Table 4:
Overview of the uses of PFAS, the function of the PFAS in the uses and the properties of the employed PFAS that make them valuable for this application.
| Use category/subcategory | Function of PFAS | Properties of the PFAS employed |
|---|---|---|
| Industry branch | ||
| Aerospace | ||
| - Phosphate ester-based brake and hydraulic fluids | corrosion protection | altering the electrical potential at the metal surface |
| - Gyroscopes | flotation fluids in gyroscopes | ? |
| - Wire and cable | high-temperature endurance, fire resistance, and high-stress crack resistance | non-flammable polymers, stable |
| - Turbine-engine | use as lubricant | corrosion resistant, stable, non-reactive, operate at a wide temperature range |
| - Turbine-engine | use as elastomeric seals | operate at a wide temperature range |
| - Thermal control and radiator surfaces | reject waste heat | survival over a wide operating temperature range, low solar absorbance, high thermal emittance, and freedom from contamination by outgassing |
| - Coating | protect underlying polymers from atomic oxygen attack | non-reactive, very stable |
| - Propellant system | elastomers compatible to aggressive fuels and oxidizers | non-reactive, very stable |
| - Jet engine/satellite instrumentation | use as lubricant | long-term retention of viscosity, low volatility in vacuum and their fluidity at extremely low temperatures |
| Biotechnology | ||
| - Cell cultivation | supply of oxygen and other gases to microbial cells | great capacity to dissolve gases |
| - Ultrafiltration and microporous membranes | prevent bacterial growth | ? |
| Building and Construction | ||
| - Architectural membranes e.g. in roofs | resistance to weathering, dirt repellent, light | oleophobic and hydrophobic, low surface tension, beneficial weight-to-surface ratio |
| - Greenhouse | transparent to both UV and visible light, resistant to weathering, dirt repellent | oleophobic and hydrophobic, low surface tension |
| - Cement additive | reduce the shrinkage of cement | ? |
| - Cable and wire insulation, gaskets & hoses | high-temperature endurance, fire resistance, and high-stress crack resistance | non-flammable polymers, stable |
| Chemical industry | ||
| - Fluoropolymer processing aid | emulsify the monomers, increase the rate of polymerization, stabilize fluoropolymers | fluorinated part is able to dissolve monomers, non-fluorinated part is able to dissolve in water |
| - Production of chlorine and caustic soda (with asbestos diaphragms cells) | binder for the asbestos-fibre-based diaphragms | ? |
| - Production of chlorine and caustic soda (with fluorinated membranes) | stable membrane in strong oxidizing conditions and at high temperatures | stable, non-reactive |
| - Processing aids in the extrusion of high- and liner low-density polyethylene film | eliminate melt fracture and other flow-induced imperfections | low surface tension |
| - Tantalum, molybdenum, and niobium processing | cutting or drawing oil | non-reactive, stable |
| - Chemical reactions | inert reaction media (especially for gaseous reactants) | non-reactive, stable |
| - Polymer curing | medium for crosslinking of resins, elastomers and adhesives | ? |
| - Ionic liquids | raw materials for ionic liquids | ? |
| - Solvents | dissolve other substances | bipolar character of some of the PFAS |
| Electroplating (metal plating) | ||
| - Chrome plating | prevent the evaporation of chromium (VI) vapour | lower the surface tension of the electrolyte solution, very stable in strongly acidic and oxidizing conditions |
| - Nickel plating | non-foaming surfactant | low surface tension |
| - Nickel plating | increase the strength of the nickel electroplate by eliminating pinholes, cracks, and peeling | low surface tension |
| - Copper plating | prevent haze by regulating foam and improving stability | low surface tension |
| - Tin plating | help to produce a plate of uniform thickness | low surface tension |
| - Alkaline zinc and zinc alloy plating | ||
| - Deposition of fluoropolymer particles onto steel | supported by fluorinated surfactants | cationic and amphoteric fluorinated surfactants impart a positive charge to fluoropolymer particles which facilitates the electroplating of the fluoropolymer |
| Electronic industry | ||
| - Dielectric fluids | separation of high voltage components | high dielectric breakdown strength, non-flammable |
| - Testing of electronic devices and equipment | inert fluids for electronics testing | non-reactive |
| - Heat transfer fluids | cooling of electrical equipment | good heat conductivity |
| - Solvent systems and cleaning | form the basis of cleaning solutions | non-flammable, low surface tension |
