Scotchgard

"Scotch guard" redirects here and is not to be confused with Scots Guards.

Scotchgard is a 3M brand of products, a stain repellent and durable water repellent applied to fabrics, upholstery, and carpets to protect them from stains. Scotchgard products typically rely on organofluorine chemicals as the main active ingredient along with petroleum distillate solvents. ^[1]

History

In 1938 Roy J. Plunket, a recent hire at DuPont, discovered polytetrafluoroethylene (or Teflon)—a fluoropolymer that led to the invention of synthetic rubber. ^[2] His early discovery led 3M scientists to develop the formula for Scotchgard, discovered by accident in 1953 when Joan Mullan—a 3M lab technician—spilled a few drops of a fluorochemical liquid destined for rubber jet fuel hoses onto her tennis shoes. Despite common cleaning methods, the coating resisted removal. ^[3] 3M chemists, Patsy Sherman and Samuel Smith, continued work on the properties of fluorochemicals, culminating in products that could treat most fabrics with a stain resistant coating. ^[4] They jointly hold 13 patents regarding fluorochemical polymers and polymerization processes, though Sherman is generally recognized as the scientist who discovered Scotchgard's possibilities.

Sales began in 1956, and in 1973 the two chemists received a patent for the formula. ^{[1] [5]}

C₈ fluorinated urethane constituent that has later been replaced by a C₄ alternative

3M reformulated Scotchgard and since June 2003 has replaced perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) with perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS). ^[7] PFBS has a much shorter half-life in people than PFOS (a little over one month vs. 5.4 years). ^[8] 3M now states that Scotchgard utilizes a proprietary fluorinated urethane. ^[9]

Use

It's use is to make things waterproof and stainproof as well.

Environmental concerns

During 1999, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began an investigation into the class of chemicals used in Scotchgard, after receiving information on the global distribution and toxicity of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), ^[10] the "key ingredient" ^[8] of Scotchgard. The compound perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA), a PFOS precursor, was an ingredient ^[11] and also has been described as the "key ingredient" ^[12] of Scotchgard. Under US EPA pressure, ^[13] in May 2000, 3M announced the phaseout of the production of PFOA, PFOS, and PFOS-related products. ^{[14] [15]} In May 2009, PFOS was determined to be a persistent organic pollutant (POP) by the Stockholm Convention. ^[16] Following the EPA's investigation into 3M Contamination of Minnesota Groundwater, in 2018, 3M agreed to pay the state of Minnesota $850 million to settle a $5 billion lawsuit over drinking water contaminated by PFOA and other fluorosurfactants. ^{[17] [18] [19]}

See also

• Fluorocarbon
• Fluorosurfactant

References

1. U.S. patent 3,574,791
2. Seymour, Raymond B.; Kirshenbaum, Gerald S., eds. (1986). High Performance Polymers: Their Origin and Development. doi:10.1007/978-94-011-7073-4. ISBN   978-94-011-7075-8.
3. Audenaert, F.; Lens, H.; Rolly, D.; Vander Elst, P. (January 1, 1999). "Fluorochemical Textile Repellents—Synthesis and Applications: A 3M Perspective". The Journal of the Textile Institute. 90 (3): 76–94. doi:10.1080/00405009908659480. ISSN   0040-5000.
4. "NIHF Inductee Patsy Sherman Invented Scotchgard Fabric Cleaner". www.invent.org. February 15, 2025. Retrieved February 16, 2025.
5. "Scotchgard vs Scotchguarding". Stain Protection Services. December 17, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2023.
6. Fredriksson, Felicia; Kärrman, Anna; Eriksson, Ulrika; Yeung, Leo WY. (2022). "Analysis and characterization of novel fluorinated compounds used in surface treatments products". Chemosphere. 302: 134720. Bibcode:2022Chmsp.30234720F. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134720 . PMID   35487349.
7. Renner R (January 2006). "The long and the short of perfluorinated replacements". Environ. Sci. Technol. 40 (1): 12–3. Bibcode:2006EnST...40...12R. doi: 10.1021/es062612a . PMID   16433328.
8. Betts, Kellyn S. (2007). "Perfluoroalkyl Acids: What is the Evidence Telling Us?". Environmental Health Perspectives. 115 (5): A250 –A256. doi:10.1289/ehp.115-a250. PMC   1867999 . PMID   17520044.
9. "ScotchgardTM Fabric Protector Safety Data Sheet". 3M. March 2, 2018. Retrieved February 22, 2021.
10. Ullah, Aziz (October 2006). "The Fluorochemical Dilemma: What the PFOS/PFOA fuss is all about" (PDF). Cleaning & Restoration. ascr.org. Retrieved October 25, 2008.
11. Boulanger B; Vargo JD; Schnoor JL; Hornbuckle KC (August 2005). "Evaluation of perfluorooctane surfactants in a wastewater treatment system and in a commercial surface protection product". Environ. Sci. Technol. 39 (15): 5524–30. Bibcode:2005EnST...39.5524B. doi:10.1021/es050213u. PMID   16124283. Supporting Information (PDF).
12. Stephen K. Ritter (January 2006). "Crystal Ball On The Environment: Detective work and expertise are used to evaluate environmental contaminants of emerging concern". Chemical & Engineering News. 84 (5): 37–40. doi: 10.1021/cen-v084n049.p037 .
13. Lee, Jennifer 8. (April 15, 2003). "E.P.A. Orders Companies to Examine Effects of Chemicals". The New York Times. Retrieved May 15, 2009.
14. "PFOS-PFOA Information: What is 3M Doing?". 3M. Archived from the original on September 22, 2008. Retrieved October 25, 2008.
15. "3M Says It Will Stop Making Scotchgard". The New York Times. May 17, 2000. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
16. "Governments unite to step-up reduction on global DDT reliance and add nine new chemicals under international treaty" (Press release). Geneva: Stockholm Convention Secretariat. May 8, 2008.
17. Reisch, Marc S. (February 26, 2018). "3M to pay $850 million to settle fluorosurfactants lawsuit". Chemical & Engineering News. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
18. "3M must learn from its $850 million mistake". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 29, 2018.
19. Kary, Tiffany; Cannon, Christopher (November 2, 2018). "Cancer-linked Chemicals Manufactured by 3M Are Turning Up in Drinking Water". Bloomberg News. Retrieved January 31, 2019.