Polyvinylidene fluoride PVDF (Kynar)
C2H2F2 (smallest repeat unit as listed by NASA)
Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF, sold as Kynar by Arkema and as KF Polymer by Kureha) is a semicrystalline fluoropolymer.
Evidence level
5 of 5
Flown or field-proven
- 0Predicted only. No one has made it, or no measurement exists.
- 1Calculated. Only calculated or predicted values from sources.
- 2Lab-measured. Measured properties with their conditions stated.
- 3Space-relevant tests. Measured in conditions relevant to space, such as vacuum or atomic oxygen.
- 4Ground-qualified. Qualified for an application on the ground.
- 5Flown or field-proven. Flight or field results exist.
Stiff enough for moulded parts
1655 MPa flexural modulus
Hold a melt window
169 °C melting temperature
Survive in orbit
1.29e-24 cm3/atom
Recipe, share of the weight
- C not statedCarbon
- H not statedHydrogen
- F not statedFluorine
Best for
Chemically resistant moulded parts and lithium-ion electrode binder: a 1.78 specific gravity and a 169 to 171 °C melting range in the Kynar 1000 Series
Weakest at
Stiffness and heat under load: a tensile yield strength of 45 to 55 MPa and a heat deflection temperature of 125 to 140 °C at 0.45 MPa
Risk at a glance
- People Low. No classification read
- If it fails Moderate. Atomic oxygen erosion in low Earth orbit
- Corrosion Moderate. Kynar dissolves in a short list of active solvents at ambient temperature.
Quick facts: PVDF (Kynar)
| Property | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 1.76 to 1.78 dimensionless | 2 sourced values across conditions |
| Melting point | 169 to 171 °C | 1 sourced value |
What is the density of Polyvinylidene fluoride?
Polyvinylidene fluoride has a density of 1.76 to 1.78 dimensionless. The range covers 2 sourced values across the tempers, forms and test conditions the sources report; room-temperature values are used where a source states a temperature.
What is the melting point of Polyvinylidene fluoride?
Polyvinylidene fluoride has a melting point of 169 to 171 °C. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is Polyvinylidene fluoride used for?
Uses recorded in the sources include Binder in lithium-ion electrodes; Polymer sample on a space flight experiment; Insulated wire and heat-shrink tubing.
Why it exists
PVDF is a semicrystalline fluoropolymer. The Arkema 1000 Series is printed with a specific gravity of 1.76 to 1.78 and a melting range of 169 to 171 °C. Kureha sells PVDF as a lithium-ion electrode binder in grades with inherent viscosities from 1.1 to 2.5 dl/g. The MISSE 2 flight sample has an erosion yield of 1.29e-24 cm3/atom.
Where it's used
Lithium-ion electrode binder
Kureha says KF Polymer was selected as the binder when lithium-ion batteries were first commercialised in 1991, and that it has been the longest-used binder in the world.
Insulated wire and heat-shrink tubing
Arkema says radiation cross-linked Kynar makes heat-shrinkable tubing and insulated wire rated for continuous temperatures up to 180 °C.
Recipe
C2H2F2 (smallest repeat unit as listed by NASA)
PVDF is a linear chain of repeat units -(CH2-CF2)-, each built from one vinylidene fluoride monomer, C2H2F2 (PubChem CID 6369, molecular weight 64.03). Polymerisation conditions and catalyst were not read from a permitted source in this run.
| Ingredient | Share of the weight | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon C | not stated | Backbone of each repeat unit, CH2 and CF2 carbons. |
| Hydrogen H | not stated | Two hydrogens on the CH2 group of each repeat unit. |
| Fluorine F | not stated | Two fluorines on the CF2 group of each repeat unit. |
Weight shares are as printed in the sources.
What it can do
Stiff enough for moulded parts
1655 MPa flexural modulus
measured
The Kynar 1000 Series has a flexural modulus of 1655 to 2310 MPa and a tensile yield strength of 45 to 55 MPa, as printed on the Arkema page.
Hold a melt window
169 °C melting temperature
measured
The Kynar 1000 Series melts at 169 to 171 °C by ASTM D3418, as printed on the Arkema page.
Survive in orbit
1.29e-24 cm3/atom
measured
NASA lists a MISSE 2 erosion yield for PVDF of 1.29e-24 cm3/atom.
