All PFAS are Not Bad Series Introduction

“All PFAS are Not Bad. Why We Need Some PFAS to Continue Life as We Know It”

Title: Understanding PFAS: Not All Are Created Equal

In recent years, the term “PFAS” has become a hot topic, often surrounded by concerns and misconceptions. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a broad group of man-made chemicals that have been used in various industries worldwide since the 1940s. From non-stick cookware to firefighting foams, PFAS have been integral in enhancing product performance and safety. However, the term has also been associated with environmental and health concerns, leading to a growing belief that all PFAS are harmful and should be avoided.

But is that the whole story? The reality is more nuanced. While it’s true that some PFAS have been linked to environmental persistence and potential health risks, it’s crucial to recognize that not all PFAS are created equal. There are many types of PFAS, each with distinct properties, uses, and impacts. Some PFAS are indeed harmful and need to be regulated, but others are low-toxicity, sustainable, and safe for use in essential applications.

Differentiating PFAS: A Closer Look

It’s vital to differentiate between the various types of PFAS and understand their specific roles. As we launch this new blog series, “All PFAS are Not Bad. Why We Need Some PFAS to Continue Life as We Know It,” we’ll delve into the science and facts about PFAS to provide a clearer picture.

We aim to challenge the one-size-fits-all narrative surrounding PFAS and explore why certain PFAS are necessary for critical industries like fire suppression, immersion cooling, and precision cleaning. These applications rely on specific PFAS due to their unique properties, such as heat capacity, thermal stability, non-flammability, and effectiveness in extreme conditions. Without these PFAS, we would lose the ability to protect lives and property from fires, efficiently cool advanced electronic systems, and maintain the cleanliness required in sensitive manufacturing processes.

Why We Need Some PFAS

Understanding the distinction between harmful and beneficial PFAS is essential for making informed decisions about their use. Not only do some PFAS have a minimal impact on the environment and human health, but they are also pivotal in ensuring safety, efficiency, and sustainability across various sectors. For instance, PFAS used in fire suppression systems are designed to be low in toxicity, non-ozone depleting, and low global warming potential, reducing their environmental footprint while still providing the necessary performance capabilities. As in fire protection, materials meeting the definition of PFAS are utilized in immersion cooling for data centers or electronics help prevent overheating and ensure reliable performance, all while being formulated to pose minimal risk.

Standard Fluids PFAS Experts

Standard Fluids is committed to raising the standard in engineered fluids. To that end, we have melded an unrivaled advisory panel with a team of long-term, highly experienced leaders. We believe that in starting our company last year, we hit the jackpot with Paul Rivers, Lead Inventor of our own Standard Fluids™ SF 1230™ Fire Protection Fluid (formerly 3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid) and John Owens, inventor or co-inventor on more than 50 patents related to organofluorine compounds and their uses and author or co-author of over 50 publications on these topics. Rivers and Owens serve as Senior Advisor and Technical Advisor respectively, and provide resources and touchstones for the Standard Fluids team and our customers whenever questions arise.

What to Expect from This Series

Throughout this series, we will explore:

  • The Basics of PFAS: What are PFAS, and why are they used?
  • Differentiating PFAS: Understanding the differences between various types and their uses.
  • Safe and Sustainable PFAS: Highlighting PFAS with low toxicity that are safe for critical applications.
  • Industry Applications: How specific PFAS are essential in fire protection, immersion cooling, and precision cleaning.
  • Future Outlook: The evolving landscape of PFAS regulation and innovation.

Our goal is to provide a balanced perspective that recognizes both the risks and the indispensable benefits of PFAS in modern society. By the end of this series, we hope you’ll have a deeper understanding of why “all PFAS are not bad” and why some are essential for maintaining the safety, performance, and sustainability standards we’ve come to rely on in everyday life.

Follow along in this series as we embark on a journey to demystify PFAS and explore their indispensable role in today’s world. Please reach out with any specific questions, and we are happy to have a conversation. 

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Who the Heck is Standard Fluids?

“Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.”

Bobby Unser

The Dream Team of Engineered Fluids is Back!    

What happens when your world as you know it turns upside down? True leaders take it as an opportunity to change the narrative and make a difference. This is exactly what the Standard Fluids team did when 3M decided to exit the engineered fluids market and walk away with barely a word to its loyal employees or dedicated customers.

On December 20, 2022, 3M announced its departure from the fluorochemical market, phasing out all related manufacturing. They have discontinued production across their fluorochemical product portfolio, reportedly completing all shipments or remaining orders by the end of 2025. This announcement and subsequent action left many employees without jobs and customers without a plan.

Enter the Standard Fluids Team

With the 3M announcement, the end of the road was now in full view, and Cofounder Luis Gonzalez began to explore putting the old 3M team back together. Cofounder Paul Rivers had already retired, and they knew they had what it took to fill the gap in the market and do things the right way. 

“When 3M walked away from engineered fluids on a Sunday right before Christmas in 2022, we were left thinking, ‘What now?’” Standard Fluids President Luis Gonzalez said. “We knew we had a unique opportunity to step in and serve a market that didn’t know where to turn. So, we began a process of planning and conceptualizing a strategy to be the ones to support the customers we had worked with for years. Today, we are making it happen.”

