Document rX8GnkbBp8emeKVX11xzj2o7

Fluid Power PFAS applications in Fluid Power 18.09.2023 Components Seals PFAS types Examples Elastomers: FKM FFKM FEPM FVMQ PTFE PCTFE TFM PVDF PFA FEP O-rings Gaskets Piston and rod seals Wipers Circlips Radial shaft seals Guide bands Support rings Stuffing boxes, i. e. in industrial valves Key functionalities provided by PFAS Thermal resistance especially greater than 150 C Long term proofed and well documented chemical resistance Combination of thermal and chemical resistance Abrasion resistance Sliding and emergency dryrunning properties Low friction Low wear Less leakage Long lifetime Relevant uses Automotive Aerospace Power Generation Renewable energy Rail Oil & Gas Hydrogen Earth Moving & Construction Farming Medical Hydraulics Overall mechanical engineering Cooling lubricants in machine tools (as biocides are increasingly restricted, the pH values of the substances are Emission risk to the environment Besides abrasion no risk to the environment. Disposal through recycling process of the parent (metallic) assembly Long time usage in machinery, professional disposal at the end of the machine's life, Thermal disposal for oil-smeared seals Alternatives No alternative elastomer chemistry in sealing technology is available. Alternatives are currently in research and development stage. PFAS seal manufacturers have spent decades of research and development to reach the current state. There are no alternatives for high temperature applications. For low temperature applications, there exist alternatives with significantly worse Socio-economic impacts There is no alternative elastomer chemistry in sealing technology that allows temperatures > 150 C. The characteristics of fluoropolymer sealings are crucial for the safety of humans and the environment. Any research, development, qualification and validation of suitable alternative materials requires longer transitional periods as foreseen in the restriction proposal. E. g. for very high temperatures and required flexible material, it is most likely that no alternative will be found at all in the future. Components PFAS types Examples Key functionalities provided by PFAS Relevant uses increased. This requires PFAS seals). Emission risk to the environment Alternatives Socio-economic impacts tribological properties and worse energy efficiency. In consequence, all risk assessments of machines and plants would have to be revised with alternative materials not providing the same properties as the used fluoropolymer sealings. Experience with other materials does not exist as with fluoropolymers. This means that assessments need a long time. This would lead to interruptions in the supply chains in all industrial sectors including in the medical, food or energy sector. In the EU, risks can be reduced by legislation. If the production would be in other parts of the world, the EU would have no influence on the safety requirements. Parts of the industry would go outside of the EU. Workplaces in the whole industry are in danger. The technological development in the EU would be obstructed. Prices would rise. Environmental risks include e. g. agricultural machines that could lead to contamination of soil and Components Sliding coatings Guides Surface treatment Membrane filter materials PFAS types Examples Key functionalities provided by PFAS Relevant uses PTFE Low friction, low wear, increased lifetime Whole industry PTFE PFA FEP PVDF Pistons, wipers, inner tube surfaces, guide rods Filter materials with PTFE membrane Non-stick coating, low friction, smooth running properties, chemical resistance, wear protection Filter materials with PTFE membrane are characterised by very good General mechanical engineering, treatment of compressed air, chemical industry Air Filtration Emission risk to the environment Alternatives Besides neglectable abrasion no risk to the environment. Disposal through recycling process of the parent (metallic) assembly Emission of wear, abrasion. Disposal via industrial waste stream For guides and sliding coatings alternatives do not exist. PTFE-sliding coatings are used to replace environmentally incompatible lubricants in sliding surfaces. This prevents them from entering the environment. No known alternatives Emission risk is low. The cutting process of the filter material is No alternative exists with similar filtration performance Socio-economic impacts groundwater with hydraulic fluid. Sealing solutions with fluoropolymers contribute significantly to plant and machinery safety and thus to human and environmental safety. They give an additional safeguard when normal operating conditions are exceeded in case of failures. Reduced operating time, Increase of safety risks in chemical processes Components Plain bearings Thrust washers Hoses PFAS types Examples PTFE, FKM, FVMQ Gearboxes, pumps, axial pistons, foil bearings for lifting magnets, automatic filters PTFE, PFA Tubular goods Key functionalities provided by PFAS cleaning, high filtration performance (fine filtration), use in the food and pharmaceutical sector with FDA and EU 1935 approval. Sliding properties, high temperature and chemical resistance, withstanding heavy loads (dynamic loads, contaminated oil, mixed friction) Chemical resistance against aggressive media High temperature resistance (Sterilisation) Low permeation Smooth nonadhesive surfaces to avoid sticking in hoses Germ-free Relevant uses Most hydraulic applications, e. g. automatic filters Food processing (FDA approved) e. g. dairy processing (pasteurisation, cleaning of the hose assemblies, sterilisation) Vulcanisation Tyre presses, Adhesive application: Hotmelt adhesive Processing Chemical and petrochemical industry: refineries, chemical processing plants, polymerisation Emission risk to the environment extracted. No emission occurs during filtration if used properly. Use phase: Emission only by abrasion possible End of life: Low risk, since oilsmeared operating materials are disposed separately Alternatives Socio-economic impacts Higher germ load on food due to biofilm adhesion and/or inadequate cleaning/sterilization of hose assemblies. Hot medium escapes due to premature failure of the hoses. Leakage of adhesive. In the case of alternative adhesives with solvents, higher emissions of greenhouse gases. Leaks can lead to the escape of toxic gases or vapours Components PFAS types Examples Tube and hose connectors Flanges Quick release couplings Tube line valves Measuring connectors FKM seals PTFE back rings in tubes for: Vulcanisation processes Hot forging processes Injection moulding processes Air compressors Hydraulic fluids with reduced pHvalue Cables Wires Plugs PTFE PFA Signal transmitter Pressure and flow