BYK additives has spent years actively directing significant research efforts, investments, and human resources towards replacing its per- and polyfluoroalkyl additives with more environmentally compatible alternatives. We have now reached a point that allows us to offer our customers pioneering, sustainable PFAS-free solutions for almost all of our products.
Last shipment by end of 2025
Therefore BYK will end its production of additives containing PFAS and will be shipping the last batch of the affected products by the end of 2025. By then, we will also be offering PFAS-free solutions for applications in which, currently, additives containing PFAS are still used.
Even today, the percentage of PFAS-containing additives in BYK's extensive product portfolio is very small. As a leading innovator we are convinced that we can help our customers phase out products containing PFAS by offering our pioneering alternatives at an early date and showing new ways in the formulation of sustainable solutions.
PFAS - why not?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become the subject of discussion as an ultra-stable group of chemical compounds. They are therefore also termed “forever chemicals”. PFAS are almost entirely non-degradable and can accumulate in the environment, in human beings, and in animals. BYK does use fluorinated alkyl compounds to a very small extent as raw materials in the manufacture of selected additives. These are chemically bound in the additives, are non-volatile, and are used only in closed or contained systems.
PFAS in BYK products?
BYK additives that contain PFAS are – or were – to be found in a variety of product groups such as defoamers, surface additives, wax additives, etc. They are used for many special effects in architectural, industrial, wood and furniture coatings, printing inks, automotive coatings, corrosion protection systems, can or coil coatings, floor coatings, adhesives and sealants, polishes, and leather and PVC and as processing additives for thermoplastics.
To be precise,PFAS are extremely persistent, bioaccumulative, partially toxic, but widely used. In general, they show exceptional water- and oil-repellent properties, a high durability under extreme conditions, and electrical and thermal insulation. Their (formerly) unique properties include numerous applications, such as:
• Strong reduction of surface tension
• Superb substrate wetting and spreading properties
• Anti-crater properties
• Easy to recoat
• Good leveling properties
• Non-stick properties
• Can stabilize foam (in case of fluorosurfactants)
• Can be very effective defoamers (in case of fluorinated defoamers)
• Anti-fingerprint properties
• Excellent abrasion resistance (in case of PTFE-based wax additives)
• Scratch resistance (in case of PTFE-based wax additives)
• Oleophobic and hydrophobic properties
For all these applications BYK has invented products that cover these formerly unique properties without using PFAS.