How it compares
The values here are for different products and test sources, so read the table rows as examples, not a ranking. The Arkema values are for the 1000 Series and the Kureha values are for binder grades.
The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details. Other materials are shown beside it; each was measured under its own conditions, so open its page before comparing closely. Compare every grade in the family.
| Measurement | PVDF (Kynar) | AF | PCTFE (CTFE, Kel-F) | ECTFE (Halar) | ETFE | FEP | PFA | PTFE | PVF | PVF (white Tedlar) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal behavior and safety | ||||||||||
| Deflection temperature at 0.45 MPa, Kynar 1000 SeriesASTM D648, as printed on the manufacturer page | 125 °C | 156 °C | no data | 115 °C | no data | no data | 91 °C | no data | no data | no data |
| Melting temperature, Kynar 1000 SeriesASTM D3418, as printed on the manufacturer page | 169 °C | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Physical and electrical | ||||||||||
| Hardness, Kynar 1000 SeriesASTM D2240, as printed on the manufacturer page | 77 Shore D | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Temperature behavior | ||||||||||
| Glass transition temperature (DMA), Kynar 1000 SeriesDMA at 1 Hz, as printed on the manufacturer page | -40 °C | 160 °C | 45 °C | no data | no data | no data | no data | 170 K | no data | -20 °C |
| Other measurements | ||||||||||
| Specific gravity, Kynar 1000 Series (homopolymer)ASTM D792, as printed on the manufacturer page | 1.76 dimensionless | 1.78 none | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Flexural modulus, Kynar 1000 SeriesASTM D790, printed as psi with MPa in brackets | 1655 MPa | 1.8 GPa | no data | no data | no data | 520 MPa | 0.54 GPa | no data | no data | no data |
| Tensile yield strength, Kynar 1000 SeriesASTM D638, printed as psi with MPa in brackets | 45 MPa | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Tensile modulus, Kynar 1000 SeriesASTM D638, printed as psi with MPa in brackets | 1379 MPa | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Tensile elongation at break, Kynar 1000 SeriesASTM D638, as printed on the manufacturer page | 20 % | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Notched Izod impact strength, Kynar 1000 SeriesASTM D256, as printed on the manufacturer page | 1.8 ft-lbf/in1 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Specific gravity, PVDF (distributor page)ISO 1183, as printed on the distributor page | 1.78 dimensionless | 1.78 none | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Tensile strength at break, PVDF (distributor page)ASTM D638, printed as psi with MPa in brackets | 35 MPa | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Inherent viscosity, KF Polymer W#1100 (homopolymer) | 1.1 dl/g2 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Inherent viscosity, KF Polymer W#9700 | 2.5 dl/g3 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Atomic oxygen erosion yield, PVDF (MISSE 2) | 1.29×10^-24 cm³/atom4 | 1.98×10^-25 cm³/atom | 8.31×10^-25 cm³/atom | 1.79×10^-24 cm³/atom | 9.61×10^-25 cm³/atom | 2×10^-25 cm³/atom | 1.73×10^-25 cm³/atom | 1.42×10^-25 cm³/atom | 3.19×10^-24 cm³/atom | 1.01×10^-25 cm³/atom |
Why choose it, and why not
Good for
- Moulded parts that need chemical resistance: a specific gravity of 1.76 to 1.78 in the Kynar 1000 Series.
- Lithium-ion electrode binder: Kureha grades from 1.1 to 2.5 dl/g inherent viscosity.
- Known atomic oxygen behaviour: 1.29e-24 cm3/atom on MISSE 2, measured in low Earth orbit.
Watch out for
- Heat under load: the heat deflection temperature is 125 to 140 °C at 0.45 MPa, well below the melting range of 169 to 171 °C.
- Stiffness: a tensile yield strength of 45 to 55 MPa is low for a structural metal replacement.
- Atomic oxygen erodes PVDF at 1.29e-24 cm3/atom, so exterior use needs protection or a rate allowance.
- No outgassing or UV result for PVDF in space was found beyond the erosion yield, and no polymer safety data sheet was read.