switches Valves Hydraulic components (e. g. pumps, motors, control blocks, valves, cylinders) FKM, EPDM, PTFE, PVDF Key functionalities provided by PFAS Temperature resistance > 150 C Insulation Temperature resistance Resistant to corrosive environmental influences Resistance against high pressures, high temperatures, various chemicals (hydraulic fluids, including bio-based fluids), harsh environmental conditions and combinations of those. Relevant uses Hydraulic tyre presses Hydraulic hot forging presses Hydraulic injection moulding machinery Pneumatics Compressors Mobile hydraulics (e. g. farming machinery) Industrial control and monitoring instruments General mechanical engineering The whole machinery sector, stationary and mobile machinery. For example, storage devices for safety valves, lifting devices, sluice gates, presses, power plants, wind turbines, ropeways, Emission risk to the environment Possible leakage of hot fluid or fluid vapours Increase of fire hazard due to contact of the escaping fluid with red-hot forged parts. Contamination of the injection moulded parts Fire hazard from vehicles with combustion engines, especially in summer. Contamination of farmland and grasslands No emission Industrial waste recycling at end of life Exact waste data on products are not available. It is estimated that 9098% of the components are made of recyclable metal alloys or plastics, the remaining 2% up to 8% are materials (of which PFAS is a small fraction) Alternatives Socio-economic impacts According to the seal manufacturers, no alternative elastomers are available for this temperature range, even in the long term. Possibly HNBR can be used, resistance tests required. Increased machinery downtime due to the need for repair or shorter maintenance intervals. Impairment of occupational safety Impairment of breathing air Contamination of farmland and grasslands No PFAS-free alternatives are available. When potential alternative PFAS-free elastomers or plastomers are available, tests and validations would be obligatory for all intended applications. If PFAS polymers could not be used any more, hydraulic components and systems will no longer be manufactured. This would affect all industries where hydraulic components and systems are used, e. g. agricultural, construction and other mobile machines as well as all stationary machines, e. Components PFAS types Examples Hydraulic accumulators PTFE, FKM Key functionalities provided by PFAS Resistance against high pressures, high temperatures, various chemicals (hydraulic fluids, including bio-based fluids), harsh environmental conditions and Relevant uses aircrafts, vehicles and conveyor systems. The whole machinery sector/in stationary and mobile machinery. For example, storage devices for safety valves, lifting devices, sluice gates, Emission risk to the environment which would have to be sent for thermal recycling due to their contact with media. Current specifications for the service life of seals range from a minimum of 10 years to 30 years in the power plant sector. No emissions of PFAS during the manufacture of products. Gaskets after replacement are given to waste for thermal disposal. Products and the PFAS-containing sealings are not released into the environment when used as intended in closed hydraulic circuits. Exact waste data on products are not available. It is estimated that 9098% of the components are made of recyclable metal alloys or plastics, the remaining 2% up to Alternatives This would be necessary for each manufacturer and each kind of product. Insofar, a lot of energy, human resources and costs would be needed to test all hydraulic components. No PFAS-free alternatives are available. When potential alternative PFAS-free elastomers or plastomeres are available, tests, validations and Socio-economic impacts g. machine tools or wind turbines. If PFAS polymers could not be used any more, accumulators will no longer be manufactured. This would affect all industries where hydraulic accumulators are used, e. g. agricultural, construction and other mobile machines as well as all stationary Components PFAS types Examples Pneumatic components (e. g. valves, regulators, actuators, tubes, fittings) FKM, EPDM, PTFE, PVDF Key functionalities provided by PFAS combinations of those. Resistance against high pressures, high temperatures, various chemicals and combinations of those. Relevant uses presses, power plants, wind turbines, ropeways, aircrafts, vehicles and conveyor systems. Components for automation and mechanical engineering used in various industries, e. g. in machines for Emission risk to the environment 8% are materials (of which PFAS is a small fraction) which would have to be sent for thermal recycling due to their contact with media. Current specifications for the service life of seals range from a minimum of 10 years to 30 years in the power plant sector. No emissions of PFAS during the manufacture of products. Gaskets after replacement are given to waste for thermal disposal. Products and the PFAS-containing sealings are not released into the environment when used as intended in closed hydraulic circuits. PFAS have a high resistance against wear. Insofar, there are neglectable amounts of abrasion particles Alternatives conformity assessments would be obligatory (hydraulic accumulators fall under the Pressure Equipment Directive). This would be necessary for each manufacturer and each kind of product. Insofar, a lot of energy, human resources and costs would be needed to certify all accumulators with alternative sealings which are on the market. Rarely PFAS-free alternatives are available for specific applications only. For complex conditions, no Socio-economic impacts machines, e. g. machine tools or wind turbines. If PFAS polymers could not be used any more, pneumatic components and systems will no longer be manufactured. This would affect all industries where pneumatic Components PFAS types Examples Key functionalities provided by PFAS Relevant uses producing vaccines, medical products, automotive parts, semiconductors, food packaging, printing products, textiles, PV modules, etc. Emission risk to the environment Alternatives Socio-economic impacts only during the use phase. The used fluoropolymers are destroyed in recycling processes for metals and the thermal utilisation of plastics in waste incineration plants alternatives are available. When potential alternative PFAS-free elastomers or plastomeres are available, tests and validations would be obligatory for all intended applications. components and systems are used, e. g. in automation and mechanical engineering (see "Relevant uses"). This would be necessary for each manufacturer and each kind of product.