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Chemtech company announces PFAS-free molecular adhesive

XLYNX Materials, the company behind the crosslinker capable of bonding non-functionalised polymers, has redesigned its flagship molecular adhesive, BondLynx.  

XLYNX

The new crosslinker and surface treatment solution, known as BondLynx BXW-202, has been rebuilt from the ground up to eliminate fluorine from its chemical structure. The result is an adhesive that is safer for the environment, more stable for storage, and more cost-effective for customers.  

Unlike traditional adhesives that rely on mechanical forces to hold materials together, BondLynx employs bis-diazirine technology to create covalent bonds between polymer chains, permanently crosslinking them through strong carbon-carbon bonding. Originally designed to bond “unbondable” low surface energy plastics like polypropylene and polyethylene, BondLynx has since found applications as a surface functionalising agent, an additive in microelectronics fabrication, a performance textile strengthener, and a molecular stabiliser for perovskites, quantum dots, and organic electronics.  

Until now, fluorine - one of the most reactive elements in the periodic table - was considered a critical component of bis-diazine crosslinking. But with the tide turning against the use of PFAS chemicals, the development of a suite of fluorine-free products was the company’s top priority.  

“With all we now know about the persistence of PFAS chemicals in the environment, it was important for us to get ahead of the problem and be a part of the solution,” stated director of strategy, Sean Bourquin. “Our clients have been telling us the same thing. This issue is on everyone's radar these days, so we knew we had to find a new formula for BondLynx.”  

The R&D team at XLYNX Materials went back to the drawing board to create a version of BondLynx that did not depend on fluorine. 

“To be honest, we weren’t sure whether a fluorine-free crosslinker with the adhesive strength of the original BondLynx would be possible,” admitted senior research chemist, Dr. Rashid Nazir. “It was uncharted territory, but being innovative is what our team has always done best.” 

While he did not reveal details about the solution they designed, Dr. Nazir reported that test results for the new molecular adhesive have "exceeded expectations". In comparative lap shear adhesion tests with conventional polyurethane, cyanoacrylate, and epoxy adhesives, BondLynx BXW-202 outperformed the competition in every category, including: 

XLYNX

“It’s exciting to see how well it’s performing,” Bourquin commented. “To be able to eliminate PFAS chemicals, add stability, and drive down costs, all without compromising the quality of BondLynx adhesion, is a remarkable achievement that we can all be proud of.” 

XLYNX Materials is now capitalising on its platform technology to design a suite of PFAS-free crosslinkers for specific substrates and client applications.

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