PVDF is a fluoropolymer with a specific gravity of 1.76 to 1.78 and a melting range of 169 to 171 °C in the Kynar 1000 Series, a binder role in lithium-ion electrodes, and a MISSE 2 erosion yield of 1.29e-24 cm3/atom in low Earth orbit. Arkema reports essentially unchanged tensile strength after 100 Mrad of gamma radiation and resistance to most acids and weak bases. Its heat deflection of 125 to 140 °C at 0.45 MPa limits use under load, and no polymer safety data sheet, UV or outgassing value was found.
Technical details
For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.
Notes
The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.
| # | Measurement | Method | Conditions | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Notched Izod impact strength, Kynar 1000 Series | — | series Kynar 1000 Seriestemperature 23 °Cnotch notched | — |
| 2 | Inherent viscosity, KF Polymer W#1100 (homopolymer) | Grade table as printed by the manufacturer; no test standard printed | grade W#1100polymer type homopolymer | — |
| 3 | Inherent viscosity, KF Polymer W#9700 | Grade table as printed by the manufacturer; no test standard printed | grade W#9700 | — |
| 4 | Atomic oxygen erosion yield, PVDF (MISSE 2) | Measured on MISSE 2 flight samples, listed in NASA TM-2008-215490 | platform ISS, MISSE 2 PEC 2 tray 1, low Earth orbitexposure 3.95 years, 8.43e21 atoms/cm2 fluence | — |
Corrosion and compatibility
What happens when it meets other materials and environments.
| Environment | Concern | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Gamma radiation, 100 Mrad, cobalt-60 source at 50 °C in high vacuum | low | Tensile strength is essentially unchanged after 100 Mrad of gamma radiation.1 |
| Electron-beam dose up to 20 Mrad | low | Tensile modulus of Kynar 460 stays between 170 and 200 psi from 0 to 20 Mrad.2 |
| Most acids, weak bases, halogens, oxidants and salts at ambient temperature | low | Arkema rates Kynar PVDF as resistant to most of these, using long-term immersion ratings for worst-case conditions.3 |
| Active solvents, including DMF, DMAc, NMP and DMSO, at ambient temperature | moderate | Kynar dissolves in a short list of active solvents at ambient temperature.4 |
| Basic solutions | low | Arkema says Kynar is not soluble in basic solutions. No alkali-attack result was read.5 |
| # | Environment | Details | Test conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gamma radiation, 100 Mrad, cobalt-60 source at 50 °C in high vacuum | Impact strength and elongation are slightly reduced by cross-linking. Arkema calls resistance to nuclear radiation excellent and says Kynar components have been used in nuclear reclamation plants. | dose 100 Mrad gammatemperature 50 °Catmosphere high vacuum, 10-6 torrgrade Kynar resins in general, grade not named |
| 2 | Electron-beam dose up to 20 Mrad | Kynar 460 tensile modulus reads 170 psi unirradiated and 190 psi at 20 Mrad. Ultimate tensile strength rises from 6200 psi unirradiated to 7200 psi at 20 Mrad. Arkema reports minimal changes across the grades in its tables. | method ASTM D882, as printeddoses 0, 2, 4, 8 and 20 Mradgrade Kynar 460 in the table read |
| 3 | Most acids, weak bases, halogens, oxidants and salts at ambient temperature | Arkema says Kynar homopolymers are generally resistant to chemicals in these classes at ambient temperature. The per-chemical ratings sit in its chemical resistance chart, which was not read here. | basis Arkema general statement; per-chemical ratings not readtemperature ambient |
| 4 | Active solvents, including DMF, DMAc, NMP and DMSO, at ambient temperature | Arkema lists active solvents that dissolve at least 5 to 10 weight percent Kynar, including tetrahydrofuran, methyl ethyl ketone, dimethyl formamide, dimethyl acetamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and dimethyl sulfoxide. Its latent solvents, such as acetone and cyclohexanone, do not dissolve or substantially swell the homopolymer at room temperature. | temperature ambientconcentration at least 5 to 10 wt% for active solvents |
| 5 | Basic solutions | Arkema lists basic solutions among the classes in which Kynar resins are not soluble. Dehydrofluorination by a strong base was not found on the pages read. | basis Arkema general statement; no test conditions printed |
Risks and side effects
Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.
For people
The polymer has no classification in the sources read; the monomer does, from PubChem.
- Classification
- No PVDF polymer safety data sheet was read. PubChem's classification covers the monomer vinylidene fluoride, not the polymer.
If it fails
The failure route in these sources is erosion in orbit, measured on one flight sample.
