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[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 21, Volume 3]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 21CFR177.1550]

[Page 299-301]
 
                        TITLE 21--FOOD AND DRUGS
 
CHAPTER I--FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 
                          SERVICES (CONTINUED)
 
PART 177 INDIRECT FOOD ADDITIVES: POLYMERS--Table of Contents
 
Subpart B Substances for Use as Basic Components of Single and Repeated 
                        Use Food Contact Surfaces
 
Sec.  177.1550  Perfluorocarbon resins.

    Perfluorocarbon resins identified in this section may be safely used 
as articles or components of articles intended to contact food, subject 
to the provisions of this section:
    (a) Identity. For the purpose of this section, perfluorocarbon 
resins are those produced by: (1) The homopolymerization and/or 
copolymerization of hexafluoropropylene and tetrafluoroethylene, and (2) 
the copolymerization of perfluoropropylvinylether and 
tetrafluoroethylene (CAS Reg. No. 26655-00-5). The resins shall meet the 
extractives limitations in paragraph (d) of this section.
    (b) Optional components. The perfluorocarbon resins identified in 
paragraph (a) of this section as well as articles or coating made from 
these resins may include the following optional components except that 
the resin identified in paragraph (a)(2) of this section may not be used 
with the optional component, lithium polysilicate, mentioned in 
paragraph (b)(4) of this section.
    (1) Substances generally recognized as safe (GRAS) in food or food 
packaging subject to any limitations cited on their use.
    (2) Substances used in accordance with a prior sanction or approval, 
subject to any limitations cited in the prior sanction or approval.
    (3) Substances authorized under applicable regulations in this part 
and in parts 175 and 178 of this chapter and subject to any limitations 
prescribed therein.
    (4) The following substances, subject to any limitations prescribed:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            List of substances                       Limitations
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lithium polysilicate containing not more    For use only as a component
 than 20 weight percent silica, not more     of repeated-use coatings
 than 2.1 percent lithium oxide and having   not exceeding 0.030
 a maximum mole ratio of Si02/Li20 of 8.5    millimeter (0.0012 inch) in
 to 1.                                       thickness where the
                                             coatings are thermally
                                             cured at minimum sintering
                                             temperatures of 371 [deg]C
                                             (700 [deg]F). Lithium
                                             extractives shall not
                                             exceed 1.55 milligrams per
                                             square decimeter (0.1
                                             milligram per square inch)
                                             of coating surface when
                                             tested in accordance with
                                             paragraph (e)(2) of this
                                             section.
Naphthalene sulfonic acid formaldehyde      For use only:
 condensate, sodium salt.                   1. As a component of
                                             repeated-use coatings,
                                             based on the
                                             perfluorocarbon resin
                                             identified in paragraph
                                             (a)(1) of this section, not
                                             to exceed 0.030 millimeter
                                             (0.0012 inch) in thickness,
                                             and at a level not to
                                             exceed 0.4 weight percent
                                             of the coating.
                                            2. As a component of
                                             repeated-use coatings,
                                             based on the
                                             perfluorocarbon resin
                                             identified in paragraph
                                             (a)(2) of this section, not
                                             to exceed 0.10 millimeter
                                             (0.004 inch) in thickness,
                                             and at a level not to
                                             exceed 0.4 weight percent
                                             of the coating.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (c) Optional processing. Poly- tetrafluoroethylene resins may be 
irradiated by either a cobalt-60 sealed source, at a maximum dose of 
gamma radiation not to exceed 7.5 megarads, or an electron beam at 
energy levels not to exceed 2.5 million electron volts with a maximum 
dosage of 7.5 megarads, to produce lubricant powders having a particle 
diameter of not more than 20 microns for use only as components of 
articles intended for repeated use in contact with food.
    (d) Specifications--(1) Infrared identification. Perfluorocarbon 
resins can be identified by their characteristic infrared spectra.

