March 20, 2026
Server spa day is canceled
3M's PFAS exit killed the supply chain for two-phase immersion cooling in DCs
Goodbye server bath juice: half yell “mineral oil!” while others say “ban the toxic goo”
TLDR: 3M quit making PFAS, the special liquid for ‘server baths,’ wiping out two‑phase immersion cooling supplies. Commenters clash: some want a return to mineral oil, others cheer fewer mega–data centers and more local computing, while everyday PFAS fears (like raincoats) and link‑correction snark steal the show.
3M just pulled the plug on PFAS—the “magic juice” behind those futuristic server baths—and the internet is in full meltdown. Two‑phase immersion cooling relied on 3M’s specialty fluids (Novec, Fluorinert), and with orders ending in 2025, the taps went dry. The reason? A $12.5B settlement over PFAS contaminating drinking water. Tech folks immediately split into camps. One side is dusting off the old playbook: “So… do we just go back to mineral oil?” asks one commenter, reviving images of DIY fish‑tank servers. The other camp is cheering the collapse of big‑data‑center hype entirely, pushing for fewer mega‑facilities and more local computing to lighten the load on water, power, and wallets. Meanwhile, a third wave crashed in with real‑life anxiety: a user’s once‑waterproof raincoat “probably full of PFAS” and now leaky—yikes. Even the meta‑drama hit: someone roasted early upvoters for not noticing a broken link and posted the correct one to thecoolingreport.com. The vibe? Equal parts eco‑reckoning, supply‑chain panic, and meme‑fuel. With new rules pushing greener cooling and Germany demanding data centers heat neighborhoods, this PFAS exit isn’t just a product change—it’s a plot twist, and the comments are the main character.
Key Points
- •On Dec 20, 2022, 3M said it would end production of all PFAS by end-2025.
- •This decision eliminated the supply chain for two-phase immersion cooling fluids in data centers.
- •Key fluids discontinued include Novec 7100, Novec 649, and Fluorinert FC-72.
- •The last date for new Novec orders was March 31, 2025; manufacturing ceased by the end of 2025.
- •3M’s move followed 4,000+ lawsuits and a $12.5B settlement with 11,000+ U.S. public water systems over alleged PFAS contamination.