The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a landmark rule requiring more than 200 chemical plants to drastically reduce their emissions of hazardous air pollutants, including carcinogens like ethylene oxide and chloroprene. These facilities will need to cut releases of these toxic chemicals by nearly 80% - a move that will improve air quality for millions and especially benefit communities living in the shadow of industrial operations.
The new regulation also mandates real-time monitoring and stronger safety protocols, underscoring a shift toward transparency and environmental accountability across the chemical manufacturing sector.
While this rule tackles certain airborne carcinogens, another industrial hazard continues to draw global attention - PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), commonly called forever chemicals. PFAS are used in everything from non-stick cookware to industrial coatings, prized for their durability and water repellency. Unfortunately, those same properties mean they persist in the environment and can accumulate in the human body, raising serious health concerns.
As PFAS regulations tighten around the world, industries are urgently searching for alternatives that can match or surpass the performance of fluoropolymer-based coatings - without the environmental cost.
SilcoTek has been delivering that alternative for over a decade. Our chemical vapor deposition (CVD) coatings are:
Our flagship coatings offer specialized benefits tailored to industry needs:
1. Reduced Adsorption Compared to PTFE
In analytical adsorption testing with sulfur-containing compounds, PTFE tubing showed significant analyte loss and slower detector response times.
SilcoTek-coated stainless steel maintained fast, consistent responses - recovering baseline signals up to 90% faster than PTFE. Faster recovery means higher accuracy, less carryover, and more reliable results.
2. Superior Hydrophobicity Without Fluorine
Our hydrophobicity white paper shows that Notak® 2000 achieves a water contact angle of ~115°, on par with or better than PTFE - without any PFAS.
This hydrophobic performance keeps moisture, particulates, and polar contaminants from sticking, improving cleanliness and efficiency in wetted systems.
3. Higher Temperature and Chemical Resistance
PTFE begins to degrade above ~260 °C and can emit harmful fumes. SilcoTek coatings remain stable up to 450 °C in inert atmospheres, and maintain chemical inertness across a wider pH range. This makes them ideal for high-temperature, highly corrosive process environments.
SilcoTek coatings are already replacing PFAS-based coatings in:
The EPA’s new toxic emissions rule is part of a broader industrial shift - away from hazardous substances and toward cleaner, safer technologies. By choosing PFAS-free coatings now, companies can future-proof their operations, reduce compliance risks, and demonstrate environmental leadership.
From reducing carcinogen emissions to eliminating forever chemicals, the manufacturing world is entering a new era of responsibility. SilcoTek is proud to be part of that transition, offering coatings that protect your equipment, your products, and the planet.
Let’s build a PFAS-free future together! Contact our team to learn how SilcoTek coatings can replace PFAS in your processes.