What does the future of protective gear look like in a world moving away from PFAS Chemicals?

Governments globally are working to eliminate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—a class of thousands of “forever chemicals” that persist in the environment and the human body.

First introduced in the 1940s, PFAS have been widely used for their ability to resist heat, water, oil, and stains. While long-chain PFAS (8+ carbons) are now banned in many regions, short-chain alternatives (4–7 carbons) remain in use.

The challenge?

In high-risk environments—like chemical/biological response or oil and gas operations—current non-PFAS alternatives simply don’t provide the durability or level of protection required.

That’s where innovation becomes critical.

At PRE Labs, in collaboration with the University of British Columbia Okanagan, the University of Toronto, and the Canadian Department of National Defence, we’ve spent the past three years working on a solution:

A low-PFAS, omni-phobic coating (repelling both solids and liquids) designed for extreme environments.

So far, we’ve developed a coating using PFAS molecules with just three carbon atoms—while maintaining strong performance against chem/bio threats validated by DND testing.

And we’re pushing further—toward coatings with single fluorinated carbon structures, similar to those found in many pharmaceuticals.

Can we get to zero?

We believe it’s possible.

#PRELabsInc #ScienceOfSurvival #Innovation #Sustainability #MaterialsScience #Defense #PFAS #CleanTech