Luis, who had an integral role in building the global fire suppression market at 3M, and Paul, who was lead inventor of 3M™ Novec™12 Fire Protection Fluid, partnered with Cofounder Rory Quirk who had the global fluorochemical manufacturing relationships needed to complete the trifecta. Together, they had the experience, knowledge, and drive to fill the gap in the market and provide high-quality products, ensure stellar customer service, and use their knowledge, relationships, and experience to provide customers worldwide with an option they could count on. 

“We are certainly not in this for our own personal gain,” Paul said. “I was retired. Many of the guys on our team easily could have retired or walked into other roles and been just fine. Instead, this group came together for the good of the industry. There needed to be another option that our customers could rely on for high-quality, effective products. And we knew that our customer service and support had to be outstanding.” 

These men, who have been pillars of the chemical fluids industry for decades, understand that they are in a unique position to distribute their products to the market quickly and efficiently and to raise the industry standard.

“Our product, Standard Fluids™ SF 1230™ Fire Protection Fluid, is American-invented, globally sourced, and put through a USA-based testing protocol that is second to none,” Rory said. “It is important to all of us that our customers know they can count on the team from order to delivery and beyond. We are not some massive, unreachable company where you are just another number. We are personally invested in the success of each of our customers.” 

Not Just About Fire

While fire protection was one industry particularly affected by the phase-out, the engineered fluids market was also impacted. Customers needing immersion cooling and precision cleaning products were left hanging. 

“The engineered fluids market is clamoring for a solution,” Standard Fluids’ Global Director of Engineered Fluids Steve Pignato said. “Products like our SF 188™ Engineered Fluid and SF 649™ Engineered Fluid are used in many applications. With rapidly changing technologies, liquid-cooled technologies in data centers must keep pace with the demands of AI, cryptocurrency, and 5G technology –  all in high demand. We need our customers to know that our products are effective, sustainable, and high-quality.”

Standard Fluids is rolling out a portfolio of engineered fluids in addition to SF 188 fluid and SF 649 fluid to include, SF 7100™, SF 7200™, SF 7300™ Engineered Fluids and more. 

Who Makes Up The Standard Fluids Corporation Team?

The Standard Fluids Corporation leadership team comprises some of the best minds in all aspects of the chemical fluids industry from science and engineering to sales and logistics. The team includes Senior Advisor Paul Rivers, former Senior Fire Protection Specialist for 3M and lead inventor and patent holder of the former 3M™ Novec™ 1230 (now SF 1230 fluid) Fire Protection Fluid; Luis Gonzalez, former 3M Global Key Account Manager; and Rory Quirk, an expert in global supply chain, manufacturing, and business development specifically for organizations in Asia.

Central to our business, with over 30 years in highly technical chemistry applications, is Steve Pignato, Global Director of Engineered Fluids.  Specializing in fire protection, we have Mark Smith, North American Operations Director; Kelvin Cabrera, International Operations Director; and Kamal Abdelhamid Alsghair, Vice President MEA, SAC, Turkey Region.

The team’s depth of knowledge and experience coupled with their long-standing relationships in the industry, has attracted customers across the globe since day one. Standard Fluids’ customers receive superior products, support, and technical services, and its specialty chemicals are used across various applications where safety is paramount, and performance and sustainability are non-negotiable. 

The Standard Fluids Dream Team

Standard Fluids is proud to have some titans of the industry supporting its mission every step of the way. In addition to Rivers, we have Senior Advisor John Owens, who was inventor or co-inventor on more than 50 patents related to organofluorine compounds and lends his technical expertise to Standard Fluids. Steve, while leading engineered fluids sales, is also a chemical engineer recognized in the industry with an unparalleled depth of knowledge and expertise in the science behind the products. 

Each one of the Standard Fluids team members is passionate about this company, dedicated to providing the best customer service in the industry, and unwavering in protecting the quality of the product portfolio.

Certifications

Launched in October of 2023, Standard Fluids rapidly set about gaining certifications to comply with industry standards and be able to quickly meet customer demands. On November 29, 2023, Standard Fluids SF 1230™ Fire Protection Fluid received its UL Component Recognition. By December 18, 2023, The Standard Fluids Corporation received FM approval of its Standard Fluids SF1230™ Fire Protection Fluid.

Standard Fluids Purpose and Validation

From the beginning, the mission of Standard Fluids Corporation was to provide a superior product to the customers who rely on us. We do this by providing superior customer service, a proven product that has endured rigorous testing, and by continuing to explore new and innovative products for the industry’s future. We recognize that the world needs these specialty fluids for unique national security applications and mission-critical applications. We are a U.S.-based company, and our U.S. EPA-recognized product is proven to be environmentally benign. We even take our testing a step further, employing proprietary validation in each batch we produce. 

To learn more about Standard Fluids and our products, please contact us. We reply within 24 hours and are happy to answer any questions.