comment by
Hanno Charisius
The chemical bond between carbon and fluorine is among the strongest found in nature. Humans have learned to synthesize substances with some fantastic properties. Depending on the mixture, the so-called perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds, PFAS for short, are water- or grease-repellent, extremely heat-resistant, and reduce friction. Their applications are correspondingly diverse, from coated pans to industrial plants, with semiconductors, rechargeable batteries, fuel cells, heat pumps in between – the whole product list for the post-fossil age.