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
Personal Risks
Collections Risks
Degrades with heat and light to produce hydrofluoric acid.
Environmental Risks
Physical and Chemical Properties
- Soluble in cyclohexanone, dimethyl formamide
- Affected by strong alkalis, ester and ketones.
- Insoluble in water, oils, alcohols, acids, bleaches, weak alkalis
- 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
Working Properties
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.