Chem-Trend's PFAS-free water-based release agents improve operational sustainability

Chem-Trend (Howell, Mich, U.S.), a Freudenberg Chemical Specialities Group company, and developer of high-quality release agents, purging compounds, and other process chemicals and additives, presents water-based release agents that are also PFAS-free, such as Zyvax 1070W and the integration of the Mavcoat brand. Designed for a wide range of applications, these release systems are intended to improve overall operational sustainability for composites molding processes.

Originally engineered to meet the rigors of aerospace composite applications, Chem-Trend’s water-based release agents are said to be robust, developed to ensure suitability and performance characteristics. They are making headway into various other composite molding applications where solvent-based technologies are optimal due to their release performance, fast evaporation rates and film-forming properties.

While delivering high performance, solvent-based release agents also pose potential health, safety and environmental (HSE) concerns, including fire hazards and significant volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. Chem-Trend says its portfolio eliminates these issues without sacrificing performance.

“Chem-Trend has been successful in developing and expanding our offering of water-based, PFAS-free technology for the wind, aerospace and advanced composite segments. Using our products, manufacturers are seeing improvements in the shopfloor environment with less odor and easier cleanup, as well as reduced plant emissions and delivering performance on par with solvent-based release system technologies,” says Dave Fenwick, business development director, composites.

Recognizing the role of advanced composites in e-mobility, which is enabling more innovative automotive part designs, Chem-Trend’s technical team is working to solve the challenges of these manufacturers who are looking to maintain a high-quality part that is defect-free, while also extending the life of their molds and enhancing productivity. Chem-Trend is actively seeking partnerships with composites manufacturers to find the optimal water-based release agent for their specific applications.