| - Carrier fluid/lubricant deposition | dissolve and deposit lubricants on a range of substrates during the manufacturing of hard disk drives | ? |
| - Etching of piezoelectric ceramic filters | etching solution | acidic |
| Energy sector | ||
| - Solar collectors and photovoltaic cells | high vapour barrier, high transparency, great weatherability and dirt repellency | oleophobic and hydrophobic, low surface tension |
| - Photovoltaic cells | adhesives with PFAS hold mesh cathode in place | lower the surface tension of the adhesive |
| - Wind mill blades | coating | high weatherability |
| - Coal-based power plants | polymeric PFAS filter remove fly ash from the hot smoky discharge | stable, non-reactive |
| - Coal-based power plants | separation of carbon dioxide in flue gases | lower the surface tension of the aqueous solution |
| - Lithium batteries | binder for electrodes | almost no reactivity with the electrodes and electrolyte |
| - Lithium batteries | prevent thermal runaway reaction | good heat absorption of first layer and good heat conductivity of second layer |
| - Lithium batteries | improve the oxygen transport of lithium-air batteries | great capacity to dissolve gases |
| - Lithium batteries | electrolyte solvents for lithium-sulfur batteries | bipolar character of some of the PFAS |
| - Ion exchange membrane in vanadium redox batteries | polymeric PFAS are used as membranes | resistance to acidic environments and highly oxidizing species |
| - Zinc batteries | prevent formation of dendrites, hydrogen evolution and electrode corrosion due to adsorption onto the electrode surface | low surface tension, non-reactive |
| - Alkaline manganese batteries | MnO2 cathodes containing carbon black are treated with a fluorinated surfactant | ? |
| - Polymer electrolyte fuel cells | polymeric PFAS are used as membranes | ion conductance |
| - Power transformers | cooling liquid | good heat conductivity |
| - Conversion of heat to mechanical energy | heat transfer fluids | good heat conductivity |
| Food production | ||
| - Wineries and dairies | final filtration before bottling with polymeric PFAS | resist degradation |
| Machinery and equipment | ? | ? |
| Manufacture of metal products | ||
| - Manufacture of basic metals | ? | ? |
| - Manufacture of fabricated metal products | ? | ? |
| - Treatment of coating of metal surfaces | promote the flow of metal coatings, prevent cracks in the coating during drying | lower the surface tension of the coating |
| - Treatment of coating of metal surfaces | corrosion inhibitor on steel | non-reactive |
| - Etching of aluminium in alkali baths | improving the efficient life of the alkali baths | ? |
| - Phosphating process for aluminium | fluoride-containing phosphating solutions help to dissolve the oxide layer of the aluminium | ? |
| - Cleaning of metal surfaces | disperse scum, speed runoff of acid when metal is removed from the bath, increase the bath life | ? |
| - Water removal from processed parts | solvent displacement | low surface tension |
| - Electroless plating of copper | disperses the pitch fluoride in the plating solution | low surface tension |
| Mining | ||
| - Ore leaching in copper and gold mines | increase wetting of the sulfuric acid or cyanide that leaches the ore | low surface tension |
| - Ore leaching in copper and gold mines | acid mist suppressing agents | low surface tension |
| - Ore floating | create stable aqueous foams to separate the metal salts from soil | low surface tension |
| - Separation of uranium contained in sodium carbonate and/or sodium bicarbonate solutions by nitrogen floatation | improve the separation | ? |
| - Concentration of vanadium compounds | destruction of the mineral structure, increases the specific surface area and pore channel thus facilitating vanadium leaching | acidity |
| Nuclear industry | ||
| - Lubricants for valves and ultracentrifuge bearings in UF6 enrichment plants | PFAS are used as the lubricants | stable to aggressive gases |
| Oil & Gas industry | ||
| - Drilling fluid | foaming agent | low surface tension |
| - Drilling - insulating material for cable and wire | polymeric PFAS are used as insulating material | withstand high temperatures |
| - Chemical driven oil production | increase the effective permeability of the formation | low surface tension |
| - Chemical driven oil production | foaming agent for fracturing subterranean formations | low surface tension |
| - Chemical driven gas production | change low-permeability sandstone gas reservoir from strong hydrophilic to weak hydrophilic | hydrophobic and oleophobic properties |