- Atomic oxygen
- On MISSE 2 the erosion yield was 1.29e-24 cm3/atom, as listed in NASA TM-2008-215490.
Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.
Failure risks
| Failure | Trigger and consequence |
|---|---|
| Atomic oxygen erosion in low Earth orbitmoderate severity | Exposure of a PVDF part to atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit, as on the MISSE 2 flightSurface erosion at a yield of 1.29e-24 cm3/atom as measured on MISSE 2 |
Handling and storage
- The monomer vinylidene fluoride is an extremely flammable, pressurised gas (PubChem H220 and H280). This applies to the feedstock, not the polymer powder.
- Burning: a limiting oxygen index of 43 means the polymer burns only in air enriched above 43 percent oxygen, per Arkema.
Supply and geography
How common the raw materials are and where they come from.
Fluorine feedstock
Mine production by country
US import reliance
Reserves
Alternative fluorine source
Producers
Producers
Documents
Datasheets, safety data sheets, papers and standards you can open.
Full record
The complete spore, as stored. Free to reuse under CC-BY-4.0. Images keep the licence shown with each one.
Show the full YAML
spore: profile
id: pvdf-kynar
spore_version: 0.2
family: fluoropolymers
name: Polyvinylidene fluoride
abbreviation: PVDF (Kynar)
role: fluoropolymer for moulded parts, films and lithium-ion electrode binder
category: polymers
type: fluoropolymers
summary: |
Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF, sold as Kynar by Arkema and as KF Polymer by Kureha) is a semicrystalline fluoropolymer. The Arkema Kynar 1000 Series homopolymer is printed with a specific gravity of 1.76 to 1.78, a melting range of 169 to 171 °C and a tensile yield strength of 45 to 55 MPa. Kureha sells PVDF as a lithium-ion electrode binder, with inherent viscosities from 1.1 to 2.5 dl/g in the grades read. As a sample on the MISSE 2 experiment in low Earth orbit it had an atomic oxygen erosion yield of 1.29e-24 cm3/atom.
best_for: 'Chemically resistant moulded parts and lithium-ion electrode binder: a 1.78 specific gravity and a 169 to 171 °C melting range in the Kynar 1000 Series'
weakest_at: 'Stiffness and heat under load: a tensile yield strength of 45 to 55 MPa and a heat deflection temperature of 125 to 140 °C at 0.45 MPa'
identity:
formula: C2H2F2 (smallest repeat unit as listed by NASA)
source: nasa-tm-2008-215490
where: Table IV, column Formula
tags:
environments:
- low-earth-orbit
stresses:
- atomic-oxygen
- uv
- total-radiation-dose
- thermal-cycling
- vacuum-and-outgassing
applications:
- batteries
- electronics-and-chips
properties:
- benchmark: specific_gravity
label: Specific gravity, Kynar 1000 Series (homopolymer)
value: 1.76
value_high: 1.78
unit: dimensionless
scope: material
conditions:
series: Kynar 1000 Series
temperature: 23 °C
method: ASTM D792, as printed on the manufacturer page
status: ground
source: arkema-kynar-physical
where: Physical properties table, Specific Gravity row (D792 / 23 °C), 1000 Series column
- benchmark: flexural_modulus
label: Flexural modulus, Kynar 1000 Series
value: 1655
value_high: 2310
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
series: Kynar 1000 Series
temperature: 23 °C
method: ASTM D790, printed as psi with MPa in brackets
status: ground
source: arkema-kynar-physical
where: Mechanical properties table (23 °C), Flexural Modulus row, 1000 Series column (240,000 to 335,000 psi)
- benchmark: tensile_yield_strength
label: Tensile yield strength, Kynar 1000 Series
value: 45
value_high: 55
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
series: Kynar 1000 Series
temperature: 23 °C
method: ASTM D638, printed as psi with MPa in brackets
status: ground
source: arkema-kynar-physical
where: Mechanical properties table (23 °C), Tensile Yield Strength row, 1000 Series column (6,500 to 8,000 psi)
- benchmark: tensile_modulus
label: Tensile modulus, Kynar 1000 Series
value: 1379
value_high: 2310
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
series: Kynar 1000 Series
temperature: 23 °C
method: ASTM D638, printed as psi with MPa in brackets
status: ground
source: arkema-kynar-physical
where: Mechanical properties table (23 °C), Tensile Modulus row, 1000 Series column (200,000 to 335,000 psi)
- benchmark: tensile_elongation_at_break
