatings, particularly climate change, resource use, ecosystems, and lifecycle perspectives, represents the challenges addressed by the Tornado project.
Tornado Project aims to contribute to the transition to a safe circular economy by affecting the way products are designed, produced, used or treated at the time of their end. To achieve its main objective, new organic and hybrid PFA-free coatings (packaging, textiles, kitchenware) with water and oil repellent that provide safe, environmental, social and/or economic value will be developed according to the Safe and Sustainable (SSBD) standards by design.
Furthermore, these coatings must enhance the competitiveness of the European chemical industry and its value chain, as well as accelerate the transition to a circular economy and climate-neutral society, and prevent harm to human health and the environment throughout the life cycle.
Tornado is a 36-month project, launched in 2023, with 14 research and industry partners from five countries working together to create a new Free-PFAS coating.
Tornado goals
A new water-borne acrylic-free PFA coating based on functionalized biomenone for fiber and packaging applications. New solgel coating for kitchenware applications. Contributing to the development of safe and sustainable designable standards, the new Free-PFAS coating guiding principles. Contribute to human health and protection of the environment as part of an ambitious approach, moving towards toxic environments. To enhance the social acceptance of newly developed coatings based on evidence compiled for consumer attitudes towards less harmful products. It will affect the competitiveness of EU chemicals.
Tornado development
A new bio-based coating based on functionalized biomenotators through two technologies: water-mediated organic coating and hybrid sol gel coating. These coatings have been verified for packaging, textiles and kitchenware applications.
Disclaimer
The project is funded under grant agreement Nº101091944 by the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Program. Neither the European Union nor the permitting authority can be held liable for them.
This article will also be featured in the 23rd edition of Quarterly Publication.
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