| - Chemical driven gas production | eliminate reservoir capillary forces, dissolve partial solid, dis-assemble clogging, increase efficiency of displacing water with gas | lower surface tension of the material |
| - Oil and gas transport | lining of the pipes is made out of polymeric PFAS | non-reactive (corrosion resistant) |
| - Oil and gas transport | reduce the viscosity of crude oil for pumping from the borehole through crude oil-in-water emulsions | hydrophobic and oleophobic properties |
| - Oil and gas storage | aqueous layer with PFAS prevents evaporation loss | lower the surface tension of the aqueous solution |
| - Oil and gas storage | floating layer of cereal treated with PFAs prevents evaporation loss | low surface tension |
| - Oil containment (injection a chemical barrier into water) | prevents spreading of oils or gasoline on water | ? |
| - Oil and fuel filtration | polymeric PFAS are used as membranes | non-reactive (corrosion resistant) |
| Pharmaceutical industry | ||
| - Reaction vessels, stirrers, and other components | use of polymeric PFAS instead of stainless steel | ? |
| - Ultrapure water systems | polymeric PFAS are used as filter | low surface tension |
| - Packaging | polymeric PFAS form moisture barrier film | hydrophobic |
| - Manufacture of “microporous” particles | processing aid | ? |
| Photographic industry | ||
| - Processing solutions | antifoaming agent | lower the surface tension of the solution |
| - Processing solutions | prevent formation of air bubbles in the solution | lower the surface tension of the solution |
| - Photographic materials, such as films and papers | wetting agents, emulsion additives, stabilizers and antistatic agent | low surface tension, low dielectric constant |
| - Photographic materials, such as films and papers | prevent spot formation and control edge uniformity in multilayer coatings | low surface tension |
| - Paper and plates | anti-reflective agents | low refractive index |
| Production of plastic and rubber | ||
| - Separation of mould and moulded material | mould release agent | hydrophobic and oleophobic properties |
| - Separation of mould and moulded material | reduce imperfections in the moulded surface | low surface tension |
| - Foam blowing | foam blowing agent | low surface tension |
| - Polymer processing aid | increase processing efficiency and quality of polymeric compounds | lower the surface tension of the polymeric products |
| - Etching of plastic | wetting agent | low surface tension |
| - Production of rubber | antiblocking agent | low surface tension |
| - Fluoroelastomer formulation | additive in curatives | ? |
| Semiconductor industry | ||
| - Photoresist | make the photoresist soluble in water and give surface activity | hydrophobic and oleophobic properties |
| - Photoresist | increase the photosensitivity of the photoresist (photosensitizer) | ? |
| - Photoresist | photo-acid generator | able to generate strong acids |
| - Antireflective coating | provide low reflectivity | low refractive index |
| - Developer | facilitate the control of the development process | ? |
| - Etching | wetting agent | low surface tension |
| - Etching | reduce the reflection of the etching solution | low refractive index |
| - Etching | etching agent in dry etching | strong acids |
| - Cleaning of silicon wafers | etch cleaning | strong acids |
| - Cleaning of integrated circuit modules | remove cured epoxy resins | ? |
| - Cleaning vapour deposition chamber | remove dielectric film build up | generation of reactive oxygen species |
| - Wafer thinning | non-stick coating composition on carrier wafer | low surface tension |
| - Vacuum pumps | working fluid | stable, non-reactive |
| - Technical equipment in contact with process chemical or reactive plasma | polymeric PFAS are used in inert moulds, pipes and elastomers | stable, non-reactive |
| - Multilayer circuit board | bonding ply composition | low dielectric constant, low dissipation factor |
| Textile production | ||
| - Dyeing and bleaching of textiles | wetting agent | low surface tension |
| - Dyeing process using sulphur dyes | antifoaming agent | low surface tension |
| - Dye transfer material | release agent | low surface tension |
| - Textile treatment baths | antifoaming agent | low surface tension |
| - Fibre finishes | emulsifying agent | hydrophobic and oleophobic properties |
| Watchmaking industry | ||
| - Lubricants | form an oil layer and reduced wear | non-reactive (do not oxidize, resistant to corrosion) |
| - Drying as production step after aqueous cleaning | solvents in solvent displacement drying | low surface tension |