label: Tensile elongation at break, Kynar 1000 Series
value: 20
value_high: 100
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
series: Kynar 1000 Series
temperature: 23 °C
method: ASTM D638, as printed on the manufacturer page
status: ground
source: arkema-kynar-physical
where: Mechanical properties table (23 °C), Tensile Break Elongation row, 1000 Series column
- benchmark: hardness_shore_d
label: Hardness, Kynar 1000 Series
value: 77
value_high: 82
unit: Shore D
scope: material
conditions:
series: Kynar 1000 Series
temperature: 23 °C
method: ASTM D2240, as printed on the manufacturer page
status: ground
source: arkema-kynar-physical
where: Mechanical properties table (23 °C), Hardness row, 1000 Series column
- benchmark: izod_impact
label: Notched Izod impact strength, Kynar 1000 Series
value: 1.8
value_high: 4
unit: ft-lbf/in
scope: material
conditions:
series: Kynar 1000 Series
temperature: 23 °C
notch: notched
method: ASTM D256, as printed on the manufacturer page
status: ground
source: arkema-kynar-physical
where: Mechanical properties table (23 °C), Impact Strength Notched Izod row, 1000 Series column
- benchmark: heat_deflection_temperature
label: Deflection temperature at 0.45 MPa, Kynar 1000 Series
value: 125
value_high: 140
unit: °C
scope: material
conditions:
series: Kynar 1000 Series
load: 0.45 MPa (66 psi)
method: ASTM D648, as printed on the manufacturer page
status: ground
source: arkema-kynar-physical
where: Mechanical properties table, Deflection Temperature at 66 psi (0.45 MPa) row, 1000 Series column
- benchmark: melting_temperature
label: Melting temperature, Kynar 1000 Series
value: 169
value_high: 171
unit: °C
scope: material
conditions:
series: Kynar 1000 Series
method: ASTM D3418, as printed on the manufacturer page
status: ground
source: arkema-kynar-physical
where: Thermal properties table, Melting Temperature row, 1000 Series column
- benchmark: glass_transition_temperature
label: Glass transition temperature (DMA), Kynar 1000 Series
value: -40
value_high: -38
unit: °C
scope: material
conditions:
series: Kynar 1000 Series
frequency: 1 Hz
method: DMA at 1 Hz, as printed on the manufacturer page
status: ground
source: arkema-kynar-physical
where: Thermal properties table, Tg (DMA) row, 1000 Series column
- benchmark: specific_gravity
label: Specific gravity, PVDF (distributor page)
value: 1.78
unit: dimensionless
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: not listed on the page
method: ISO 1183, as printed on the distributor page
status: ground
source: fluorotherm-pvdf
where: PVDF properties table, Specific gravity row
- benchmark: tensile_break_strength
label: Tensile strength at break, PVDF (distributor page)
value: 35
value_high: 50
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
temperature: 73 °F (23 °C)
method: ASTM D638, printed as psi with MPa in brackets
status: ground
source: fluorotherm-pvdf
where: PVDF properties table, Tensile strength at break row (5075 to 7250 psi)
- benchmark: inherent_viscosity
label: Inherent viscosity, KF Polymer W#1100 (homopolymer)
value: 1.1
unit: dl/g
scope: material
conditions:
grade: W#1100
polymer_type: homopolymer
method: Grade table as printed by the manufacturer; no test standard printed
status: ground
source: kureha-battery-binder
where: Grade table, W#1100 row, Inherent viscosity column
- benchmark: inherent_viscosity
label: Inherent viscosity, KF Polymer W#9700
value: 2.5
unit: dl/g
scope: material
conditions:
grade: W#9700
method: Grade table as printed by the manufacturer; no test standard printed
status: ground
source: kureha-battery-binder
where: Grade table, W#9700 row, Inherent viscosity column
- benchmark: atomic_oxygen_erosion_yield
label: Atomic oxygen erosion yield, PVDF (MISSE 2)
value: 1.29e-24
unit: cm3/atom
scope: material
conditions:
platform: ISS, MISSE 2 PEC 2 tray 1, low Earth orbit
exposure: 3.95 years, 8.43e21 atoms/cm2 fluence
method: Measured on MISSE 2 flight samples, listed in NASA TM-2008-215490
status: flight
source: nasa-tm-2008-215490
where: Table I, MISSE 2 PEACE polymers erosion yield data, row PVDF (Kynar); exposure from section 2.1
corrosion:
- environment: Gamma radiation, 100 Mrad, cobalt-60 source at 50 °C in high vacuum
headline: Tensile strength is essentially unchanged after 100 Mrad of gamma radiation.
