DIC Develops Antifoaming Agent For Electric Vehicle Lubricating Oils Free Of PFAS And Delivering Exceptional Performance

TOKYO--( BUSINESS WIRE )-- DIC Corporation (Tokyo:4631) today announced that it has developed an antifoaming agent for use in electric vehicle (EV) lubricating oils that does not contain perfluoroalkyl substances and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) and which exhibits exceptional performance characteristics. This new offering features excellent anti-foam properties, high durability (shear stability) and thermal stability, all of which were previously difficult to achieve with PFAS-free products. In the future, the company will seek to expand its product range and encourage the expansion of sales to EV lubricating oil manufacturers in Japan, the United States and Europe. DIC has set a target of achieving annual revenue of 2.0 billion yen for fiscal year 2030.

Concerns about latent environmental risks associated with PFAS have sparked debate, particularly in Europe and the United States, about the need to better regulate these substances. In proactive response to the growing global need for sustainable alternatives to fluorinated surfactants, DIC began developing a PFAS-free surfactant. In August 2023, the company announced the development of the MEGAFACE ^® EFS series of PFAS-free surfactants, which deliver performance rivaling that of fluorosurfactants despite not containing PFAS. MEGAFACE ^® EFS surfactants are currently sold as viable alternatives to conventional products for a variety of applications, including in displays, semiconductors, electric vehicles and coatings. For the second product in the MEGAFACE ^® EFS series, DIC was interested in a PFAS-free antifoaming agent for use in EV lubricating oils.

The combination of environmentally friendly raw materials and DIC's unique molecular design technologies facilitated the development of a PFAS-free antifoam agent with equivalent antifoam properties, thermal stability and durability (shear stability). or higher than those of antifoam agents containing PFAS. These conventional antifoaming agents are added to lubricating oils in small amounts to lower surface tension and break up foam lamellae, with applications ranging from metal processing lubricating oils to automotive and industrial gear oils. However, it has proven particularly difficult to develop silicone-based alternatives that perform comparable to PFAS-containing antifoam agents. DIC's new product, on the other hand, exhibits superior antifoam properties at high temperatures, which is difficult with ordinary PFAS-free silicone-based agents, as well as excellent durability when exposed to heat and mechanical stress ( shear) as a lubricating oil ingredient.

In the long-term management plan DIC Vision 2030, DIC sets out a basic strategy to grow its business with a focus on sustainable products. The company will continue to expand its selection of PFAS-free products that help meet social imperatives, helping to promote industry sustainability and reduced environmental risks.

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Contacts

DIC Corporation
Sales Group 2, Chemitronics Business Division
dic_megaface_pfas-free@ma.dic.co.jp