| Wood industry | ||
| - Drum filtration during bleaching | the used coarse fabric is made out of polymeric PFAS | stable |
| - Coating for wood substrate | clear coating is made out of polymeric PFAS | stable, non-reactive |
| - Wood particleboard | part of adhesive resin | low surface tension |
| Other use areas | ||
| Aerosol propellant | aerosol propellant | non-flammable, stable, non-reactive |
| Air conditioning | working fluid | non-flammable, stable, non-reactive |
| Antifoaming agent | prevent foaming | low surface tension |
| Ammunition | make the final product rubbery and reduce the likelihood of an unplanned explosion due to shock; enable long-term storage without degradation of the polymer | long-term stability without degradation |
| Apparel | ||
| - Breathable membranes | polymeric PFAS are used as membranes | high permeability to water vapour, but resist passage of liquid water |
| - Long-lasting durable water repellent finish | provide water and oil repellence, stain resistance and soil release | lower surface tension of the fabric, hydrophobic and oleophobic properties |
| Automotive | ||
| - Car body | weather resistance paint, no-wax brilliant top coat | low surface tension |
| - Automotive waxes | aid spreading, improve the resistance of the polish to water and oil | lower the surface tension of the wax, oleophobic |
| - Windshield wiper fluid | prevent icing of the wind shield | ? |
| - Car body | light, stable | beneficial weight-to-surface ratio, stable |
| - Engine and steering system | polymeric PFAS are used as sealants and bearings | operate at a wide temperature range, non-reactive |
| - Engine oil coolers | heat transfer fluid | good heat conductivity |
| - Cylinder head coatings and hoses | increase the fuel efficiency | ? |
| - Cylinder head coatings and hoses | reduce the fugitive gasoline vapour emissions | low surface tension |
| - Electronics | cables and wires | high-temperature endurance, fire resistance |
| - Fuel lines, steel hydraulic brake tubes | corrosion protection | non-reactive, stable |
| - Interior | dirt repellent in carpets and seats | low surface tension, oleophobic |
| - Brake pad additives | ? | ? |
| Cleaning compositions | ||
| - Cleaning compositions for hard surfaces | enhance wettability | lower the surface tension of the cleaning product |
| - Carpet and upholstery cleaners | provide stain resistance and repel soil | low surface tension, oleophobic |
| - Cleaning compositions for adhesives | ? | ? |
| - Dry cleaning fluids | stabilizer, improve the removal of hydrophilic soil | hydrophobic and oleophobic, low surface tension |
| - Cleaning of reverse osmosis membranes | remove calcium sulphate | ? |
| Coatings, paints and varnishes | ||
| - Paints | emulsifier for the binder, dispersant for the pigments, wetting agent | hydrophobic and oleophobic, low surface tension |
| - Paints | enhance the protective properties of anticorrosive paints | non-reactive |
| - Paints | antifouling on ships | ? |
| - Paints and coatings | anti-crater, improved surface appearance, better flow and levelling, reduced foaming, decreased block, open-time extension, oil repellency, dirt pickup resistance | low surface tension, oleophobic |
| - Paints and coatings | form second coat on a first coat | low surface tension |
| - Coatings | antistick and anticorrive coatings | low surface tension, non-reactive |
| - Coatings | highly durable and weatherable | stable, non-reactive |
| - Coatings | for food contact materials | hydrophobic and oleophobic, low surface tension |
| Conservation of books and manuscripts | preserve historical manuscripts | permeability to water vapour, but resist passage of liquid water |
| Cookware | prevent food from sticking to the pan | low surface tension, non-reactive, stable at high temperatures |
| Dispersions | disperse solutions | low surface tension |
| Electronical devices | ||
| - Printed circuit boards | use fibre-reinforced fluoropolymer layer | low dielectric constant |
| - Liquid impregnates for capacitors | impregnation | high dielectric breakdown strength |
| - Acoustical equipment | provide an electrical signal in response to mechanical or thermal signals | piezoelectric and pyroelectric properties |
| - Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) | provide the liquid crystal with a dipole moment | dipoles |
| - Liquid crystal displays (LCDs) | polymeric PFAS provide moisture sensitive coating for displays | hydrophobic |
| - Light management films in flat panel display | reduced static electricity build-up and dust attraction during fabrication | low dielectric constant |
| - Razors | polymeric PFFAs is used on the razor | ? |
