A new Fluorine-Free material

Background: The demand for fluorine substitutes is rapidly increasing due to PFAS regulations. PFAS includes almost all fluorine compounds except CF. As a result, the search for fluorine-free materials is on the rise. However, there are currently no substitutes for fluorine compounds.

Research on fluorine-free water and oil repellent materials started in 2005 using sol-gel reactions. Since then progress has been made in producing materials that on small scale using a combination of organic resin and silicon-based materials. Specifically, these are self-organized hydrophilic-hydrophobic nano phase-separated structures.

Features of this Technology:

The unique aspect of the material is the hydrophobic matrices (that give the water repellency) combined with the hydrophilic domain (that provide the desired material properties). The scale of the domains is in the tens of nanometers (nmφ), which is small enough to result in water drops sliding, rather than just rolling.

So far we have developed two types of the material:

1. Hybrid Type:
   • Offers toughness and adhesion.
   • Hydrophilic and hydrophobic nanostructures provide water and oil repellency.
   • Can form a film on various substrates without the need for a primer.
2. Methylsilane Type:
   • Provides heat and weather resistance.
   • Excellent water and oil repellency, with an easy slip-off property.
   • Glass-like structure offers superior heat and weather resistance.

Traction: AC Biode with a business partner completed paid proof of concept with a research institute and a large Japanese materials company. The material is EHS compliant.

Strong Support for Development: Fluorine regulations are expected to become stricter in the future, regardless of PFAS regulations. From surface treatment agents to fluorine rubber and fluorine resin substitutes, we strongly support the development of fluorine-free materials.