Well-positioned to meet tomorrow's demands: ROWA Masterbatch Develops PTFE Alternatives

Pinneberg, September 2025
In early 2023, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden submitted a proposal to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) to restrict all per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for all applications and uses. The reason for this is that PFAS are considered persistent, bioaccumulative, and potentially toxic substances that accumulate in the environment and pose a long-term threat to water, soil, and organisms.

As things stand, a phased introduction of PFAS bans—staged by product group and with corresponding transition periods—is considered certain. And even though there are currently indications that the bans are not expected to take effect before 2027, ROWA Masterbatch is already working intensively and successfully on the development and testing of alternatives.

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is one of the high-performance plastics within the PFAS group of substances. Due to its nonpolar structure, this semi-crystalline fluoropolymer exhibits exceptional physicochemical properties that enable a wide range of industrial applications. PTFE is used, among other things, in seals and coatings, in medical implants and prostheses, and as nonstick coatings in cookware.

PTFE is used in thermoplastics as a versatile additive. Among other things, it serves as a flame retardant to increase flame resistance and reduce the tendency to drip in the event of a fire, as a solid lubricant to minimize friction and wear, and as a polymer process aid (PPA) to improve processing properties—for example, as a lubricant and release agent in the injection molding of polyamides or the film extrusion of polyolefins.

Given the wide range of applications for PTFE, there is currently no universally applicable alternative as an additive. The selection of suitable substitutes depends heavily on the specific application and the requirements of the end product. ROWA Masterbatch works closely with customers to develop application-specific solutions for PFAS-free products. A selection of PTFE alternatives is presented below:

Lubricants are effective both during processing and in the end application: They facilitate demolding by reducing adhesion between the melt and the mold surface and later help reduce friction and noise. Since traditional lubricants are usually migratory substances, their effect is temporary. PFAS-containing lubricants and PPAs can be replaced with suitable alternatives. ROWA Masterbatch has extensive expertise in developing PFAS-free solutions for a wide range of applications and polymer types, including PET, TPU, TPE, PA, PC, styrene copolymers, polyolefins, and other engineering plastics.

Unlike traditional lubricants such as stearates, waxes, or amides, solid lubricants—such as metal sulfides or graphite—are permanently incorporated into the polymer matrix and thus provide long-lasting performance. These “lubricants” improve tribological properties and thus extend the service life of moving plastic components. Like PTFE, they reduce the coefficient of friction and minimize wear loss.

The portfolio of products developed to date using metal sulfides and graphite includes:

ROWA Masterbatch also offers a PFAS-free, polymer-based masterbatch with a permanent effect to improve the sliding properties and abrasion resistance of engineering plastics and rubbers. Unlike the products listed in the table above, this product can be custom-colored:
As an expert in customer-specific and polymer-specific masterbatches, ROWA develops a suitable solution for every application.