| - Electroluminescent lamps | polymeric PFAS is used as coating | ? |
| Fingerprint development | solvent | ? |
| Fire-fighting foam | ||
| - Fluoroprotein (FP) foams | fuel repellents | low surface tension |
| - Film-forming fluoroprotein (FFFP) foam | film formers, foam stabilizers | lower the surface tension of water |
| - Alcohol-resistant film forming fluoroprotein (AR-FFFP) foam | film formers, foam stabilizers | lower the surface tension of water |
| - Aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) | film formers | lower the surface tension of water |
| - Alcohol-resistant aqueous film forming foam (AR-AFFF) | foam stabilizers | low surface tension |
| Flame retardants | ||
| - Polycarbonate resin | flame retardants | non-flammable |
| - Other plastic | flame retardants | non-flammable |
| Floor covering including carpets and floor polish | improve wetting and levelling | low surface tension |
| - Soil-release finishes for carpets | provide water and oil repellence, stain resistance and soil release | low surface tension, hydrophobic and oleophobic |
| - Aftermarket carpet protection | provide water and oil repellence, stain resistance and soil release | low surface tension, hydrophobic and oleophobic |
| - Resilient linoleum | ? | ? |
| - Laminated floor covering | ? | ? |
| - Floor polish | improve levelling and wetting | low surface tension |
| Glass | ||
| - Surface treatment | make glass surfaces hydrophobic and oleophobic | hydrophobic and oleophobic |
| - Surface treatment | prevents misting of glass | hydrophobic |
| - Surface treatment | dirt-repellent | low surface tension |
| - Surface treatment | fire-or weather resistant | non-flammable, stable |
| - Etching and polishing | increase the speed of etching, improve wetting | low surface tension |
| - Drying as production step in glass finishing | solvents in solvent displacement drying | low surface tension |
| Household applications | ||
| - Threads and joints | polymeric PFAS is used for sealing | ? |
| Laboratory supplies, equipment and instrumentation | ||
| - Consumable materials (vials, caps, tape) | made out of polymeric PFAS | ? |
| - Personal protective equipment (gloves) | ? | ? |
| - Particle filters | minimize the sorption of compounds to the filter itself | low surface tension |
| - Solvents | dissolve other substances | hydrophobic and oleophobic |
| - LC instruments | polymeric PFAS are used in the solvent degasser | non-reactive ? |
| - LC columns | some columns are based on polymeric PFAS | ? |
| - Reverse phase LC-solvents | can contain PFAS | ? |
| - Seals and membranes in UPLCs, autoclaves and ovens | are made out of polymeric PFAS | work over a wide temperature range |
| - Oils and greases in pumps | form a thick oil layer and reduced wear | non-reactive, non-flammable |
| - Sterilization of an insulated vessel | sterilization medium | ? |
| - Electroplotting | protein-sequencing membranes are made out of polymeric PFAS | ? |
| - Analysing the phosphoamino content in proteins | protein-sequencing membranes are made out of polymeric PFAS | ? |
| Leather | ||
| - Manufacturing of genuine leather | improve the efficiency of hydrating, pickling, degreasing and tanning | ? |
| - Repellent treatment (genuine leather) | provide water and oil repellence, stain resistance and soil release | hydrophobic and oleophobic , low surface tension |
| - Manufacturing of synthetic leather | polymer melt additives that impart oil and water repellency to the finished fibres | hydrophobic and oleophobic |
| - Shoe brighteners | improve the levelling of shoe brighteners | low surface tension |
| - Impregnation spray | provide water and oil repellence, stain resistance and soil release | low surface tension |
| Lubricants and Greases | form a thick oil layer and reduced wear | non-reactive, non-flammable, operate also at high temperatures, do not form sludge or varnish |
| Medical utensils | ||
| - Electronic devices that rely on high frequency signals (defibrillators, pacemakers, cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), positron-emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) devices) | high dielectric insulators | high dielectric breakdown strength |
| - Video endoscope | use in charge-coupled device colour filters | ? |
| - Microbubble-based ultrasound contrast agents | fluorinated gas inner core, which provides osmotic stabilization and contributes to interfacial tension reduction | low solubility in aqueous media (dissolve more slowly) |
| - X-ray imaging | contrast enhancement agents | radio-opaque |
