A new polymerization process permits almost all fluoropolymers made at the Spinetta Marengo site to be produced without the processing aid.
Syensqo, a Brussels-based specialty materials company, stated Oct. 28 it has stopped manufacturing C6O4, a fluorosurfactant utilized in production certain fluoropolymers, at its Spinetta Marengo facility in Italy. The move meets a 2022 commitment to phase out fluorosurfactants by the end of 2026.
The company said research and development investments since 2019 allowed it to create a polymerization procedure that does not need fluorosurfactants. The technology has been launched throughout product lines at the site, permitting almost all its fluoropolymers to be produced without these processing aids.
About 1% of the site’s manufacturing volume includes specialized fluoropolymers, primarily for hydrogen and semiconductor applications, that also need additional research and qualification before transitioning to the new process. Syensqo will use present C6O4 inventories to produce those products. The manufacturing shutdown therefore ends new production of the processing aid but does not instantly remove its use at the facility, the company stated.
Why it Matters
Fluorosurfactants are processing aids within the wider PFAS family of chemicals. The European Commission detect environmental persistence and potential human-health effects related to certain PFAS as key reasons for regulatory restrictions. Moreover, these chemicals’ properties make them beneficial in semiconductor production, batteries and hydrogen technologies, and options are not available for every application.
Syensqo’s transition shows how changes to polymerization processes can decrease reliance on fluorosurfactants while retaining manufacturing of specialised materials. The company will persist using existing C6O4 inventories for a small share of its output until alternative production processes are qualified for those applications.
