Teflon is the world’s most popular coating material for pots and pans, both in the private household and in the food industry. Its most useful properties are that it helps prevent food from burning and ensures that the surface is easy to clean. However, Teflon is problematic because there are some health and environmental risks connected to its production and use.
A scientific project at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) is doing research on the coatings of the future. The project is partly about providing the processing industry with new thin ceramic surfaces that are abrasion-resistant and do not release toxic substances at high temperatures.
The company Accoat is involved in the project and Jens Hinke, the innovative director of SP Group (of which Accoat is a subsidiary), believes in increasing global sales when it comes to the forthcoming product; “With the new science at hand we will be at the forefront globally. It is a very good example of how Denmark is to flourish through innovative products based on a high level of knowledge.”
However, he does not perceive the invention of the new ceramic surfaces as a replacement of Teflon. Here he refers to the fact that DuPont, the world’s largest producer of Teflon, and a business partner to Accoat, has committed itself to the phasing out of damaging substances in Teflon and is replacing it with other substances that do not harm health or the environment.
“We completely endorse this process,” says Jens Hinke. Mr Hinke estimates that Accoat will soon develop equipment coated with the new ceramic surfaces that will be aimed at the private household market.