PLASLON® - PFAS-free non-stick coating: Sustainable and fluorine-free alternative for coating cookware

Non-stick coatings have been among the most popular coatings for cookware such as pans, casseroles or cutlery for decades due to their ease of use and cleaning. Common nonstick coatings are made with a PTFE or sol-gel base. However, PTFE-type coatings face a ban in the near future due to possible PFAS restrictions by the EU. In addition, these coatings have only limited durability and lose their non-stick effect over time. In addition, they are not very stable mechanically and have to be baked in an oven, which involves high energy consumption. New, sustainable solutions with good non-stick properties are therefore needed. Researchers at Fraunhofer IFAM have developed PLASLON^® coating, a PFAS-free alternative, which is characterized by its excellent non-stick properties in combination with its high durability.

 

Durable non-stick and easy-to-clean properties

The PLASLON^® non-stick coating, produced by means of plasma technology, is designed as a gradient layer to enable excellent adhesion to the product body on the one hand and to express optimum non-stick properties on the other. It is characterized by the following properties:

• good, durable non-stick and easy-to-clean properties
• hardness similar to that of enamel and therefore resistant to cutting and abrasion
• free of fluorine compounds
• non-porous and tasteless, as it is highly cross-linked
• food safe
• oleophilic (oil wetting) behavior with regard to edible oils and fats
• perfect reproduction of laser structures/lettering

 

Hard, resistant non-stick coating also suitable for enamel

The following materials can be coated:

• tool steel
• stainless steel
• enamel
• glass
• stoneware and
• porcelain 

The coating of aluminum, iron and copper is also technically possible, but should be checked on a case-by-case basis.

A unique selling point of the PLASLON^® coating is that - unlike other non-stick coatings - it is also suitable for enamel, glass, stoneware and porcelain due to its good adhesion and outstanding hardness. This is because products made of these materials in particular are very scratch-resistant, but have poor non-stick properties.

The institute's scientists also have the necessary know-how to economically finish products in large quantities. Depending on the customer's needs, different concepts are available for this, such as XXL systems or continuous systems.

 

Sustainability through the use of plasma processes

PLASLON^® is applied using a cold plasma process. The process is characterized by the following aspects:

• low energy consumption
• very low consumption of fluorine-free chemicals (siloxane chemistry)

Thus, fluorine-containing chemicals are completely replaced in the coating production process. Combined with low energy consumption during production, uninhibited heat transfer during use, and a long coating life, PLASLON^® is particularly sustainable and future-oriented.