Polyvinyl fluoride

Description

A clear, tough, flexible thermoplastic resin formed from vinyl fluoride. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) [(CH2 – CF2)n] is a thermoplastic fluorinated polymer that was invented and patented by the DuPont Corporation in 1948. Developed as a coating, its first widespread commercial use was as a pigmented liquid coating called Kynar 500®. Today, PVDF is used as a coating for metals. It is often made into a copolymer with other fluorinated monomers in order to improve or modify its properties.

Synonyms and Related Terms

Polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF); poly(vinylene fluoride); poli(fluoruro de vinilo) (Esp.); fluorure de polyvinyl (Fr.); polivinil fluoruro (It.); fluoreto de polivinilo (Port.); poly(vinyl fluoride); polyvinylfluoride (PVF), poly(1,1-difluoroethane)

Examples: Tedlar® [DuPont]; Kynar 500 (Arkema); Hylar 5000 (Solvay Solexis) ; Solef (Solvay); Sygef

Applications

• Protective coatings, especially in stressful environments (high temperature, sun, acid, etc)
• Acid resistant filters
• Surgical sutures, medical devices
• Electrical braids

Collections Risks

Degrades with heat and light to produce hydrofluoric acid.

Physical and Chemical Properties

is resistant to water, oils, solvents, acids and alkalis. It is used in

• Soluble in cyclohexanone, dimethyl formamide
• Insoluble in water, oils, alcohols, acids, alkalis, bleaches.
• Inert in most aliphatic, aromatic and chlorinated compounds.
• Tenacity = 2.2-4.4 g/denier
• Elongation = 15-30%
• Moisture regain = 0.04%
• Melting Point = 170
• Density = 1.3-1.7
• Refractive Index = 1.42

Resources and Citations

• Contributions: Catherine Stephens: AIC Plastics Panel, 2020.

• Richard S. Lewis, Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Van Nostrand Reinhold, New York, 10th ed., 1993

• Pam Hatchfield, Pollutants in the Museum Environment, Archetype Press, London, 2002

• J.Gordon Cook, Handbook of Textile Fibres:II Man-made Fibres, Merrow Publishing Co. , Durham, England 1984, p.520.