effect: Impact strength and elongation are slightly reduced by cross-linking. Arkema calls resistance to nuclear radiation excellent and says Kynar components have been used in nuclear reclamation plants.
rating: low
conditions:
dose: 100 Mrad gamma
temperature: 50 °C
atmosphere: high vacuum, 10-6 torr
grade: Kynar resins in general, grade not named
source: arkema-kynar-design
where: Design Properties, Resistance to Nuclear Radiation paragraph
- environment: Electron-beam dose up to 20 Mrad
headline: Tensile modulus of Kynar 460 stays between 170 and 200 psi from 0 to 20 Mrad.
effect: Kynar 460 tensile modulus reads 170 psi unirradiated and 190 psi at 20 Mrad. Ultimate tensile strength rises from 6200 psi unirradiated to 7200 psi at 20 Mrad. Arkema reports minimal changes across the grades in its tables.
rating: low
conditions:
method: ASTM D882, as printed
doses: 0, 2, 4, 8 and 20 Mrad
grade: Kynar 460 in the table read
source: arkema-kynar-design
where: Design Properties, Tables 3 and 4
- environment: Most acids, weak bases, halogens, oxidants and salts at ambient temperature
headline: Arkema rates Kynar PVDF as resistant to most of these, using long-term immersion ratings for worst-case conditions.
effect: Arkema says Kynar homopolymers are generally resistant to chemicals in these classes at ambient temperature. The per-chemical ratings sit in its chemical resistance chart, which was not read here.
rating: low
conditions:
basis: Arkema general statement; per-chemical ratings not read
temperature: ambient
source: arkema-kynar-chemical
where: Chemical Resistance page, introduction
- environment: Active solvents, including DMF, DMAc, NMP and DMSO, at ambient temperature
headline: Kynar dissolves in a short list of active solvents at ambient temperature.
effect: Arkema lists active solvents that dissolve at least 5 to 10 weight percent Kynar, including tetrahydrofuran, methyl ethyl ketone, dimethyl formamide, dimethyl acetamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and dimethyl sulfoxide. Its latent solvents, such as acetone and cyclohexanone, do not dissolve or substantially swell the homopolymer at room temperature.
rating: moderate
conditions:
temperature: ambient
concentration: at least 5 to 10 wt% for active solvents
source: arkema-kynar-design
where: Design Properties, Solubility, Tables 1 and 2
- environment: Basic solutions
headline: Arkema says Kynar is not soluble in basic solutions. No alkali-attack result was read.
effect: Arkema lists basic solutions among the classes in which Kynar resins are not soluble. Dehydrofluorination by a strong base was not found on the pages read.
rating: low
conditions:
basis: Arkema general statement; no test conditions printed
source: arkema-kynar-design
where: Design Properties, Solubility paragraph
risks:
hazards:
- text: 'Monomer, not polymer: PubChem records vinylidene fluoride (CID 6369, C2H2F2, molecular weight 64.03) with signal word Danger. GHS statements: H220 extremely flammable gas (96.1 percent of reports), H230 may react explosively even in the absence of air (28.7 percent), H280 contains gas under pressure (96.7 percent), H340 may cause genetic defects (11 percent), H350 may cause cancer (11 percent). PubChem notes that 3.3 percent of reports (12 of 362) meet no GHS criteria.'
ghs: []
source: pubchem-vdf
where: GHS Classification, CID 6369
- text: 'Polymer fire: Kynar homopolymer has a limiting oxygen index of 43 by ASTM D2863 and a UL 94 V-0 burn rating. Arkema says Kynar grades meet NFPA 262 and that some pass NFPA 255.'
