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PFAS and Seals – a Quick Guide

Posted on Aug 21, 2025     Tags:

Russ Pimblett, Member Representative on the UKGSA Committee and Sales Manager at DLR Elastomer, provides a short guide to PFAS and Seals, following the recent updated proposal to restrict PFAS under the EU’s chemical regulation, REACH.

What is/are PFAS?

PFAS stands for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances which are a large group of synthetic chemicals used in a wide range of industrial and consumer products.

Many PFAS products are selected for their excellent resistance to heat, water and oil and so they are widely used in many processing industries such as chemical, oil & gas, food and pharmaceutical along with having many applications further downstream in consumer products such as cars, cookware and packaging.

However, one of the downsides of the vast number of applications of use, is that they are highly persistent in the environment and also in the human body, so they are often referred to as ‘forever chemicals’.

Why are PFAS a concern?

PFAS present a long-lasting environmental impact as they do not break down easily and can accumulate in soil, water, and living organisms.

PFAS also have an impact on health with links to:

PFAS under REACH

In February 2023, five EU countries proposed a universal restriction on over 10,000 PFAS under REACH which has evolved into two options that are currently being considered:

Current status

ECHA’s Committee for Risk Assessment (RAC) and Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) are reviewing the proposal, balancing environmental protection with economic feasibility.

The restriction aims to phase out PFAS, allowing use only where essential and irreplaceable.

How Does This Impact the Sealing Industry?

In its updated PFAS restriction proposal (August 2025), ECHA explicitly identifies “Sealing Applications” as one of the eight newly assessed sectors not named in the original proposal.

This includes fluoropolymer-based seals, gaskets, valve parts, and pipe linings, which are widely used in consumer, professional, and industrial settings

Why are Seals considered irreplaceable?

Fluoropolymers like PTFE*  and (Per) Fluoroelastomers such as FKM and FFKM used in seals offer:

These properties are critical in sectors like:

Regulatory flexibility

Rather than the initial proposed blanket ban of PFAS back in 2023, ECHA is now considering alternative restriction options for sealing applications, such as:

This reflects the understanding that no viable alternatives currently exist for many high-performance sealing needs.

Summary

Seals are not automatically exempt, but they are recognised as a critical use case where PFAS may be irreplaceable. This opens the door for derogations or tailored restrictions, rather than a blanket ban.

Far from being a done deal, this does at least provide a framework to evaluate PFAS containing sealing products on their merits, rather than being subject to a blanket ban as was initially proposed in 2023.

https://echa.europa.eu/-/echa-publishes-updated-pfas-restriction-proposal

https://echa.europa.eu/hot-topics/perfluoroalkyl-chemicals-pfas