Elixir Nanoweb Acoustic Guitar Strings
Avoid until coating composition is disclosed; Elixir's proprietary nanoweb raises PFAS questions.
Elixir Nanoweb strings use trademarked polymer coating for durability and water resistance, but the brand doesn't disclose the coating's chemical composition or PFAS content. The waterproofing function is typical of products where PFAS were historically common.
The safe swap
D'Addario
D'Addario Electric Guitar Strings Nickel
85/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Polymer-coated steel strings with proprietary nanoweb coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent treatments have historically contained PFAS chemicals.
Category baseline
PFAS exposure happens more often with clothing products.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
Polymer coating composition (unknown)
The proprietary Nanoweb formulation is not publicly disclosed. Without transparency, potential leachables (plasticizers, residual monomers) cannot be ruled out. Risk is speculative but non-zero given lack of third-party testing or safety certification.
Microplastic shedding from degraded coating
As coatings age, they may flake or shed microscopic polymer particles. Inhalation or ingestion during frequent playing is unlikely to be high-dose, but chronic exposure over years is not quantified by any published study.
What’s reassuring
Steel core corrosion and metal leaching
Steel strings themselves are stable and used across all brands. The polymer coating actually protects the core from moisture, reducing corrosion risk compared to uncoated strings. No documented cases of lead or cadmium in guitar strings.
Coating-to-skin or oral contact irritation
No published adverse event reports or dermatological studies document contact dermatitis or oral irritation from Elixir Nanoweb strings. Individual sensitivity is possible but not documented in available medical literature.
VOC or off-gassing during manufacturing or storage
Acoustic guitar strings are not typically associated with volatile organic compound emissions during normal use or storage. Manufacturing emissions are not public information, but end-user exposure is negligible.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Elixir Nanoweb strings use a proprietary polymer coating applied over a steel core, designed to extend string life by reducing moisture and dirt ingress. The coating is the core innovation, but its exact chemical composition remains undisclosed by Elixir, limiting independent assessment of leachables or degradation byproducts. Steel cores themselves are stable; the concern centers on the polymer layer and what may migrate into sweat or saliva during playing.
The brand's record and disclosure
Elixir does not publicly disclose the specific polymer chemistry or manufacturing process of the Nanoweb coating. The company has never published safety data sheets, third-party testing results, or responses to PFAS concerns in the audio equipment space. This silence contrasts with transparency trends in consumer products; no safety certifications (e.g., FDA food-contact equivalent) have been published for the coating material itself.
How it compares in its category
Coated acoustic strings (Elixir's main market position) command a premium for durability. Uncoated alternatives (D'Addario, Martin, etc.) avoid coating chemistry entirely but wear faster and require more frequent replacement. Elixir's pricing and market dominance mean many players choose them without knowing coating composition, whereas competitors often use simpler wax or oil finishes with clearer ingredient profiles.
If you buy it
Wash hands after playing to reduce potential ingestion of coating particles or leachates through skin contact and mouth. Replace strings every 3-6 months depending on play frequency; degraded coatings may shed microparticles more readily. Store in a cool, dry environment to slow polymer degradation. If you have sensitive skin or oral sensitivity, consider uncoated alternatives or request coating ingredient disclosure from Elixir before purchase.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Elixir has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Guitar Strings
D'Addario
Electric Guitar Strings Nickel
Nickel-plated steel core with nickel-brass wound exterior
Nickel skin contact sensitivity
Limited concern
Coating degradation and core exposure
Moderate concern
Lower PFAS concern; traditional guitar strings use established metallic coatings, not Teflon-family coating.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
D'Addario
Acoustic Bronze Guitar Strings
Phosphor bronze wound over steel hex core
Manufacturing residue or contaminants (oils, lubricants, solder flux)
Limited concern
Nickel exposure from steel core (for nickel-sensitive individuals)
Limited concern
Lower PFAS concern; standard string material composition poses minimal exposure risk.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
D'Addario
Acoustic Guitar Strings XS 80/20 Bronze Coated
80/20 Bronze (copper-tin alloy) with phosphor-bronze coating
Coating degradation and particulate release
Limited concern
Allergic contact dermatitis (copper sensitivity)
Limited concern
Lower concern; acoustic guitar strings composed of well-established metals with no known PFAS use.
⚠Brand says nothing about PFAS
More guitar strings grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.