Grantee Research Project Results
Final Report: Environmentally-Benign Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTEE) Coating for Mold Release
EPA Contract Number: EPD12012Title: Environmentally-Benign Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTEE) Coating for Mold Release
Investigators: White, Aleksandr
Small Business: GVD Corporation
EPA Contact: Richards, April
Phase: I
Project Period: March 1, 2012 through August 31, 2012
Project Amount: $79,357
RFA: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) - Phase I (2012) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) , SBIR - Innovation in Manufacturing
Description:
Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):
In this Phase I EPA SBIR program, GVD has achieved the goals of improved adhesion and durability of its PTFE coatings. Bench-scale testing showed that changes to the PTFE coating recipe improved coating adhesion. Using an adhesion promoter also improved adhesion of PTFE to a much greater extent. Initial molding tests with uncured molding materials, a challenging condition, demonstrated that the changes made to GVD's commercial mold release coating process have made significant improvements to mold release durability. These coatings also outperformed wet-applied mold release coatings in the molding test. GVD has also demonstrated feasibility of synthesizing an alternate to pure PTFE for mold release.
Conclusions:
- Low temperature coating process – Reduces mold cost by facilitating the use of low-cost aluminum molds rather high-cost stainless steel molds; reduces energy costs.
- Solvent-free coatings – Reduces airborne emissions and the associated scrubbing costs.
- Coating conformality – Ensures transfer of fine mold features to molded parts.
Supplemental Keywords:
perfluorooctanoic acid, PFOA, polytetrafluoroethylene fluoropolymer technology, PTFE, coating, mold release coating, fossil fuel, greenhouse gas, chemical vapor deposition, PFOA-free coatingSBIR Phase II:
Environmentally-benign Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) Coatings for Mold Release | Final ReportThe perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.