Why Choose SilcoTek CVD Coatings Over PFAS?

SilcoTek offers advanced coating solutions that can serve as effective and environmentally responsible alternatives to PFAS and other “forever chemicals.” SilcoTek’s inert, high-performance coatings are specifically engineered to deliver the chemical resistance and non-reactivity that industries seek from PFAS, without the environmental persistence and contamination risks associated with PFAS substances. 

How can SilcoTek coatings replace PFAS in different applications? 

1. Non-Stick and Low-Friction Applications

• Replacement Potential: SilcoTek coatings can provide non-stick surfaces and low-friction properties ideal for industrial equipment and piping systems. Coatings like Dursan^® offer hydrophobic properties without the use of PFAS, creating easy-release surfaces.
• Benefits: SilcoTek coatings resist fouling, staining, and corrosion, enabling extended performance in both high-temperature and chemically harsh environments. They are ideal for applications that require durability and ease of maintenance without contaminating surrounding materials or environments.

SilcoTek partnered with a customer using an injection molding UV replication process that often lended itself to adhesion of the foils in the steel matrix as well as in the glass matrix. As noted in the graph above, SilcoTek's Dursan coating achieved increased hydrophobic properties that allowed for better product release, improved uptime, and better process efficiency. Read the case study HERE. 

2. Inert Coatings for Medical and Pharmaceutical Applications

• Replacement Potential: PFAS-free SilcoTek coatings such as Dursan are ideal for use in medical devices and pharmaceutical processing, where inert, non-reactive surfaces are critical.
• Benefits: Our coatings provide a contamination-resistant and chemically inert barrier that prevents reactions and protects product purity. Unlike PFAS coatings like PTFE, SilcoTek coatings bond molecularly to metal surfaces for maximum adhesion and their multi-layer composition ensures high purity barrier properties, even at elevated temperatures.

SilcoTek's surface treatment is FDA compliant, USP Class VI and NSF certified. Dursan coating showed excellent results when compared to other coatings and materials. See the Bioprocessing Equipment application brief for more information. 

3. Non-Permeable, Non-Stick Coatings for Food Processing and Packaging

• Replacement Potential: Food packaging and processing equipment that traditionally use PFAS can be effectively coated with SilcoTek solutions to prevent food adhesion, staining, and contamination.
• Benefits: SilcoTek coatings such as Dursan create non-reactive surfaces that are FDA-compliant and safe for direct contact with food, making them suitable for food manufacturing and processing equipment. They are free from PFAS and do not leach, ensuring that food manufacturing and processing equipment remain free from contaminants and chemicals associated with traditional PFAS coatings.

The graph above comes from a case study that was published with the Food Control Journal as a result of a study conducted by the University of Massachussetts, Lowell and the US Department of Agriculture. The graph outlines the number of viable Listeria bacterial cells on 7 different surfaces. You'll notice that one of these surfaces is Ni-P-PTFE, which is a PFAS-containing surface. In February 2024, the FDA announced that "PFAS are no longer being sold for use in food packaging in the US". Dursan is FDA compliant and proved to significantly reduce the amount of biomass accumulation. Read the case study HERE. 

4. Environmental Testing Applications

• Replacement Potential: SilcoTek coatings provide inert, corrosion-resistant surfaces for components in environmental detection equipment, reducing the need for PFAS in this critical area.
• Benefits: The coatings prevent contamination and degradation in sampling components, extending system life and efficiency. By avoiding PFAS, these coatings contribute to a more sustainable energy sector, supporting clean energy goals without sacrificing performance.

Today, SilcoTek CVD coatings are mostly commonly found as better-performing alternatives to PFAS coatings for difficult trace-level sampling and analysis applications. SilcoTek’s silicon-based coatings are inert to a wide variety of chemicals, enabling great sensitivity of analytical instruments and thus more accurate, faster results. Testing by Mr. Stefan (S.T.) Persijn of VSL, Dutch Meterlogical Society, (in conjunction with the German Meterological Office, DWD) presented a comparative study of adsorptive properties of various materials commonly used in VOC analysis.* Read the VOC presentation HERE. 

The untreated stainless steel readily adsorbs active compounds with complete loss of methanol, a reactive chemical compound that creates health hazards and can be challenging to measure at trace levels. PFA and PEEK tubing require careful management of the surface and extensive labor in order to achieve acceptable results. At elevated temperatures, these PFAS coating materials fail. SilcoNert (in this study called by our other trade name, Sulfinert^®) coated stainless steel does not adsorb active compounds because the inert silicon CVD surface bonds to and diffuses into the stainless steel substrate, preventing interaction with reactive sites better than PFAS coatings and drastically outperforming

The study exposed various tube surfaces to methanol at 50°C and 100°C and measured adsorption rate of the surfaces. Results show that an inert coating like SilcoNert^® coated stainless steel prevented adsorption and reaction with VOCs in critical flow paths. The study summary, below, highlights the comparative results:**

Why Choose SilcoTek Coatings Over PFAS?

SilcoTek’s coating technologies offer several advantages over traditional PFAS and “forever chemicals”:

• Environmentally Responsible: SilcoTek coatings do not persist in the environment like PFAS and other “forever chemicals.” They offer similar or superior performance without contributing to long-term ecological damage or human health risks.
• Inert and Non-Leaching: Unlike PFAS, SilcoTek coatings are designed to be chemically inert, meaning they do not degrade into harmful by-products or leach into surrounding environments.
• Versatile Across Applications: From healthcare to heavy industry, SilcoTek coatings can replace PFAS across various sectors, ensuring durable, reliable performance while meeting regulatory and sustainability goals.
• High Purity and Cleanliness: In applications like pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and semiconductor manufacturing, SilcoTek coatings ensure high purity by preventing surface contamination and preserving product integrity.

By offering PFAS-free coatings, SilcoTek helps industries transition to safer, more sustainable solutions while still meeting crucial performance requirements. Our coatings provide a pathway to achieving regulatory compliance and environmental safety without sacrificing the quality and durability that PFAS have traditionally provided.

Want to know more about SilcoTek coatings? Reach out to our experts!