Researchers Develop Nontoxic PFAS Replacement Coating
A plant-based coating called SLIP offers a fluorine-free alternative to forever chemicals used in packaging, fire protection and waterproofing.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Chemistry
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Washington University in St. Louis researchers developed SLIP, a nontoxic coating that repels water and can replace PFAS, chemicals known as forever chemicals. A Texas A&M University analysis estimated that replacing PFAS with SLIP could avoid $1.1 billion in annual societal damage.
Why it matters
PFAS are used in packaging, fire protection and waterproof coatings but persist in the environment and cause significant economic damage to human health and ecosystems. An affordable, abundant alternative could help industries move away from these chemicals while meeting manufacturing needs.
The estimate of $1.1 billion in annual avoidable societal damage comes from a Texas A&M University cost analysis tied to replacing PFAS with SLIP. The extraction does not specify how the figure was calculated or how it would change at commercial scale.
The players
Washington University in St. Louis
A private research university in St. Louis, Missouri, where the team developed the SLIP coating.
Texas A&M University
A public research university in College Station, Texas, whose researchers estimated the cost savings of replacing PFAS with SLIP.
The details
SLIP, short for superhydrophobic lignin-integrated particles, is made by linking lignin to fatty acids and adding a polylactic acid binder. The team incorporated the structure of suberin, a waterproof plant molecule, into lignin particles, and the material is derived from plant waste and fatty acids.
Timeline
Matter published the study on bioinspired fluorine-free superhydrophobic coatings in 2026.
The Big Picture
SLIP responds directly to growing restrictions on PFAS, the fluorinated coatings that have long been used for water and grease repellency in packaging and fire protection. Its plant-based, fluorine-free design aims to deliver comparable water repellency without the persistence that makes PFAS a concern.
If scaled successfully, SLIP could eventually be used in food packaging and construction material coatings in place of PFAS-based products. The team plans to expand its use by making the material oil- and fireproof and by integrating production with biorefinery and paper and pulping industries.
The takeaway
Replacing forever chemicals with plant-based alternatives could avoid substantial economic and environmental costs. Readers following PFAS regulation should watch whether SLIP can move from laboratory production to commercial use.
Further reading
Explore more on Chemistry to see how researchers are rethinking the materials behind everyday products.
More information
Read the full Matter journal study on fluorine-free superhydrophobic coatings for the complete methods and results.
Source note: This article includes information reported by AZoCleantech.
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