Thermolon Pans: Safe Or Not?

Thermolon pans are marketed as a safe alternative to traditional non-stick pans, which are coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), also known as Teflon. PTFE contains perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a toxic chemical that can be harmful to human health and the environment.

Thermolon, on the other hand, is a ceramic coating that is PTFE-free and does not contain PFOA, as well as other harmful chemicals such as PFAS, lead, and cadmium. It is made from silicon dioxide, which is derived from sand, and is manufactured using a Sol-Gel process, resulting in a coating layer on the surface of the pan.

However, there have been concerns and lawsuits regarding the safety of Thermolon pans. One lawsuit claimed that the coating contained several known toxins, including silane, aluminum oxide, tetraethoxysilane, methyltrimethoxysilane, and potassium titanate, which can cause skin, eye, and respiratory irritation and are potentially carcinogenic.

While Thermolon pans are generally considered safe to use, there is a lack of transparency regarding the full list of ingredients in the coating, and some users have reported issues with the non-stick coating dissipating over time. It is always recommended to do your own research and consult multiple sources before making a purchase decision.

GreenPan's Thermolon coating is made by a Sol-Gel process that results in a coating layer on the surface of the pan

The Thermolon coating used in GreenPan cookware is made by a Sol-Gel process, which results in a coating layer on the surface of the pan. This layer is made up of Silicon Dioxide (SiO2), which is the same composition as glass or sand. There are also some additional materials, such as pigments, which give the coating its colour.

The Sol-Gel process involves a series of steps, including hydrolysis and polycondensation, gelation, aging, drying, densification, and crystallisation. The Thermolon coating is sprayed onto the walls of the pan, without the need for glue or additives, and then the pan is heated in an oven to harden the layer. This process emits 60% less CO2 than the production of traditional non-stick PTFE pans.

The Thermolon coating is heat-resistant up to high temperatures (up to 450°C) and is a good conductor of heat, meaning you can cook at a lower heat setting. It also allows you to use less oil or butter while still achieving good frying results, and it is easy to clean.

The coating layer mainly consists of silica (aka sand) but not only

The Thermolon coating is made by a Sol-Gel process that results in the formation of a coating layer on the surface of the pan. This layer mainly consists of silica (aka sand) but is not solely made of this. The coating layer also contains additional materials such as pigments that give the pan its colour.

The Sol-Gel process involves the transformation of a derivative of sand into a sprayable solution, which is then sprayed onto the walls of the pan. The pan is then put into the oven for the layer to harden. The Thermolon coating is heat resistant up to high temperatures (as high as 450°C) and is a great heat conductor, allowing you to cook at lower heat settings and save energy.

There may be additional materials, such as pigments

The Thermolon coating is made by a Sol-Gel process that results in forming a coating layer on the surface of the pan. This layer comprises mainly Silicon Dioxide (SiO2), which is the same composition as glass (or sand). There are some additional materials such as pigments that give the colour. All the materials in Thermolon are 100% safe for use in food contact coatings.

The Thermolon coating is made by a Sol-Gel process. This coating layer mainly consists of silica (aka sand) but not only. It may have additional materials, such as pigments. After being thermally cured, it acquires a durable inorganic polymer coating, whose composition is unknown.

The Thermolon coating is made by a Sol-Gel process. So what is Sol-Gel process, and what materials included in this process?

Sol-gel coating composition includes a colloidal suspension of hydrolyzed metal alkoxide particles in an organic solvent, is applied to bare metal such as aluminium and its alloys or to porcelain enameled metals or other substrates using a conventional wet application technique such as spraying. The sol-gel coating composition is then thermally cured at a temperature below about 500° C.

A series of new non-stick ceramic coating materials prepared from organic-inorganic hybrid materials, including silica sol, MTMS, FAS and PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane) using the sol-gel process.

Question For GreenPan: Are the se materials really healthy when heated and react with aluminium and other organic metals?

• Colloidal suspension of hydrolyzed metal alkoxide particles? What materials particles are in use?
• Organic solvent – What materials this solvent is actually consist of?
• What are those organic-inorganic hybrid materials like MTMS, FAS and PDMS (Polydimethylsiloxane)?
• Has GreenPan performed any tests to make sure titanium dioxide, and other sol-gel coating nano particles do not leach into food when heated above 500C? especially when react with acidic foods?
• As these materials applied to aluminium for better heat conduction, how it reacts with aluminium at high(above 500C)heats?

After being thermally cured, it acquires a durable inorganic polymer coating, whose composition is unknown

After the Thermolon coating is applied to the pan's surface, it is thermally cured in an oven at a low temperature. This process results in a durable inorganic polymer coating, whose composition is not disclosed by the manufacturer.

The curing process requires 60% less heating energy than conventional non-stick pans, leading to a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions. However, the specific composition of this coating remains a mystery, which raises concerns about the safety of the product. Without knowing the exact ingredients, it is challenging to determine if the Thermolon coating is truly non-toxic and safe for cooking.

The lack of transparency about the coating's composition has led to lawsuits and accusations of greenwashing against the company. While GreenPan claims that their products are free of toxins and safe for consumers, the absence of detailed information about the coating's composition makes it difficult to verify these claims independently.

In conclusion, while GreenPan's Thermolon coating may provide a durable and non-stick surface, the unknown composition of the final coating leaves consumers with uncertainties about its safety.

The Thermolon cooking surface can be further provided with a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coating

PTFE is best known for its use in coating non-stick frying pans and other cookware. PTFE-coated cookware is unlikely to reach dangerous temperatures with normal use, as meat is usually fried between 204 and 232 °C (399 and 450 °F), and most cooking oils (except refined safflower and avocado oils) start to smoke before a temperature of 260 °C (500 °F) is reached. PTFE cookware has not been manufactured using PFOA since 2013, and PFOA is no longer being made in the United States.

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