Kuala lumpur: Ateios Systems, a United States (US)-based advanced battery electrode manufacturer, announced that its full RaiCore composite portfolio has been certified per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-Free by Intertek Sustainability.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, this certification spans LCO, NMC, and LFP cathodes as well as graphite anodes, marking a significant milestone for the battery industry, as stated by Ateios Systems. Issued under Intertek certificate PF-10025-2026a and valid through April 29, 2027, the certification requires Total Organic Fluorine to remain below 20 milligrammes per kilogramme (mg/kg), as measured under ASTM D7359-23.
The certified products have been listed in the public Intertek Sustainability Certification Directory, providing customers with a verifiable reference. The testing and certification processes were supported by NSF Energy Storage Engine funding. Ateios Systems' Chief Executive Officer, Rajan Kumar, stated that the certification ensures procurement and sustainability teams have independent verification, emphasizing that RaiCore electrodes exceed PVDF-based materials across all key metrics.
For decades, lithium-ion manufacturers have depended on fluorinated binders such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) for their chemical stability. However, PFAS, commonly referred to as 'forever chemicals', persist in the environment and have been linked by health authorities to several health concerns.
As PFAS regulations tighten globally, the use of fluorinated materials is expected to increase costs associated with regulatory testing, restricted-substance reporting, emissions controls, supplier audits, and liability management. These risks are particularly significant in the battery sector, where product lifecycles are long and requalification processes can be costly.
The company stated that PFAS-free status is increasingly becoming a condition of sale, with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) integrating restricted-substance requirements into supplier qualifications. Additionally, ecolabels such as EPEAT recognize PFAS as chemicals of concern. Government purchasers in the US and the European Union are also linking procurement eligibility to similar standards.