3M Novec and Fluorinert Discontinuation: Syensqo Galden® PFPE as a Leading Alternative

The discontinuation of 3M™ Novec™ Engineered Fluids and 3M™ Fluorinert™ Electronic Liquids has changed sourcing strategies for semiconductor fabs, electronics manufacturers and industrial process plants. 3M announced that it would stop manufacturing fluoropolymers, fluorinated fluids and PFAS-based additive products by the end of 2025. The company now states that its PFAS manufacturing exit was completed at year-end 2025. This is therefore an active qualification and supply-continuity issue—not a future risk.

Many affected systems cannot simply change to water, glycol, hydrocarbon oil or a conventional solvent. They may require electrical insulation, nonflammability, chemical inertness, low surface tension, controlled boiling or stable performance across a wide temperature range.

Syensqo Galden® PFPE is a leading technical alternative for many former Novec and Fluorinert applications. However, Galden is a perfluoropolyether product family—not a universal drop-in replacement—so engineering validation and application-specific grade selection are essential.

Key Benefits of Galden PFPE

Broad Temperature and Boiling-Point Coverage

Galden PFPE grades have boiling points ranging approximately 55°C to 270°C, with typical operating capability about −70°C to 290°C depending on the grade and system design. This broad portfolio supports low-temperature testing, recirculating chillers, high-temperature process loops and vapor-phase applications.

Syensqo recommends evaluating pumpable viscosity at the lowest operating temperature and maintaining sufficient margin between the maximum operating temperature and the fluid’s boiling point. This helps control vapor pressure, cavitation and evaporative fluid loss.

Dielectric Performance for Sensitive Equipment

Syensqo reports typical dielectric strength of 40 kV across a 2.54 mm gap and volume resistivity of 1.5 × 10¹⁵ ohm·cm for Galden PFPE fluids. These properties are valuable in direct-contact electronic cooling, power-electronics thermal management and test equipment where conductive liquids could cause short circuits or measurement errors.

Nonflammability and Chemical Stability

Galden PFPE fluids have no flash, fire or auto-ignition point under standard test conditions. Their fully fluorinated PFPE structure also provides strong resistance to oxidation and reaction with many process chemicals. This can reduce fire-related concerns and fluid degradation in demanding equipment. Users must nevertheless follow the current safety data sheet, ventilation recommendations and maximum temperature limits.

Materials Compatibility and Low Corrosion Tendency

Syensqo lists compatibility with many common metals, engineering plastics and elastomers, including stainless steel, aluminum, copper, PTFE, polypropylene, EPDM and silicone rubber. Galden’s high electrical resistivity and low water solubility limit the ionic pathway needed for electrochemical corrosion.

Separate water contamination or severe overheating can still create corrosion risks. Moisture control, filtration, leak prevention and over-temperature protection therefore remain important parts of system design.

Application-Specific Product Families

Galden is not a single fluid. The portfolio includes:

• Galden HT for heat-transfer circuits

• Galden D for electronic reliability testing

• Galden LS/HS for vapor-phase soldering

• Galden SV for specialized cleaning and carrying fluorinated lubricants

This application-based portfolio increases the probability of identifying a technically suitable 3M Novec replacement or Fluorinert replacement. It also demonstrates why cross-referencing fluids by boiling point alone is insufficient.

Typical Industrial Applications

1. Semiconductor Chillers and Temperature-Control Units

Etchers, ion implanters, CVD tools and other wafer-processing equipment require precise temperature control near sensitive electronics and aggressive process environments. Galden HT grades can provide dielectric, chemically inert heat transfer across both low and elevated temperature ranges.

Qualification should cover viscosity, vapor pressure, pump performance, seal compatibility, pressure drop and heat-transfer capacity.

2. Electronic Thermal-Shock and Hermetic-Seal Testing

Electronic components, sensors and military-grade devices may be cycled between hot and cold baths or tested for gross leaks. Galden D electronic-testing fluids are designed for thermal-shock and hermetic-seal applications. The appropriate grade depends on test temperature, boiling point and the applicable test standard.

3. Data-Center and Power-Electronics Cooling

High heat flux and restricted installation space can make conventional air cooling inadequate. Dielectric Galden fluids may be considered for engineered direct-contact, immersion or recirculating cooling systems.

