Our National Security Depends on Fluorochemistries

Keeping America safe is a fundamental responsibility of our federal government. To do so, the military relies on equipment that simply must work when needed—there is no room for error. So, when the Pentagon makes clear what it needs to accomplish its mission, we should listen.

Discussions of complex chemistries can be confusing. That is why lawmakers must ensure they follow a risk-based, scientific approach to regulation. As a start, the Chamber has called for consensus-based, consistent federal definitions of PFAS that acknowledge the differences that exist between various chemistries, and provide needed exemptions for chemistries of low concern, such as fluoropolymers and f-gases. 

For instance, two of the most critical types of PFAS for military applications are F-gases and fluropolymers. F-gases are an innovative class of chemicals, including hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs) and HFO blends, primarily used as refrigerants, propellants, and solvents. They have superior environmental and heat management properties compared to legacy products and alternatives, potentially helping to avoid up to .5 degrees of global warming. Among the critical military uses for F-gases are thermal management for electronics systems, such as those on submarines, ships, and vehicles; preservation of medicines, vaccines, and other life-saving medical treatments; specialty fluids for defense systems; and insulation.

Fluoropolymers are also essential to countless defense applications. A specialty plastic with unmatched stability, durability, and water and high-temperature resistance, fluoropolymers are ideal for uses such as pyrotechnics, munitions manufacturing for certain missile systems, subcomponents in modern lithium-ion batteries, semiconductor fabrication, sealants, and encapsulants to protect microelectronic components from degradation. All of these are applications where performance is a must. Both F-gases and fluoropolymers lack alternatives for most applications. 

Broad bans of either the chemistries themselves or products that depend on them would threaten not only our national security, but also significantly impact our economy. DoD relies on over 200,000 companies to provide supplies, parts, and manufacturing for weapons systems, with fluorochemistries playing a critical role in this vast supply chain. Ultimately, barriers impeding these companies and DoD from procuring fluorochemistries would have significant implications for defense manufacturing capacity, with the potential to cause major disruptions and drive higher costs, which ultimately would impact force readiness and capability. Restricting access to fluorochemistries in the U.S. also risks creating reliance on foreign competitors for procuring critical technologies and may allow other nations to gain global market share in the development of vital products that will no longer be available to the U.S.

 The Chamber urges lawmakers at all levels of government to proceed with caution, and most importantly, heed the warning of our Department of Defense by maintaining appropriate access to PFAS, including f-gases and fluoropolymers. Our national security depends on it. 

Martin Durbin, Senior Vice President for Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.