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Nangeed coatings are omnipresent in our daily life, from food stoves to food packaging. However, their environmental impact, in particular those containing per- and polyfluoroalkylas (PFAS) substances, raises major concerns. Researchers from the University of Toronto have developed a new chemical technique, called “Nanoscale Fletching”, which promises to reduce these impacts while offering similar performance. This article explores this advance and its potential implications.
Promising chemical innovation
Engineers at the University of Toronto created an ultra-thin coating from polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a flexible silicone polymer. This material is widely used due to its transparency, non-toxicity and high temperature resistance. However, it has not so far had the ability to push oils, unlike PFAS -based coatings. Professor Kevin Golovin explains: “The PDMS, often sold under the name of silicone, is very biocompatible, but he did not reach the performance of the PFAS”. Thanks to the nanoscal fletching technique, fluorinated chemical groups are added to the PDMS, giving the material hydrophobic and oleophobic properties.
This revolutionary technique Based on the addition of chemical groups -CF3, consisting of a carbon and three fluorine atoms, considered to be the least harmful among the molecules linked to the PFAS. This process allows the PDMS to compete with traditional coatings in terms of repulsion of water and fats, while reducing the ecological footprint.
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PFAS challenges and their alternatives
PFAS, often nicknamed “eternal chemicals”, are known for their sustainability and resistance to degradation. Used since the 1930s, they find themselves in soils, waters and even in human blood. The health risks linked to the exposure to long -channel PFASs begin to be revealed by the scientific community. The new approach to the Toronto team could offer a viable solution by replacing the long chains with shorter and less persistent molecules.
The ultimate objective of this research is to develop a material that could surpass teflon without using PFAS. Although the current coating is not completely free from PFAS, it represents a significant advance towards a more ecological alternative.
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Potential applications and future collaborations
The new coating has been tested on various materials such as nylon, polyester, aluminum and stainless steel, which suggests a large industrial applicability. Researchers hope to collaborate with manufacturers to replace standard non -stick coverings with this new technology. Although scaling challenges remain, the results obtained so far are promising.
The Samuel researcher explains: “The short pdms channels, similar to brush hair, are reinforced by small PFAS molecules, offering a balance between performance and environmental security”. This approach could transform the coating industry by providing more sustainable solutions.
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Perspectives for greener cuisine
The development of safer non -stick coverings is essential to reduce the environmental impact of eternal chemicals. Researchers at the University of Toronto have taken an important step by demonstrating that it is possible to imitate the performance of PFASs while minimizing their presence. However, additional efforts are necessary to completely eliminate these substances.
With the growing interest in more ecological products, this innovation could play a key role in the evolution of industrial practices. The question remains: how can these new techniques transform our consumption habits and reduce our long-term environmental footprint?
This article is based on verified sources and the assistance of editorial technologies.
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