| - Magnetic resonance imaging | contrast agent | lack of a 19F endogenous background signal in vivo and high magnetic resonance sensitivity of 19F atoms |
| - Proton and 19F NMR imaging | contrast agents | lack of fluorine in organs and tissue |
| - Computed tomography and sonography | contrast agents | lack of fluorine in organs and tissue |
| - Radio-opaque materials | polymeric PFAS has been used | radio-opaque |
| - Surgical drapes and gowns | improve water-, oil- and dirt-resistance | hydrophobic and oleophobic, low surface tension |
| - X-Ray films | wetting agents, emulsion additives, stabilizers and antistatic agent | low surface tension, low dielectric constant |
| - Dispersant | facilitate the dispersion of cell aggregates | low surface tension |
| - Contact Lenses | raw material | |
| - Retinal detachment surgery and proliferative vitroeoret. | endotamponade gases | high specific gravity, low surface tension, and low viscosity |
| - Retinal detachment surgery and proliferative vitroeoret. | intraoperative tool during vitreoretinal surgery | high specific gravity, low surface tension, and low viscosity |
| - Eye drops | delivery agent | unique combination of apolarity and amphiphility |
| - Filters, tubing, O-rings, seals and gaskets in dialysis machines | made out of polymeric PFAS | low surface tension |
| - Dialysis membranes | made out of polymeric PFAS | low surface tension |
| - Catheter, stents, and needles | provide low-friction and clot-resistant coatings | low surface tension |
| - Surgical patches and vascular catheter | use of polymeric PFAS | ? |
| - Blood transfer and artificial blood | oxygen carrier | great capacity to dissolve gases |
| - Organ perfusion | oxygen carrier | great capacity to dissolve gases |
| - Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty | oxygen carrier | great capacity to dissolve gases |
| - Toothpaste | enhances fluorapatite formation and inhibits caries | low surface tension |
| - Dental floss | allows the narrow ribbon to slip easily between close-pressed teeth | low surface tension |
| - UV-hardened dental restorative materials | improve the wetting of the set materials | low surface tension |
| - Ventilation of respiratory airway | ? | ? |
| - Anaesthesia | polymeric PFAS is used to dry or humidify breath | hydrophobic |
| - Artificial heart pump | blood compatible and durable | non-reactive, stable |
| - Wound care | cleaning burn residues | dissolve hydrocarbon |
| Metallic and ceramic surfaces | generates easily removable sludge | hydrophobic and oleophobic |
| Music instruments | ||
| - Guitar strings | prevent loss of vibration due to residue build up | ? |
| - Piano keys | contain polymeric PFAS | ? |
| - Piano | eliminate squeaks in piano key | ? |
| Optical devices | ||
| - Glass fibre optics | able to include rare earth in glass fibre optics | ? |
| - Optical lenses | provide optical lenses with low refractive index and high transparency | low refractive index |
| Paper and packaging | ||
| - Paper and cardboard | provide water- and oil repellency | hydrophobic and oleophobic |
| - Manufacturing of paper | release agent for paper-coating compositions | low surface tension |
| Particle physics | ||
| - Particle accelerators | part of the detection assemblies | non-reactive, stable ? |
| Personal care products | ||
| - Cosmetics | emulsifiers, lubricants, or oleophobic agents | hydrophobic, low surface tension |
| - Cosmetics | make creams etc. penetrate the skin more easily | |
| - Cosmetics | make the skin brighter | |
| - Cosmetics | make the skin absorb more oxygen | great capacity to dissolve gases |
| - Cosmetics | make the makeup more durable and weather resistant | hydrophobic and oleophobic, stable, non-reactive |
| - Hair-conditioning formulations | enhance wet combing and render hair oleophobic | |
| Pesticides | ||
| - Insecticide against the common housefly and carmite mite | suffocation of the insect by the adsorbed fluorinated surfactant | ? |
| - Insecticide against ants and cockroaches | ? | ? |
| - Formulation additives | anti-foaming agent | low surface tension |
| - Formulation additives | dispersant, facilitate the spreading of plant protection agents on insects and plant leaves | low surface tension |
| - Formulation additives | dispersant, increase uptake by insects and plants | low surface tension |
| - Formulation additive | wetting agent for leaves | low surface tension |
| Pharmaceuticals | ||
| - Active ingredient (Fulvestrant) | estrogen antagonists, inhibits the growth stimulus that the estrogen exert on cells | ? |
| - Active ingredient | pharmaceutical combination of dabigatran and proton pump inhibitors | ? |
