WILMINGTON, DE, May 6, 2005 (PRNewswire-FirstCall) -- DuPont today announced that it will provide critical technologies to reduce emissions of PFOA royalty-free to others in the fluoropolymer industry.
PFOA is an essential processing aid used to produce fluoropolymer high- performance materials. Fluoropolymers are used in architectural fabrics; chemical processing piping and vessels; automotive fuel systems; telecommunications and electronic wiring insulation; and computer chip processing equipment and systems, as well as consumer products such as cookware and apparel. The aerospace, transportation and electronics industries rely on these products because of their purity, reliability and durability in critical applications.
DuPont, in cooperation with The Fluoropolymer Manufacturers Group (FMG), a part of the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI), has committed to reduce emissions from fluoropolymer manufacturing sites worldwide and also will reduce APFO content in aqueous fluoropolymer dispersions used for coatings applications. The FMG is made up of the U.S. fluoropolymer producers, including DuPont, Dyneon (3M), Daikin America, and Asahi Glass Chemicals Americas. This action will reduce the potential for emissions at processors who use aqueous fluoropolymer dispersions by more than 90%. APFO is the form of PFOA used as a fluoropolymer processing aid.
"DuPont is offering our technology as a royalty-free cross license to help ensure the success of the FMG commitment," said David Boothe of DuPont Fluoropolymer Solutions. "Since all still need to use APFO to make fluoropolymers, this program is not designed to replace this essential processing aid. DuPont will instead add a step to our process that removes nearly all APFO from our aqueous dispersions to accomplish the goal. We expect to announce availability of these next-generation aqueous dispersion products soon."
In addition to source reduction technology for APFO in dispersion, DuPont also is offering royalty-free access to its patents and technology for PFOA emissions abatement, water treatment and recovery for reuse.
Founded in 1802, E.I. du Point de Nemours -- DuPont (www.dupont.com) -- is the No. 3 U.S. chemical maker. The company recently underwent a restructuring that consolidated eight business units into five. These segments produce coatings (automotive finishes and coatings), crop protection chemicals and genetically modified seeds, electronic materials (LCDs, sensors, and fluorochemicals), polymers and resins for packaging and other uses, and safety and security materials and chemicals. The company sold its former subsidiary INVISTA (maker of polyester fibers and nylon, including Lycra and Stainmaster) to Koch Industries for $4.2 billion in a deal that closed in April 2004. DuPont operates in more than 70 countries, offering a wide range of innovative products and services for markets including agriculture, nutrition, electronics, communications, safety and protection, home and construction, transportation and apparel.
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