10 Oct 2025
NTT-AT has successfully developed a PFAS-FREE Super Hydrophobic Coating, HIREC
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NTT ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION (hereinafter: NTT-AT,
headquartered in Shinjuku, Tokyo, President: Tadashi ITO) has been offering
the long-selling superhydrophobic coating, HIREC® which has over 150
degrees of extraordinary initial contact angle and has great performance
stability for a long period of time. HIREC® is applicable to a wide range of
applications such as communication equipment, infrastructures, art, and
more to avoid accretion of rain, snow, and ice for safety or maintenance
purposes.
This time, NTT-AT has successfully completed the development of PFASFREE HIREC which does not contain any Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
(PFAS) while keeping the outstanding water repellency and other functions.
NTT-AT is going to start selling PFAS-FREE HIREC within this year.
1. Background of Development and Product Summary
PFAS has been widely used in various industries particularly because of their
chemical stability and their great hydrophobic nature. However, in recent
years, their long-term residue in the environment and human body has been a
concern and the restriction of PFAS has been discussed worldwide.
NTT-AT’s HIREC brings over 150 degrees of initial contact angle between
the painted surface and a water droplet. It has been widely used for various
purposes such as prevention of radio attenuation, snow falls, and accretion
of ice for antennas and radomes. In the meantime, HIREC does not contain
any PFOA*1, PFOS*2, and PFHxS*3 which are restricted by POPs Convention*4
2. Feature of newly developed HIREC
The newly developed HIREC is a non-fluorine super hydrophobic coating
which does not contain any PFAS while keeping the same level of
performance as our long-term selling HIREC series. The light permeability has
improved compared to the conventional HIREC (*increased from about 5% to
40%) which will expand the possible applications to paint HRIEC.
We are planning to start selling two types of products.
・Water-based paint: less restrictions on shipment and storage
・Solvent-based paint: fast drying and great durability
An aerosol type is under development as well.
3. Launch Date
We are planning to start selling both the water-based and the solvent-based
versions in November 2025.
4. Price
Please contact us via our website below for more information such as the
price, usage instructions, etc.
5. Future Development
NTT-AT will continue offering the conventional HIREC series with selfcleaning function which could minimize the deterioration of water repellency
due to dust in the air. At the same time, we will continue developments to
expand our product lineups to meet our customers’ demands and what
society requires.
6. Detailed information about the super hydrophobic coating, HIREC
series
https://keytech.ntt-at.com/environ/prd_4001.html
*1 Perfluorooctanoic acid （PFOA）, its salts and PFOA related compounds
*2 Perfluorooctanesulfonate （PFOS） and its salts
*3 Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) and its salts and PFHxS-related compounds
*4 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants about PＯPs (Persistent Organic
Pollutants）
■For further information, please contact:
NTT ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
[Product Inquiries]
Materials & Nanotechnology Business Division
HIREC Team
https://keytech.ntt-at.com/environ/prd_4001.html