As the packaging industry intensifies its transition toward safer and more sustainable technologies, the demand for PTFE-free solutions in can coatings has never been greater. Traditionally, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) has played a major role in achieving improved surface protection, scratch resistance, and reduced coefficient of friction in coatings used for metal packaging. However, increasing regulatory pressure due to concerns over PFAS-related byproducts such as PFOA and PFOA continues to push the market toward high-performance, environmentally responsible alternatives.

In response to these industry shifts, Lubrizol has emerged as a leader in developing next generation PTFE-free wax additives that deliver performance comparable to, or even exceeding, traditional PTFE-containing systems. These materials are specifically engineered to support high-performance applications such as can and coil coatings, offering formulators a safer path without compromising mechanical or aesthetic properties.

Why Move Away from PTFE in Can Coatings?

PTFE-based additives deliver several highly desirable properties, such as:

Exceptional chemical and temperature resistance
Low coefficient of friction
Strong scratch and abrasion resistance

However, the manufacturing and downstream processing of PTFE commonly involve PFAS compounds, including PFOA and PFOS, which are subject to increasingly strict global regulatory limits. The EU, for example, restricts the presence of these substances to below 2 parts per billion, with expanded regulations proposed for chemically similar PFAS groups.

For metal packaging—particularly food and beverage cans—brand owners and suppliers are actively prioritizing PFAS-free and PTFE-free coating technologies to ensure safety, compliance, and public trust.

PTFE-Free Wax Additives: A New Generation of High-Performance Coating Solutions

Comparable Gloss, Slip, and Surface Protection

Lubrizol’s development efforts in PTFE-free wax additives have resulted in several commercial products and prototypes designed to match or surpass PTFE-based benchmarks in areas such as gloss retention, co-efficient of friction, and scratch resistance. Testing showed that these PTFE-free additives delivered equal or slightly improved gloss levels and comparable slip relative to traditional PTFE systems.

In addition, coatings formulated without wax showed significantly poorer scratch resistance, while Lubrizol’s PTFE-free alternatives achieved high scratch resistance ratings on a standardized wear scale.

Mechanical Performance Considerations for Can Coatings

In metal packaging applications, can-coatings must withstand demanding mechanical stress, from forming and seaming operations to ongoing abrasion during handling and distribution. PTFE-free wax additives from Lubrizol have demonstrated promising capabilities in areas such as:

Surface durability under mechanical load
Friction reduction for smoother can processing
Chemical resistance suitable for food and beverage environments

Recent studies highlight that newly developed PTFE-free waxes and dispersions show strong potential for use in high-performance can coatings, offering formulators new tools that adhere to modern regulatory expectations.

A Sustainable Path Forward for Can Coatings

As brand owners continue to push for PFAS-free packaging and global regulations become more stringent, the shift toward PTFE-free technologies is not merely a trend—it is a necessary evolution. Lubrizol's expanding portfolio of PTFE-free wax additives, including solutions like Lanco™ 1510 EF Micronized Wax, provides the market with high-performance, environmentally conscious alternatives that align with both technical and sustainability objectives.

For formulators seeking to modernize their can coatings without sacrificing performance, Lubrizol’s innovations represent a forward thinking, validated path toward compliance and enhanced product quality.

Advancing Can Coatings with PTFE-free Technologies