Fluorinated chemicals, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are a large and diverse family of chemistry that makes possible the products that power our lives — the cellphones, tablets and telecommunications we use every day to connect with our friends and family; the aircrafts that power the U.S. military; alternative energy sources; and medical devices that help keep us healthy. PFAS are vital to enabling our lives in the 21st century.
Fluorotechnology/Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
Robert J. Simon
FluoroTechnology is essential to modern life and is an important enabling technology for society
However, all PFAS are not the same. Each individual chemistry has its own unique properties and uses. There are two groups at ACC, the Performance Fluoropolymer Partnership and the Alliance for Telomer Chemistry Stewardship, that work independently to address the responsible production, use, and management of their respective chemistries, as well as science- and risk-based approaches to regulation.
Uses & Benefits
- Building & Construction
- Infrastructure
- Facades
- Safety Equipment
- Fuel System Seals & Hoses
- Field Equipment Gaskets
- Smudge-Resistant Touch Screens
- Micro-electronics
- Plasma Machinery
- Cleaning Fluids
- Lithium Batteries
- Fuel Cells
- Solar Panels
- Engine Compartment Wirings & Gauges
- Automobile Carpets & Seats
- Pacemakers
- MRI Imaging Devices
- Medical Garments
PFAS Facts:
- Fluorinated chemicals, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are a large and diverse family of chemistry that makes possible the products that power our lives — the cellphones, tablets and telecommunications we use every day to connect with our friends and family; the aircrafts that power the U.S. military; alternative energy sources; and medical devices that help keep us healthy. PFAS are vital to enabling our lives in the 21st century.
- Our member companies are dedicated to the responsible production, use, and management of PFAS chemistries in a manner that protects the public health and our environment. The manufacturers of PFAS chemistries are employing practices and technologies to minimize environmental emissions every day.
- In fact, in 2006, eight major manufacturers voluntarily joined the EPA’s PFOA Stewardship Program, investing over $700 million in research and development. This included a commitment to cease the manufacture and use of PFOS and PFOA-related chemicals and also an agreement for new PFAS chemistry to undergo enhanced regulatory review before being permitted on the market.
- These new chemistries have been thoroughly reviewed by regulators prior to introduction into commerce, are subject to ongoing review, and are supported by a robust body of rigorous scientific health and safety data.