Aug. 11, 2025
In increasing numbers, consumers want to avoid the ominously named “forever chemicals,” PFAS, PFOA, and PTFE. In this post, we explain the difference between PFAS, PFOA, and PTFE, as well as how to avoid them in your everyday life.
If you’ve heard the term ‘forever chemicals’, you’ve heard about PFAS. This group of manmade chemicals garnered the nickname because most don’t break down, ever.
This means PFAS remain in the environment forever, continuing to affect human health and the wider environment.
What are PFAS, PFOA, and PTFE, though, and how can we break up with forever chemicals?
PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, of which there are more than 9,000. This group of chemicals contain a strong carbon-fluorine bond which is hard to break, meaning they tend to accumulate in animal tissue and in the environment.
PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid, or C8) is one of the most common types of PFAS found in the environment. This chemical, along with the very similar PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), was once used widely in household products such as stain-resistant carpeting and couches, other household textiles, household cleaning products, and in firefighting foams.
PFOS and PFOA are less commonly used these days, largely because of growing recognition of the health effects of these chemicals.
What about PTFE?
PTFE stands for polytetrafluoroethylene and is a chemical once used alongside PFOA to produce Teflon, Dupont’s patented non-stick chemical coating used in a lot of cookware and bakeware. Because of concerns over the health effects of PFOA, manufacturers began making PFOA-free non-stick cookware in recent years. The trouble, though, is that this cookware isn’t necessarily PTFE-free, meaning many of the same health concerns remain.
We’ve already mentioned non-stick pans, but this isn’t the only place you’ll find PFAS in most homes. PFAS are also present in food wrappers, especially in takeout containers, some disposable plates and cups (including some ‘compostable’ ones!), microwaveable popcorn bags, pizza boxes and burger wrappers, and candy wrappers.
You’ll also find PFAS in some cosmetics, sometimes on purpose and sometimes through contamination. You may even have a carpet, mattress, or furniture with a stain-repellent PFAS coating. This is more common in outdoor rugs and furniture, or in items advertised as being easy to clean and (ironically) great for homes with pets and kids. Some household cleaning products also contain PFAS, as does some dental floss and toothpicks.
The most common place to find PFAS, though, is in items with water-repellent and stain-repellent treatments. Think rain pants, period underwear, waterproof shoes and boots, lunch boxes and bags, pencil cases, gym bags, yoga mats, tents, kayak covers, and so forth.
PFAS has been detected in the blood of most adults and children in the U.S. Scientists also found PFAS in umbilical cord blood and breast milk.
Forever chemicals are present in a huge number of everyday products. We could just as easily call them ‘everywhere chemicals’, given their ubiquity. This means that PFAS are present in household dust that we breathe in every day. We can also absorb PFAS through our skin.
Even if we’re exceptionally careful about avoiding products made with PFAS, we can still be exposed through drinking water and food. Researchers found that Michigan beef was contaminated with PFAS, for instance. The EWG also found PFAS contamination in drinking water systems in all 50 states and in Guam and Puerto Rico.
If you’re thinking this is a good reason to switch to bottled water, think again. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesn’t enforce a limit on PFAS in bottled water and a study revealed PFAS contamination in 39 of 100 products sampled.
Why all this contamination? In large part because PFAS are present in manufacturing wastewater, firefighting foam, and run-off from washing household products. PFAS also enter waterways, air, and soil from landfills and waste disposal facilities, recycling facilities, and sewage treatment plants, with little or no filtration or testing for these chemicals in most drinking water systems.
If you live near a military base, airport, or a training facility for firefighters, chances are the local groundwater contains PFAS. If I lived near one of these, I would definitely filter my water to minimize PFAS exposure.
As with many environmental health issues, people of color and other marginalized groups are most likely affected by greater PFAS exposure. This is because many low-income communities and communities of color are located near to contaminated industrial sites, military bases, and so forth.
PFAS bioaccumulate, which basically means the body can’t easily eliminate PFAS, so they build up over time. This also happens in non-human animals, including those many humans eat, offering another route of exposure.
Why does PFAS exposure matter? The biggest reason is that these are endocrine disruptors that affect the body’s hormonal system. PFAS can affect reproductive health, growth, and metabolism and are linked to a variety of health issues.
I’ve written more extensively about the problems with Teflon here.
One way to minimize PFAS exposure is to be skeptical of claims that a product is PFOA-free or PTFE-free. Such claims often just mean the produce contains another type of PFAS. Unless something says it is PFAS-free and is tested by a third-party, it’s best to assume at least some degree of intentional PFAS use in easy-clean, water-resistant, or stain-resistant products.
Even in products that don’t have such qualities intentionally, chances are there’s some unintended contamination with PFAS. For instance, some cosmetics pick up PFAS from packaging or during manufacturing through contact with machinery.
Sadly, we have to accept that some exposure to PFAS is inevitable in modern life. Here are 10 ways to reduce your exposure to PFAS:
Teflon fabrics are commonly used in our daily lives, particularly in the solar panel manufacturing industry. Their unique properties make them ideal for warding off heat, cold and UV rays with their unbeatable temperature range of up to 260 degrees Celsius. This makes PTFE Teflon fabrics highly weather-resistant and able to combat constant exposure to harsh elements.
With its excellent features and long-lasting durability, it’s no surprise why solar panel manufacturers have been relying on this Teflon cloth so heavily.
If you are in the market for quality PTFE coated fabrics for use in the lamination of solar panels, look no further than Deer Hunter. These laminator release sheets provide excellent resistance to water, chemicals, corrosion and withstand high temperatures, thus adding more durability and longevity to your solar modules construction process.
