VICTREX PEEK - A Sustainable Alternative to PFAS Concerns

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Why you should consider a replacement for PFAS polymers

The safety concern around PFAS has sparked global action. Regulators across the UK, European Union, and the U.S. are proposing to ban or restrict PFAS substances to only a few critical uses. Manufacturers using these products are looking to find safer alternative materials, without compromising product performance.

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl chemicals, or PFAS, are used in millions of everyday items. These substances, which are renowned for their resistance to heat, oil, stains, and water, are ubiquitous in products such as technical clothing, non-stick cookware, food packaging, and many more. Considered “forever chemicals” their persistence in the environment poses a significant risk. PFAS, including compounds like PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctanesulforic), do not break down and risk contaminating our food and water, which may lead to health hazards such as liver damage, thyroid disease, obesity, fertility issues and cancer¹.

PEEK PROPERTIES

VICTREX PEEK polymers, a potential PFAS replacement

In the face of the PFAS concerns, we take pride in offering a range of proven high-performance PEEK polymers as potential safer and more sustainable alternatives.

PEEK polymers, regarded as one of the highest performing polymers in the world, are well suited for extreme and demanding environments and can support multiple requirements at the same time.

High temperature performance

Suitable for continuous-use temperatures up to 260°C (500°F). Glass transition temperatures up to 170°C (338°F)

High wear resistance

Low coefficient of friction. High abrasion and cut-through resistance

Mechanical strength and dimensional stability

High strength and stiffness in demanding conditions. Excellent long-term creep and fatigue properties

Resistance to harsh chemicals

Withstands a wide range of acids and bases and shows excellent performance in hydrocarbons and organic solvents

Compliance

Meets applicable regulatory requirements and safety standards in its intended applications

LEARN MORE ABOUT PEEK POLYMER READY FOR CHANGE?

Application Areas

Elevate your industry with PFAS alternative PEEK solutions

Victrex has a range of PFAS-free* polymers that are proven in highly-demanding environments from food contact to tribological applications.

Food and water contact

VICTREX FG™ grades are high-performance polymers for use in food, beverage, and water processing equipments.

Compliant with major food contact regulations and standards such as EU 10/2011 and US FDA 21 CFR 177.2415, VICTREX FG^TM grades are suited for demanding environments supporting multiple requirements for safety, quality and regulatory compliance of the industry.

More about VICTREX FG series Download Brochure

Tribology

VICTREX WG™ polymers, premium wear grades offer excellent wear resistance and a reduced, very stable coefficient of friction. VICTREX WG™ 101 is PFAS-free* and does not contain other halogenated additives or talc.

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Drug Delivery & Pharmaceutical Products

Victrex provides a PEEK polymer portfolio suited for non-implantable medical and healthcare applications that are PFAS-free. These high-performance polymers are used for applications from surgical instrumentation to drug delivery. This includes pharmaceutical contact grades that are supported by appropriate biocompatibility testing, including USP 661 and USP Class VI.

mORE ABOUT VICTREX DRUG DELIVERY PRODUCTS

For implantable medical grade PEEK visit www.invibio.com

CONTACT US

Ready for a PFAS alternative?

Contact Victrex PEEK experts to learn more about how high-performance PEEK polymers can help address your challenges and make a change for your journey towards a safer future.

Resources

Blog article

Making the Change to Safe Alternatives for a Safer Planet: The PFAS Challenge of the Food Processing & Handling Industry

References

1. European Environment Agency, What are PFAS and how are they dangerous for my health? https://www.eea.europa.eu/help/faq/what-are-pfas-and-how

*PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have not been intentionally added, used, or generated as by-products in the manufacturing process of unfilled Victrex PEEK and PAEK polymers. In addition, Independent third party laboratory analysis on representative product samples has confirmed that Perfluoroalkyl substances (including PFOA, PFHxS, PFCA’s C9-C14) are not detectable in Victrex products down to test detection limits. A small number of Victrex products contain PTFE (a fluoropolymer, part of the PFAS family of substances) as an additive – these are manufactured by third party companies which comply with the PFOA restrictions of the POPs regulation (EU 2019/1021). For more information https://www.victrex.com/resources/faq

SUSTAINABLE ALTERNATIVE TO PFAS CONCERNS