The locking cord uses PTFE (PFAS), which is banned in many counties, states, and businesses. Has Blue Robotics, or anyone else, identified a replacement material?
Hi @Matt_H, welcome to the forum 
I’m unaware of the situation here, but have passed on your concern+question to check if it’s on our radar.
In the meantime, I took a brief look online and struggled to find anything about PTFE bans. Do you happen to have any resources you can share with information around current bans and/or reasons not to use it?
Hi @EliotBR , thanks for welcoming me and the quick response.
My company has declared it will eliminate PFAS in any products. PTFE is classified as PFAS.
Minnesota law as one example:
Search “ptfe pfas bans restrictions laws”: Google Search
Gore-Tex has already moved away from this material.
Appreciate any help finding an alternative.
From the internal discussion so far, it seems this hasn’t been front of mind on the grounds of PTFE being very commonly used (especially for applications like bushings and sealing), and potentially considered inert and safe in solid form despite being classified as a PFAS.
Thanks - I’ve passed these on too
I’m told trimmer line may be a functional alternative, though it’s not something we’ve evaluated with any rigour (so it may not perform as well, especially over multiple cycles). I understand there are also limited requirements around specifying what material(s) it’s made out of, or maintaining particular dimensional tolerances, so your mileage may vary by manufacturer and potentially even by batch.
PTFE is very common, and will be challenging to replace given its great functional properties. Eliminating it in our products is a corporate directive we must follow. Perhaps this Buna-N cord stock would work? Hard Buna-N Cord Stock - 0.125" Cross Section x 5 ft. Long