Today, I’m going to share something useful with you about PTFE solar laminating fabric in order to help you make a better selection.
Now here we go!
Teflon coated glass fabric is a new high-performance, multi-purpose composite material that can be used in a variety of applications. It is made up of a woven glass cloth substrate coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) resin, which makes the fabric waterproof, durable and high temperature resistance.
This material has excellent electrical properties, chemical resistance, and fire retardancy. Additionally, it can remain flexible in cold temperatures and has a low surface energy that limits adhesion from various contaminants.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website JVC.
Teflon coated cloth is available in custom sizes and roll lengths to fit your exact needs. It can also be cut or manufactured to order.
Teflon fabric, also known as PTFE fabric, is an ideal material used in solar cell laminating machines. It consists of high quality glass fabrics and PTFE. These materials create a super smooth and high-gloss surface coating that is resistant to wear, low friction, chemical exposure and temperatures ranging from -70°C to +260°C. The non-toxic qualities of the fabrics make it safe for use in laminating solar panels and other sensitive items.
Teflon release sheets are essential in the lamination process of creating solar PV panels as protective coverings, due to their exceptional heat resistance and non-stick quality. The primary purpose of Teflon cloth is to keep the melted EVA film from attaching to the silicone rubber plate or heating plate. When EVA becomes adhered to these surfaces, removing them can be very challenging.
Color: Brown
Standard thicknesses: 0.25mm, 0.30mm, 0.35mm
Common width: mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, mm, etc.
* Technical data above is based on our general experience and is given in good faith. We are however unable to accept responsibility in respect of factors which are outside our knowledge or control. All data is subject to change without notice. Some items may not be on stock and/or a minimum order quantity may apply.
Teflon cloth is a unique material with excellent heat resistance, non-stick attributes, and anti-static properties. It’s extremely durable and tightly woven, making it a popular choice for heavy-duty applications such as those found in solar photovoltaic module plants. Its special properties make it an ideal replacement for traditional materials.
Solar lamination fabrics are an important part of the lamination process for photovoltaic modules. At least two sets (4 sheets) of these fabrics are required to be used in each solar laminator. They consist of PTFE laminated cloth which acts as a protective cover and backing cloth on the module and helps to prevent the sticking of EVA and other substances to the machine under high temperatures.
PTFE coated glass fabrics are essential for effective lamination processes and are highly reusable. However, it is important to allow them to cool down before reuse in order to avoid any transfer of EVA particles from the laminated fabric. If left on the fabric, these residual EVA particles can be transferred onto the glass during re-use, leaving behind mounds of dust that can block parts of cells and create long-term hot spot effects when used outdoors.
PTFE coated glass cloth is often used as a release sheet for many laminating processes, and also as conveyor belts for specific automatic laminator machines. For these cases, the surfaces of the PTFE must be textured to ensure that there is an adequate level of friction between it and the materials being laminated. Additionally, in order to prevent damage to either the conveyor belts or material, the tension of the belt should not be too high when conveying.
Teflon PTFE fiberglass fabric is an incredibly strong and durable material that can withstand extreme temperatures, resist to most chemicals, and has a smooth and non-stick surface. It can be used in a wide variety of applications, such as hot food electric gaskets and conveyor belts of drying machines due to its unique properties. The fabric has high strength and elongation, making it highly resistant to deformation, while also being very light weight. Furthermore, it features excellent chemical stability and has good thermal resistance between -70 to 260℃.
To ensure the longevity and stability of your Teflon PTFE coated fiberglass fabric, it’s important to practice proper maintenance habits during use. This includes regular cleaning and repair work as needed.
Notes:
Maintaining the integrity of Teflon PTFE fiberglass fabric should not be handled by anyone who is not trained and qualified in this field, in order to keep both costs and risks at a minimum. When done correctly, this fabric can provide superior strength, durability and even chemical resistance. After all, good maintenance can increase the working time of Teflon fabrics.
Is Teflon the same as PTFE?
The simple answer is that they are the same thing: Teflon™ is a brand name for PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) and is a trademark brand name used by the Du Pont company and its subsidiary companies (Kinetic which first registered the trademark & Chemours which currently owns it).
What is EVA material in solar panel?
EVA is ethylene vinyl acetate, a material that has good radiation transmission and low degradability to sunlight. This is a thermoplastic polymer used in solar modules as an encapsulating agent since, by applying heat to the assembly, it forms a sealing and insulating film around the solar cells.
How many times can you reuse a Teflon sheet?
In most cases, these liners can be reused for up to a hundred or so uses. To prolong use, avoid creasing the mat and using added fats and oils.
If you’re in the market for PTFE fabrics, there are some important steps to follow before you make a purchase.
First, research different types of fabrics and materials to determine which type of PTFE fabric is best suited for your needs. Once you’ve narrowed it down, determine what kind of construction can withstand the desired application.
Next, decide if you need a standard or custom size and shape of the fabric before placing an order.
Finally, ensure that your chosen manufacturer has experience creating fabric from high-quality material to guarantee a durable product with long-lasting results.
Teflon fabric is an excellent choice for use in the solar module lamination process. It provides superior protection against wear and tear and is easy to clean and maintain.
Deer Hunter is committed to providing a wide range of Teflon fabrics in rolls or sheets to meet the varying needs of our customers and their industries.
Now it’s your turn. I want to hear from you.
Which kind of PTFE Teflon fabrics do you think you want to try?
Are you going to test this material first or place a trial order from us?
You also can send an inquiry directly from the right table sheet.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit ptfe coated glass cloth.
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