PFAS-free slip and matting additives (PTFE replacement)
Deuteron organic polymethylurea additives that give coatings and inks low friction, scratch resistance, and soft-touch feel, with no fluorine. A direct path off PTFE micronized wax.
Deuteron organic polymethylurea additives that give coatings and inks low friction, scratch resistance, and soft-touch feel, with no fluorine. A direct path off PTFE micronized wax.
PTFE micronized waxes have been a standard surface additive in coatings and inks for decades. They deliver slip, scratch and mar resistance, and a smooth, low-friction finish. PTFE is a fluoropolymer, and it falls inside the broad definition of PFAS that regulators in the United States and Europe are now restricting.
Deuteron builds its PTFE-replacement additives from organic polymethylurea (PMU), a micronized organic thermoset, the same chemistry family behind its matting agents. As a surface additive it lowers the coefficient of friction, adds scratch and mar resistance, and gives a soft, matte tactile feel. These are the properties a coating gets from a PTFE wax, delivered with no fluorine in the additive.
Cross-references against common PTFE micronized-wax additives are available on request.
The matting side of the chemistry, the five particle sizes and the comparison with silica are on the matting agents page.
Because PMU is also a matting chemistry, many PMU surface additives do two jobs at once. A single additive can reduce gloss and add slip and scratch resistance, which can simplify a formulation that previously used a separate matting agent and a separate slip wax.
Soft, low-gloss, scratch-resistant finishes where feel and durability both matter.
A warm, matte tactile feel for electronics housings, automotive interiors, and premium packaging.
Rub resistance on the finished print without fluorochemistry.
Slip and scratch resistance in 2K polyurethane and coil-coating systems.
PMU surface and matting additives that hold up in radiation-cure systems.
Many grades reduce gloss and add slip and scratch resistance at the same time.
The two halogen-free surface additives, plus the non-fluorinated waxes that cover part of the same job. Each has its own page with the typical properties from Deuteron's own technical data sheet.
| Grade | Chemistry | Particle size | Where it fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deuteron SF 707 | Micronized PMU, halogen free | 4.0 micron dv50 | The finer of the two, for thinner films |
| Deuteron SF 505 | Micronized PMU, halogen free | 7.0 micron dv50 | PTFE-like surface properties without a fluoropolymer |
| Deuteron Wax PE | Micronized polyethylene wax | Powder | Abrasion and scratch resistance, rub resistance in inks |
| Deuteron Wax PP/2 | Micronized polypropylene wax | Powder | Smooth feel and polishing resistance, 138 degrees C melting point |
| Deuteron Wax A | Micronized amide wax | Powder | Velvet feel and sanding properties |
| Deuteron WD PE | Polyethylene wax in water | Dispersion, 50 percent | The waterborne route, no dispersing additives or emulsifiers |
Two grades in the range do contain PTFE and are listed here so the comparison is complete: Deuteron Wax TF and Deuteron MM 823. Neither belongs in a fluoropolymer-free specification.
Send us the grade you run now and the film thickness. We will name the closest halogen-free grade, send the data sheet, and ship a sample.
Request a SamplePolymethylurea is an organic urea-based thermoset. For a PFAS-conscious formulation, we can supply the Technical Data Sheet and Safety Data Sheet so your regulatory and qualification review has the additive's composition data in hand. Tell us what your review requires and we will pull the documents.
No. Polymethylurea is an organic urea-based thermoset. It contains no fluorine, which is the reason it is used as a fluorine-free replacement for PTFE micronized-wax additives.
PMU additives deliver the same surface properties that formulators use PTFE waxes for: low friction, scratch and mar resistance, and soft feel. Every formulation is different, so the right approach is to match the additive by the property you need and trial it. Cross-references and samples are available on request.
Many of the PMU surface additives do both, reducing gloss and adding slip and scratch resistance in a single additive. Tell us the gloss target and the feel you want and we will recommend a grade.