PTFE in plain bearings

At a glance

  • Depending on the PTFE content, plain bearings may be affected by a possible PTFE ban.
     
  • Many iglidur materials do not contain PTFE. They also do not show traces of the most important PFAS substances.
     
  • If PTFE is not banned, iglidur materials are generally not affected.
What you will find on this page:
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iglidur materials without PTFE

These iglidur materials do not contain any PTFE and are therefore not affected by future PFAS regulations. Complete list for download as PDF
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iglidur A160

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iglidur A200

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A290

iglidur A290

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iglidur A500

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iglidur C

iglidur® C

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Laser-sintering material

iglidur® i230

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iglidur M250

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iglidur R

iglidur® R

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iglidur T220

iglidur T220

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These materials do not contain any of approximately 100 of the most important PFAS compounds

Materials containing PTFE do not necessarily also contain critical PFAS compounds. To ensure this, some iglidur materials have already been tested for the most important PFAS compounds (around 100 substances). An official certificate for a content below the limit of determination of these PFAS compounds is available for the following materials (as of 31st January 2024):
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iglidur® P

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P210 Plain bearing

iglidur® P210

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iglidur® W300

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iglidur A160

iglidur A160

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iglidur A181

iglidur A181

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iglidur A350

iglidur A350

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iglidur A500

iglidur A500

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iglidur F plain bearing

iglidur® F

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iglidur F2 plain bearing

iglidur® F2

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iglidur F300 plain bearing

iglidur® F300

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What are PFAS?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are industrial chemicals that are used in numerous industrial processes and consumer products due to their special technical specifications. They essentially consist of carbon (C) and fluorine (F) atoms. Apart from this, PFAS molecules can have completely different structures, which means that they can have many different specifications. Diagram 1 gives an overview of the classification of PFAS, initially into polymers and non-polymers.PFAS can be gaseous, liquid or solid. According to the OECD database, the group of substances includes more than 4,700 different compounds, according to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) more than 9,000 and according to the EU Commission even more than 10,000 compounds. From this you can see that it is neither a unique nor a constant value. The stated value is usually based on estimates.
Classification of PFAS Diagram 1: Classification of PFAS
In the subgroup of perfluoroalkyl substances (non-polymers), the compounds perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) have been studied the most thoroughly. Like many PFAS, these two compounds are persistent and can now be found in the environment, the food chain and in people. PFOA and PFOS have a proven negative impact on health. Together with PFHxs and PFNA, they account for 90% of the current contamination with PFAS.

In the subgroup of polymers, a distinction is made between fluoropolymers/fluoroplastics and polymers with fluorinated side chains. The fluoropolymers consist of a carbon chain with directly attached fluorine atoms. This makes them so strong that they cannot break down into toxic substances. According to the OECD, fluoropolymers are "products of low concern", non-toxic and non-bioaccumulative, i.e. they cannot accumulate in organisms. The only danger is the possible use of toxic additives during production in the form of emulsifiers. Fluoropolymers are used, for example, in coatings, seals and cable insulation. PTFE is a fluoropolymer.

Polymers with fluorinated side chains also consist of a carbon chain, but with lateral carbon chains to which the F-atoms are first attached. As a result, these polymers are less strong, and there is a risk of losing the side chains. They are used, for example, as impregnating agents.
White paper preview

White paper

Focus on PFAS: Planned restrictions, challenges and solutions for the industry

What exactly are PFAS and why are they so popular in industry and the consumer sector? Why is there an impending EU-wide ban and what can companies do now? The white paper sheds light on these issues and shows how igus, as a plastics processor, can counter the planned restriction at an early stage and offer its customers alternatives and products tested for PFAS.
PFAS Whitepaper

Further information on our products and PFAS

Current legal situation for PFAS in plain bearings

Date: 20/04/2023

The use of PFOS has been largely banned since 2006 and that of PFOA since July 2020. Our certification can be found here: QM-0-1074E-PFOA-PFOS-DE.pdf Five European countries (Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway) submitted a proposal for a general restriction of PFAS, which was published by ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) on 7th February 2023. This proposal is a first step in a long regulatory process and will be examined by all stakeholders.

The first phase of consultation by all stakeholders runs from 22nd March until 22nd September 2023. The proposed PFAS regulation would likely come into force in EU member countries in 2026 at the earliest. Transitional periods of up to 13 years are possible from the time they come into force.US: The EPA has issued a final regulation adding five PFAS substances to the list of over 170 PFAS substances that are reportable under the Toxics Release Inventory ("TRI"), a central database for public reporting of chemicals. Fluoropolymers are not included in the TRI list.