Background
From the outset, Michelin has defended a fundamental right, a source of human progress: freedom of movement. A pioneer in materials science, Michelin is building a world-leading manufacturer of the composites and experiences that transform our daily lives. The Group draws on its unique expertise to make a significant contribution to a more sustainable world.
This challenge is proposed by a Michelin entity specialized in tire curing molds manufacturing (called MMS, for Michelin Molding Solutions). For some curing molds, Michelin Group uses a single class of Polymeric PFAS, identified as fluoropolymers (FPs). Polymeric PFAS are not used as raw materials nor components of tires, but as long-lasting aids in the manufacturing process.
Michelin employs FPs as they provide unique properties as anti-friction, anti-stick, chemical and abrasion resistance. These unique properties enable the production of high-performance products and are critical to their performance.
All Polymeric PFAS used by Michelin are purchased from suppliers who are required to follow current HSE regulations on chemicals.
EU PFAS restriction proposal
On the 7th of February 2023, the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) published a broad PFAS restriction proposal comprising more than 10,000 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
The restriction proposal is intended to phase out all PFAS in the European Economic Area, to address the risk to health and environment that is not being adequately controlled today.
Michelin Position
The EU Chemicals Strategy and Zero Pollution Ambition under the European Green Deal are goals that the Michelin group ultimately supports.
However, there are both challenges the European industry will face and aspects that should be highlighted to guide the policy makers towards a more effective, feasible and non-regrettable PFAS phase-out.
While strong evidence exists for certain low molecular weight non-polymeric PFAS molecules, there is today a lack of conclusive evidence on toxicity of FPs, from the perspective of both human health and the environmental impacts.
Despite this lack of data, Michelin understands the concerns related to FPs and remains committed to move towards more sustainable materials both in its processing aids and manufactured articles.
In short, Michelin is committed to substitute FPs if alternatives offering the same levels of performance (guaranteeing quality, safety, and specification compliance) are available and have genuinely been proved safer during their full life cycle.
Challenge
Michelin is looking for PFAS-free and EHS-friendly anti-stick coatings for tire unmolding application.
Michelin is currently using fluoropolymer coatings for unmolding high added-value tires. As an end-user of this family of materials and regarding the tough restriction to come about Fluoropolymer materials, the project team is looking for sustainable coatings to unmold tires all around the world.
And because of tire curing industrial, at the end, the innovation must be compatible for use on steel and aluminium materials and must face the following usage constraints:
- Temperature from 140°C to 200°C
- Pressure from 10 to 70 bars
- In contact with rubber composite compounds
- Compatible with complex shapes, encountered on tire molds (see image below)
The project team is keen to meet innovators eager to propose new anti-stick coatings and move towards a more sustainable world.
The project team is interested in innovations in a wide range of TRL: from concept to ready to market solutions.
We are not interested in:
- Fluorine-based material
- Non EHS compliant material
- “Sacrificial” materials as release agents applied very often
What's in it for you?
We are looking for sustainable alternatives even the restriction is not effective yet. As mentioned above, Michelin understands the concerns related to FPs and remains committed to move towards more sustainable materials in its processing aids.
Through LEO platform, we hope to meet proactive and collaborative innovators, willing to design sustainable coatings for the people and the planet.
Thanks to future collaborations with the innovators, we could test innovative technologies for the tire curing industry and then, bring coatings usages to the next level.
Finally, those opportunities could open breakthroughs in this field of application and above.