Researchers at Fraunhofer LBF, together with other Fraunhofer institutes and the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), have launched the collaborative project »FLUORBEST« to systematically explore substitution potentials for fluoropolymers. The consortium also includes Fraunhofer IWM (Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM), IFAM (Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Applied Material Research), and ITEM (Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine). It is complemented by an advisory board from industry, science, and associations.
The background of the project initiative is planned regulatory measures and the urgent need to find alternatives for industrial applications. The goal is a new methodological assessment basis that considers technical and (eco)toxicological aspects and serves as a decision-making basis for a quick, traceable assessment of substitutability. The semantically structured database will be connected to the platform for digitizing material data »MaterialDigital«. »With FLUORBEST, we want to create a traceable decision-making basis for the substitutability of fluoropolymers in selected applications: This provides industry partners with transparent and fact-based pathways to assess possible alternatives, especially whether and under what conditions substitution is possible,« explains Dr. Frank Schönberger, project leader »FLUORBEST« at Fraunhofer LBF. Prof. Dr. Christoph Eberl from Fraunhofer IWM adds: »The connection to the BMFTR funding initiative MaterialDigital makes results immediately usable for industry and research and accelerates - where possible - the path to fluorine-free solutions«.
Interested companies can actively participate
The project involves close collaboration with industry to identify specific requirement profiles and develop application scenarios (User Journeys). This interaction is crucial to ensure the applicability of the methods. In the project, requirements for fluoropolymers and their core properties will initially be compiled across sectors. To develop a methodology in the further course of the project, the focus will then be on the sector »Sealings« of the ECHA restriction proposal.
The expected results include a robust assessment methodology for the substitution of fluoropolymers in selected technical applications as well as a user-friendly data portal. Both commercially available alternatives and the state of technology and science will be evaluated. Companies can directly benefit from the insights gained. With »FLUORBEST«, the consortium aims to bridge the gap between research and industrial application and promote sustainable solutions. The project is funded as an innovation project by the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and runs until January 2028.
Workshop on March 24, 2026, to identify, specify, and systematize requirements and criteria for assessing possible substitutes for fluoropolymers using applications in the »Sealings« sector as an example. Target group: manufacturers of seals, machine builders, users, and raw material suppliers. More info and registration: Workshop
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