PFAS, a very commonly used chemical in anti-fingerprint coatings, is read per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances. But I always read it as "Please Find an Alternate Solution". Its DANGEROUS and I mean it.
Many Physical Vapour Deposition (PVD) job coating industries use this chemical on their products where anti-fingerprint functionality is needed.
PFAS in these coatings has raised concerns about potential health risks for labourers and environmental hazards.
With our intense research on publications, I would like to present points on why PVD colleagues prefer PFAS for their products.
Let me highlight 3 reasons:.
Effective oil and water repellency, reducing visible fingerprints
Durability and chemical resistance
Thin, transparent coating that doesn't significantly alter surface appearance
However, we cannot ignore the negative side of using PFAS for anti-fingerprint coatings, such as the potential health and environmental risks associated with their use.
PFAS involves serious health concerns:Â potential toxicity, bioaccumulation, and persistence in the environment that leads to cancer, thyroid disease, liver damage, and a weakened immune system.
Please I mean it: PFAS are also known as "forever chemicals" due to their resistance to breaking down in the environment. That leads to long-term stability issues for human health and the ecosystem, such as leaching, environmental persistence, regulatory concerns, and disposal challenges. Such issues make me more upset because the long-lasting adverse effects of PFAS affect people, and those who do not choose to work with it or choose the chemicals to apply for the products, which are very unfair practices, need to be addressed immediately.
While PFAS offer effective performance, their long-term stability issues and growing regulatory pressure make continued use increasingly problematic. Many industries are now seeking safer alternatives to PFAS-based coatings to address these concerns.
PVD-based anti-fingerprint coatings are the best solution for preventing further harm, strictly regulating the use of PFAS, and finding safer alternatives. Recently, we demonstrated single-step PVD-based anti-fingerprint coatings. I refer to this process as a "single-step" process because an anti-fingerprint step follows a coating step.
In process aspects, PVD-based anti-fingerprint coatings eliminate the need for multiple manufacturing steps and improve the durability and performance of the product. Its overall health and environmental profile is far more impressive than conventional PFAS methods. There are no toxic chemicals, no bioaccumulation, and excellent environmental safety, making the PVD-based anti-fingerprint coating a much healthier choice for consumers and the environment in the long run.
Please get in touch with cpernagidis@avaluxe.de with any further questions or queries. We are happy to help.
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