Powderful Solutions Blog

In food processing plants, lubricants used in machinery can come into incidental contact with food products. NSF HX1 certification defines which lubricant additives are safe for use in such environments — and which are not. As PFAS regulations tighten globally, food processors are increasingly looking beyond PTFE to find compliant, high-performance alternatives.

What Is NSF HX1 Certification?

NSF HX1 (formerly H1) certifies lubricants and additives acceptable for use in food processing environments where incidental food contact may occur. Requirements include: all ingredients must be from NSF-approved or GRAS (generally recognized as safe) substances; maximum allowable food contact concentration of 10 ppm; regular formulation audits and plant inspections. Desilube Inc specializes in NSF HX1 certified additive packages built on hBN solid lubricants — PTFE-free, PFAS-free, and fully compliant.

Why hBN Is the Leading Food-Grade Solid Lubricant

Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is the only solid lubricant that simultaneously meets all food-grade requirements: NSF HX1 certifiable, white color (no product stream contamination), PFAS-free, and thermally stable to 900°C. MoS2 and WS2 — while excellent for industrial applications — are dark-colored and not suitable for food contact environments.

PTFE Is Under Regulatory Pressure

PTFE has long been used in food-grade greases as a solid lubricant. But its fully fluorinated structure places it squarely within the PFAS definition under EU REACH and EPA classifications. As PFAS universal restrictions advance, food processors face supply chain compliance pressure to eliminate PTFE now — before regulatory deadlines force rushed reformulation. hBN offers equivalent or superior lubrication performance without any fluorinated content. Powderful Solutions supplies submicron hBN dispersions engineered for direct incorporation into NSF HX1 formulations.

Typical Food Processing Applications

• Conveyor chain lubrication (baking, meat processing, beverage filling)
• Gearboxes and reducers (ovens, mixers, filling machines)
• Bearings in high-temperature ovens and tunnel pasteurizers
• Compressor lubrication (air and refrigeration systems)
• Pumps handling food-contact fluids

Performance Comparison: hBN vs PTFE vs MoS2

Property	hBN	PTFE	MoS2
Max temp (air)	900°C	260°C	350°C
NSF HX1 eligible	✅	Some grades	❌
PFAS-free	✅	❌	✅
Color	White	White	Black
Friction coefficient	0.10–0.30	0.04–0.10	0.03–0.15

Request an hBN additive package sample with full NSF HX1 compliance documentation at desilubeinc.com. For industrial solid lubricant dispersions: powderfulsolutions.com.