| - Formulation additives | dispersant in self-propelling aerosol pharmaceuticals | low surface tension |
| - Formulation additives | solvent | hydrophobic and oleophobic |
| Pipes, pumps, fittings and liners | ||
| - Pipes, pipe plugs, seal glands, pump parts, fasteners, fittings and liners | polymeric PFAS are used for these applications | stable, non-reactive, low surface tension, hydrophobic and oleophobic |
| - Working fluid for pumps in the electronics industry | stable to reactive gases and aluminium chloride | extremely stable, non-reactive |
| Plastic and rubber | ||
| - Plastic | polymeric PFAS micropowder as additive ? | ? |
| - Thermoplastic | plasticizer | ? |
| - ABS laminates | contain polymeric PFAS for improved weather resistance | non-reactive, stable |
| - Bonding of rubber to steel | allow adhesiveless bonding | low surface tension |
| - Rubber and plastic | antistatic agent | low dielectric constant |
| Printing (inks) | ||
| - Toner and printer ink | enhance ink flow and levelling, improve wetting, aid pigment dispersion | low surface tension |
| - Toner and printer ink | impart water resistance to water-based inks | hydrophobic |
| - Ink-yet recording heads | make them ink repellent | low surface tension |
| - Recording and printing paper | ? | ? |
| - Lithographic printing plates | ? | ? |
| Refrigerant systems | ||
| - Refrigerant fluid system | heat transfer fluid | good heat conductivity |
| - Refrigerant compressor | lubricants | non-flammable |
| Resins | ||
| - Resin | improve weatherability and elasticity | non-reactive, stable |
| - Resin for coating of glass, aluminium or mild steel | water- and oil repellent | hydrophobic and oleophobic |
| - Polycarbonate resins | flame retardant for polycarbonate resins | non-flammable |
| - Composite resins | improve wetting of fibres or fillers | low surface tension |
| - Composite resins | speed the escape of bubbles trapped in the viscous resin | low surface tension |
| Sealants and adhesives | ||
| - Sealants | can be made out of polymeric PFAS | operate at a wide temperature range, non-reactive, stable |
| - Silicone rubber seals | prevents soiling | low surface tension, hydrophobic and oleophobic |
| - Adhesives | improve levelling, spreading, and the penetration of the adhesive into the pore structure of the substrates | low surface tension |
| - Adhesives | antistatic agent | low dielectric constant |
| Soldering | ||
| - Vapour phase fluids in vapour phase soldering | heat transfer medium | good heat conductivity |
| - Fluxing agent in solder paste | low-foaming noncorrosive wetting agent | non-reactive, stable, low surface tension |
| Soil remediation | ||
| - Vapour barrier material on top of contaminated soil | evaporation retarder | ? |
| - Surfactants to mobilize pollutants | surfactants to mobilize soil-bound contaminants in remediation | stable, non-degradable (during photodegradation) |
| Sport article | ||
| - Ski wax | highly water repellent | low surface tension, hydrophobic |
| - (Sailing) boat equipment | weather protection of textiles; anti-fouling protection of ship hulls | non-reactive, stable, hydrophobic and oleophobic |
| - Tennis rackets | used in coatings for tennis rackets | ? |
| - Bicycle | lubricants | hydrophobic |
| - Climbing ropes | provide water repellence, stain resistance and soil release | low surface tension, hydrophobic |
| - Fishing lines | no water absorption, invisible in water, high knot strength | hydrophobic |
| Stone, concrete and tile | impart oil and water repellency to the surface; delay oxidation and ageing of surface | low surface tension, hydrophobic and oleophobic |
| Textile and upholstery | ||
| - Surface treatment | provide water and oil repellence, stain resistance and soil release | low surface tension, hydrophobic and oleophobic |
| - Waving yarn | facilitate waving | ? |
| Tracing and tagging | ||
| - Tracking air-borne pollutants | tracer in air | non-radioactive, chemically and thermally stable, do not occur naturally, have very low atmospheric background concentrations |
| - Testing ventilation systems | tracer in air | “ |
| - Mapping gas and petroleum reservoirs | tracer in gas or petroleum | “ |
| - Leak detection in cables, pipelines, landfill waste and underground storage tanks | tracer in leaking material | “ |
| - Tracking of marked items | tracer in the marked item | “ |
| Water and effluent treatment | ||
| - Filter membranes | polymeric PFAS minimize the sorption of compounds to the filter itself | low surface tension |
| Wire and Cable | provide high-temperature endurance, fire resistance, and high-stress crack resistance | non-flammable, operate at a wide temperature range |