3M creates a new building block for its fluorosurfactants.
Two years ago, 3M voluntarily phased out substances that contained perfluorooctanyl groups, a chemical component of
previously commercialized fluorosurfactants. The company immediately began developing alternative chemistries that could meet
or exceed customer needs. The company's researchers worked toward solutions that had both the performance factors customers
expect, as well as an improved environmental profile. Two alternative products - 3M(tm) Fluorad(tm) fluorosurfactants FC-4430
and FC-4432 - were sampled to the coatings industry.