[[Page 300]]

    (2) Melt-viscosity. (i) The per fluoro carbon resins identified in 
paragraph (a)(1) of this section shall have a melt viscosity of not less 
than 10\4\ poises at 380 [deg]C (716 [deg]F) as determined by ASTM 
method D1238-82, ``Standard Test Method for Flow Rates of Thermoplastics 
by Extrusion Plastometer,'' which is incorporated by reference. Copies 
may be obtained from the American Society for Testing Materials, 100 
Barr Harbor Dr., West Conshohocken, Philadelphia, PA 19428-2959, or may 
be examined at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). 
For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-
741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal--register/code--of--
federal--regulations/ibr--locations.html. The melt viscosity of the 
perfluorocarbon resins identified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section 
shall not vary more than 50 percent within one-half hour at 380 [deg]C 
(716 [deg]F).
    (ii) Perfluorocarbon resins identified in paragraph (a)(2) of this 
section shall have a melt viscosity of not less than 10\4\ poises at 372 
[deg]C (702 [deg]F) as determined by a more detailed method titled 
``Determination of Melt Viscosity, Molecular Weight Distribution Index 
and Viscosity Stability,'' which is incorporated by reference. Copies 
are available from the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition 
(HFS-200), Food and Drug Administration, 5100 Paint Branch Pkwy., 
College Park, MD 20740, or available for inspection at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: 
http://www.archives.gov/federal--register/code--of--federal--
regulations/ibr--locations.html.
    (3) Thermal instability index. The thermal instability index of the 
tetrafluoroethylene homopolymer shall not exceed 50 as determined by 
ASTM method D1457-56T, ``Test for Thermal Instablility index of 
Tetrafluoroethylene Homopolymer'' (Revised 1956), which is incorporated 
by reference. Copies are available from University Microfilms 
International, 300 N. Zeeb Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48106, or available for 
inspection at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). 
For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-
741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal--register/code--of--
federal--regulations/ibr--locations.html. The requirements of this 
paragraph do not apply to polytetrafluoroethylene resin lubricant 
powders described in paragraph (c) of this section.
    (e) Limitations. \1\ (1) Perfluorocarbon-molded articles having a 
surface area of 6.45 square decimeters (100 square inches) or more and 
at least 1.27 millimeters (0.05 inch) thick shall be extracted at reflux 
temperatures for 2 hours separately with distilled water, 50 percent 
ethanol, n-heptane, and ethyl acetate.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ A more detailed procedure of extraction conditions is entitled, 
``Preparation of Extracts,'' which is incorporated by reference. Copies 
are available from the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition 
(HFS-200), Food and Drug Administration, 5100 Paint Branch Pkwy., 
College Park, MD 20740, or available for inspection at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: 
http://www.archives.gov/federal--register/code--of--federal--
regulations/ibr--locations.html.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) Perfluorocarbon resins identified in paragraphs (a)(1) and (2) 
of this section and intended for use as coatings or components of 
coatings shall meet extractability limits prescribed in paragraph (e)(3) 
of this section when the resins in the form of coatings described in 
paragraphs (e)(2) (i) and (ii) of this section are extracted at reflux 
temperatures for 2 hours separately with distilled water, 8 percent 
ethanol, and n-heptane:
    (i) Perfluorocarbon resin coatings based on resins identified in 
paragraph (a)(1) of this section shall be applied to both sides of a 
0.025-millimeter (0.001 inch) thick aluminum foil to a thickness of 
0.025 millimeter (0.001 inch) after thermal curing at 399 [deg]C (750 
[deg]F) for 10 minutes. If a primer is used, the total thickness of the 
primer plus topcoat shall equal 0.025 millimeter (0.001 inch) after heat 
curing.
    (ii) Perfluorocarbon resin coatings based on resins identified in 
paragraph (a)(2) of this section shall be applied to both sides of a 
0.025-millimeter (0.001

[[Page 301]]

inch) thick aluminum foil to a thickness of 0.10 millimeter (0.004 inch) 
after thermal curing at 427 [deg]C (800 [deg]F) for 10 minutes. If a 
primer is used, the total thickness of the primer plus topcoat shall 
equal 0.10 millimeter (0.004 inch) after heat curing.
    (3) The extracted surfaces shall meet the following extractability 
limits:
    (i) Total extractives not to exceed 3.1 milligrams per square 
decimeter (0.2 milligram per square inch).
    (ii) Fluoride extractives calculated as fluorine not to exceed 0.46 
milligram per square decimeter (0.03 milligram per square inch).
    (f) Conditions of use. Perfluorocarbon resins identified in 
paragraph (a)(2) of this section are limited to use as coatings or 
components of coatings for articles intended for repeated food-contact 
use.

[43 FR 44834, Sept. 29, 1978, as amended at 47 FR 11843, Mar. 19, 1982; 
47 FR 14699, Apr. 6, 1982; 49 FR 10109, Mar. 19, 1984; 50 FR 1502, Jan. 
11, 1985; 54 FR 24898, June 12, 1989; 61 FR 14481, Apr. 2, 1996]




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