While regulatory decisions on PFAS may still lie ahead, DÖRKEN says it is well prepared and continues to invest in sustainable alternatives for the future of surface protection.
DÖRKEN has achieved a major milestone with the approval of its first PFAS-free zinc flake coating system. Following extensive testing against specific requirements, a DÖRKEN topcoat has been officially approved under the Volkswagen specification VW TL245 Ofl-t647.
Although the European Commission’s decision on a potential ban of PFAS compounds is still pending, DÖRKEN has been proactively addressing the issue and already offers several PFAS-free products in its portfolio, including both base and topcoats. In zinc flake coatings in particular, the company has focused on replacing fluoropolymers, such as PTFE, which are widely used in the industry as lubricants.
This effort has now resulted in a significant breakthrough: DÖRKEN Topcoat DELTA-PROTEKT® TC 502 GZ has received approval for the VW TL245 Ofl-t647 specification. According to the company, this marks the first global approval of a PFAS-free system in the automotive industry.
When used in combination with a zinc flake basecoat or other metallic substrates, the topcoat provides multifunctional properties:
- It enhances the zinc flake basecoat into a complete coating system
- It ensures a very narrow coefficient of friction window.
In addition to being PFAS-free, the coating is also free from harmful heavy metals and features a silver finish.