SPECIALTY PLASTICS

Polyvinylfluoride
(PVF)

CORPORATE TRAINING AND PLANNING

 CH2-CHF
n
Polyvinylfluoride (PVF)

Polyvinylfluoride was commercialized by Du Pont in the

early sixties. The monomer is manufactured by adding
hydrogen fluoride to acetylene.

CORPORATE TRAINING AND PLANNING

 Structure and General Properties

The crystalline melting point is 198°C and the

molecular weight is 5x104 to 2x105.

Many properties of PVF resemble those of PVC (low

water absorption, resistance to hydrolysis, separation
of HF at elevated temperature).

The smaller F atoms result in a higher degree of

crystallinity.

The flame resistance is poorer than that of PVC; PVF

continues to burn slowly after ignition.
CORPORATE TRAINING AND PLANNING
 Availability

PVF is supplied only as film, weakly oriented

or biaxially stretched film is available.

Transition Temperatures

The glass transition temperature is - 20 °C,

the crystalline melting temperature 198 °C.

CORPORATE TRAINING AND PLANNING

 Optical Properties

PVF films are transparent to visible and UV

light.

In the infrared region radiation with

wavelengths between 7 and l2 mm is absorbed.

The refractive index n20D is 1.45. Three

optical axes must be differentiated for
oriented films.

CORPORATE TRAINING AND PLANNING

 Chemical Properties

Resistance to Chemicals

PVF is resistant to acids, alkaline solutions and

many solvents at room temperature.

It is unaffected by boiling in carbon

tetrachloride, benzene, acetone and methyl
ethyl ketone.

The resistance lies between that of PTFE and

PCTFE.
CORPORATE TRAINING AND PLANNING
 Flammability

PVF burns slowly, i.e. its fire performance is

somewhat poorer than that of PVC-U.

Toxicological Assessment

PVF is suitable for use with foodstuffs and

is physiologically inert.

CORPORATE TRAINING AND PLANNING

 Processing-1

• PVF is supplied only as film.

• It can be compression molded.

• Cast film is made by pouring a mixture of 25 to

40% PVF and 75 to 60% dimethyl sulfoxide on
to a platen and heating to 130 °C for a short
time.

• The paste-like mixture can also be extruded in

hot oil at 160°C.

• PVF films can be welded by heat impulse or high

frequency.
CORPORATE TRAINING AND PLANNING
 Processing-2

• Organosols (g-butyrolactone) can also be

extruded in a water bath.

• High transparency films are obtained by

briefly heating the film to 250 °C and
quenching rapidly.

• Biaxial stretching is carried out in warm

solvents (g-butyrolactone, dimethyl
acetamide).

• PVF films can be welded by heat impulse or

high frequency.

CORPORATE TRAINING AND PLANNING

 Typical Applications
The high weathering resistance of PVF makes
it suitable for outdoor use as roof covering,
cladding, pipe insulation, green houses, solar
collectors (transparent to UV).

Corrosion protection for metal panels, plywood

and insulating board, road signs, packaging
film, shrink tube.

CORPORATE TRAINING AND PLANNING

 Trade Names

Kel-F (3M Co., US)

KF Piezo Film (Kureha Chem. Ind., IP)
Tedlar (Du Pont de Nemours, US)

CORPORATE TRAINING AND PLANNING

 Further Reading

1. BRYDSON, J.A, Plastics Material, Butterworth

Heinemann, oxford, New Delhi (2005)

2. DOMININGHAUS.H, Plastics for Engineering,

Hanser publishers, Munich, New York (1998)

3. CHARLESS A . HARPER, Modern Plastics Hand

Book McGraw –Hill, New York (1999)

CORPORATE TRAINING AND PLANNING

 Table 1 Guide values of properties of Fluorine containing polymers
Properties Units PTFE FEP PCTFE PVF PVDF
Density g/cm3 2.15-2.20 2.12-2.17 2.10-2.12 1.38-1.57 1.7
Water absorption (23°C, 24h) % 0.04
Mechanical
Tensile strength N/mm2 25-36 22-28 32-40 49-127 46
Elongation at break % 350-550 250-330 128-175 115-250 100-400
Tensile modulus of elasticity N/mm2 408 350 1050-2110 1800 840
Notched impact strength Ft lb/in 3 No break 2.5-2.7 No break
Thermal
Melting Point °C 327 290 216 198 171
Service temperature short-term 300 250 180
in air
without mechanical long-term 250 205 150 150 100-120
loading
Glass transition temperature °C 127 45 -20 40

Heat deflection temperature °C 121 70 126

Coefficient of linear expansion between 0 and 100 80 60 20 85

K-1.10.-6
50°C
Specific heat capacity kJ/kg K 1.0 1.2 0.9
Thermal conductivity W/mK 0.25 0.25 0.22
 Table 1 Guide values of properties of Fluorine containing polymers
Properties Units PTFE FEP PCTFE PVF PVDF
Electrical
Volume resistivity Wcm >1018 >2.1018 >1.20.1018 3.1013 2.1014

Surface resistance W 1017 1017 1016

Dielectric constant <2.1 2.1 2.3-2.7 8.5 7.72

Dissipation factor, tan d (103Hz) 0.0002 0.0002 0.023-0.027 0.015 0.018

Dielectric strength kV/mm 600-800 800 450-550

Tracking resistance class C 600 600 600
Flammability (ASTM D65) Non flammable Non flammable Non flammable Non flammable Non flammable

Clarity opaque Transparent -