Stainless Steel
- a PFAS-free Material

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS/PFOS) are a group of human-made chemicals, all built mainly by carbon (C) and fluorine (F), that have gained widespread attention due to their environmental persistence and potential adverse health effects.

PFAS/PFOS have been extensively used in various industries since the 1940s. Their unique properties, such as heat resistance, water repellency, and non-stick characteristics, made them popular in manufacturing consumer products like non-stick cookware, waterproof textiles, and stain-resistant materials.

Unfortunately, some of the products end up in nature where it absolutely doesn’t belong. There, due to their very low reactivity, the unwanted compounds may stay forever. The same properties which allow us to use fluorinated hydrocarbons for the frying pans make them virtually undegradable in the nature, and recently measurements have proved the presence of PFAS/PFOS in places where it shouldn’t be at all.

This has caused a very high level of awareness towards any possible presence of PFAS/PFOS. Legislation in the EU has therefore been implemented to limit the use and outlet of PFAS/PFOS.

In this context, we have received several questions from customers asking whether stainless steel contains PFAS/PFOS.

It's therefore important to clarify that stainless steel does not contain PFAS/PFOS. There is absolutely no sensible reason why the mills should add PFAS/PFOS to the steel. And should this happen anyway, it is quickly burnt to form harmless compounds. The degradation of fluorinated hydrocarbons begins at 2-400 °C and is complete at 800 °´C. As the steel is melting at approx. 1450 °C, any possible traces of PFAS/PFOS will be long gone.

Damstahl has developed a declaration regarding the non-existence of PFAS/PFOS in stainless steel, which you can download on this page.

If you would like more information on this subject, please do not hesitate to contact us.