Designers must determine whether the system operates in single-phase or two-phase mode and then verify boiling point, condenser capacity, vapor containment, electrical performance and component compatibility. Syensqo identifies server cooling and electronic thermal-management systems among the applications for Galden PFPE.

4. Vapor-Phase Soldering

Vapor-phase soldering requires a tightly controlled vapor temperature to transfer heat uniformly without overheating circuit boards or components. Galden LS/HS grades are specifically designed for this process, using controlled molecular-weight distribution and boiling behavior.

A general heat-transfer grade should not be substituted vapor-phase soldering equipment without process approval and production trials.

5. Chemical and Pharmaceutical Process Loops

Reactors, freeze dryers and process vessels may require nonflammable heat transfer where glycol degradation, hydrocarbon flammability or chemical incompatibility is unacceptable. Galden HT can be evaluated for closed-loop systems where cleanliness, temperature stability and resistance to aggressive media are priorities.

6. Precision Cleaning and PFPE Lubricant Deposition

Former Novec cleaning duties varied considerably because the portfolio included multiple chemistries and solvent blends. Galden SV fluids can support specialized cleaning of hot components and act as carriers for PFPE lubricants applied as thin films.

Solvency, drying time, residue, substrate compatibility and worker-exposure controls must be tested with the actual contamination and production process. A family-level comparison cannot establish cleaning equivalence.

Galden PFPE Compared with Discontinued 3M Fluids

Fluorinert liquids were fully fluorinated perfluorocarbon fluids. Novec products included grade-dependent chemistries such as hydrofluoroethers and fluoroketones. Galden uses perfluoropolyether chemistry. These categories can provide useful dielectric and nonflammable performance, but their physical, thermal and environmental properties are not identical.

The replacement decision should compare viscosity-temperature curves, vapor pressure, thermal performance, pressure drop, dielectric properties, seal compatibility, pump capacity and fluid-recovery design—not merely the brand name or nominal boiling point.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Galden a direct replacement for every Novec or Fluorinert grade?

No. Galden can be a strong functional alternative, but the chemistries and transport properties differ. Critical systems require a documented technical review and, where appropriate, pilot testing.

How should a Galden grade be selected?

Begin with the minimum and maximum fluid temperatures. Confirm pumpable viscosity at the cold limit and adequate boiling-point margin at the hot limit. Then evaluate heat load, flow rate, pressure drop, dielectric requirements and wetted materials.

Can Galden be mixed with remaining 3M fluid?

Mixing should be avoided unless specifically validated. Residual fluid may change boiling behavior, vapor pressure, analytical purity and process repeatability. Controlled draining, cleaning and recommissioning provide a more reliable conversion method.

Does Galden automatically resolve PFAS compliance?

No automatic regulatory conclusion should be made. Galden is a fluorinated PFPE material, and legal definitions, permitted applications, emission controls and waste requirements vary by jurisdiction. Procurement and EHS teams should conduct a separate regulatory assessment.

Can Galden be used in open systems?

Some testing, soldering and cleaning processes use open or semi-open equipment. However, containment, condensation, recovery and ventilation strongly influence fluid consumption and workplace exposure. Closed-loop operation is preferable where technically practical.

What information is needed before conversion?

Collect the incumbent fluid grade, temperature range, system volume, heat load, flow rate, pump model, seal materials, pressure limits, purity requirement, failure history and fluid-loss rate. These data support defensible grade selection and measurable acceptance criteria.

Conclusion

The end of 3M Novec and Fluorinert manufacturing has created a real supply-continuity challenge for industries dependent on inert, dielectric and nonflammable fluids. Syensqo Galden PFPE is a leading alternative because it offers application-specific grades for heat transfer, electronic testing, vapor-phase soldering and specialized cleaning.

Successful migration still requires system-level engineering rather than simple one-for-one substitution. Fluid selection must account for the complete operating envelope, equipment materials, thermal performance, safety requirements and applicable regulations.

Hicotech Vietnam Co., Ltd. supports engineers, maintenance teams and procurement specialists with technical consultation, genuine Galden PFPE fluids and related high-performance industrial lubrication solutions. Contact Hicotech to review operating data, identify suitable candidate grades and develop a controlled qualification plan.
 

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