Irreplaceable uses

Today, fluoropolymers are used in numerous technologies, industrial processes and everyday applications from the aviation industry to transportation, including electrical vehicles, medical devices and energy production to technical apparel to name just a few.

They are durable, chemically inert and mechanically strong in harsh conditions. These unique characteristics of fluoropolymers make them a critical material for a broad range of industries and sectors, playing a diverse and crucial role for society, with few, if any, viable alternatives.

Beyond their socio-economic value for European industry, their unique stability means that they are low-risk polymers for human health and their environment. Trying to replace them in their many applications would lead to substitution with alternatives (when available) that do not provide the same advanced performance and safety as fluoropolymers.

The European automotive industry requires fluoropolymers in order to drive decarbonisation while staying competitive in the face of increased pressure from global market players. Used in cars, fuel hoses and batteries, they make traditional internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles safer and cleaner while enabling a transition to electromobility.
Fluoropolymers enable a high level of efficiency and environmental safety in the chemical and power sectors, helping them to remain internationally competitive. Applications include piping, vessels, fluid-handling components; filters and cable coatings. Fluoropolymer coatings, linings and components are critical to preventing corrosion in harsh industrial environments.
Fluoropolymers are fueling innovation in the electronics sector, for example, enabling a digital transition across Europe. They enable improved fire safety, reliability and performance of cables, notably data transmission cables, automotive and medical imaging to name a few.
Fluoropolymers are crucial for the European food and pharmaceutical industries, helping to reduce waste and increase food safety. They enable durable processing equipment, ensure high purity food and pharmaceuticals, and ensure a high level of efficiency by preventing corrosion and facilitating cleaning.
Fluoropolymers are crucial for the European medical sectors and allow for safer medical devices and more cost-efficient medical care through increased efficiency of equipment. The help prevent drug contamination and material failure, protecting lives and saving costs across the sector.
Fluoropolymers help provide consumers with high performance and high comfort clothing and footwear. They combine durability, waterproofing and breathability, in low weight but hard-wearing materials for a range of activities.
Fluoropolymers are the product of choice for many challenging architectural applications due to their unique properties. They provide durable, fire-proof, easy-to-clean, building materials which can both reduce a building’s cooling costs and energy use, whilst enabling novel and innovative “landmark” architectural designs not feasible with other materials.
Fluoropolymers are an indispensable driver of the European Green Deal – for example, across smart mobility, clean energy and sustainable industry - and are used within various components of renewable energy installations, such as hydrogen and PV panels. In addition, they facilitate advanced energy storage and conversion technologies such as lithium-ion batteries.
Fluoropolymers are not just vital components in the construction of an aircraft but are also key enablers of the decarbonisation of the entire aerospace industry. In addition to making them more durable and in turn safer for passengers, they reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions across the full lifetime of an aircraft.

Fluoropolymers:
Driving
sustainability,
competitiveness
and innovation
a wide range of industry applications