ghs: []
source: arkema-kynar-burning
where: Burning Studies page, flammability paragraphs
failure_risks:
- mode: Atomic oxygen erosion in low Earth orbit
trigger: Exposure of a PVDF part to atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit, as on the MISSE 2 flight
consequence: Surface erosion at a yield of 1.29e-24 cm3/atom as measured on MISSE 2
severity: moderate
source: nasa-tm-2008-215490
where: Table I and the MISSE 2 flight passport exposure data
side_effects: []
handling:
- text: The monomer vinylidene fluoride is an extremely flammable, pressurised gas (PubChem H220 and H280). This applies to the feedstock, not the polymer powder.
source: pubchem-vdf
where: GHS Classification, CID 6369
- text: 'Burning: a limiting oxygen index of 43 means the polymer burns only in air enriched above 43 percent oxygen, per Arkema.'
source: arkema-kynar-burning
where: Burning Studies page
mitigations: []
uses:
- application: batteries
device: Binder in lithium-ion electrodes
example: KF Polymer, Kureha PVDF binder for lithium-ion electrodes, described for strong adhesion, chemical resistance and electrochemical stability, and for high active-material loading at reduced binder content.
source: kureha-battery-binder
where: Battery material page, main text
- application: electronics-and-chips
device: Polymer sample on a space flight experiment
example: PVDF (Kynar) on the MISSE 2 PEC 2 tray, flown on the ISS in low Earth orbit, with erosion yield listed in NASA TM-2008-215490.
source: nasa-tm-2008-215490
where: Table I
- application: electronics-and-chips
device: Insulated wire and heat-shrink tubing
example: Radiation cross-linked Kynar PVDF makes heat-shrinkable tubing and insulated wire rated for continuous temperatures up to 180 °C (356 °F), per Arkema.
source: arkema-kynar-design
where: Design Properties, Radiation Cross-linking paragraph
supply:
- subject: Fluorine feedstock
headline: Fluorspar becomes hydrogen fluoride, and hydrogen fluoride is the feedstock for fluoropolymers.
detail: USGS says aqueous HF is the primary feedstock for virtually all fluorine-bearing chemicals, particularly refrigerants and fluoropolymers, and that HF production is the leading use of acid-grade fluorspar.
source: usgs-fluorspar
where: Domestic Production and Use, first paragraphs
- subject: Mine production by country
headline: China produced 6,000 kt of a 10,000 kt world total in 2025, about 60 percent.
detail: 'Mine production in 2025, thousand metric tons: China 6,000; Mexico 1,500; Mongolia 1,500; South Africa 410; Vietnam 160; Spain 140. The 60 percent share is computed from the printed table.'
source: usgs-fluorspar
where: World Mine Production and Reserves table, 2025 column
- subject: US import reliance
headline: The United States was 100 percent net import reliant for fluorspar in 2025.
detail: 'Import sources 2021 to 2024: Mexico 64 percent, Vietnam 12 percent, China 10 percent, South Africa 9 percent, other 5 percent.'
source: usgs-fluorspar
where: Domestic Production and Use; Import Sources line
- subject: Reserves
headline: China holds 110,000 kt of 330,000 kt world fluorspar reserves.
detail: 'Reserves as printed, thousand metric tons: China 110,000; Mexico 68,000; Mongolia 34,000; South Africa 41,000; Vietnam 16,000; Brazil 2,500.'
source: usgs-fluorspar
where: World Mine Production and Reserves table, Reserves column
- subject: Alternative fluorine source
headline: Fluorosilicic acid from phosphate rock is a second US source of fluorine.
detail: USGS says about 45,000 t of fluorosilicic acid was recovered from phosphoric acid plants in 2025, equal to about 73,000 t of 100 percent CaF2. It also cites about 5 billion t of fluorspar equivalent in world phosphate rock reserves.
source: usgs-fluorspar
where: Domestic Production and Use; World Resources
- subject: Producers
headline: Kureha makes KF Polymer at its Iwaki factory site in Japan.
detail: Kureha says its Central Research Center is on the Iwaki Factory premises, on the same site as the production plant where KF Polymer is developed and made. Kureha's KF Polymer battery binder was selected in 1991 as the first commercial lithium-ion binder.
source: kureha-battery-binder
where: Kureha battery material page, R&D functions and binder paragraphs
- subject: Producers
headline: Arkema sells Kynar as a named PVDF product family.
detail: Arkema's Kynar family covers homopolymers and copolymers, sold as a fluoropolymer family with its own product pages. Plant locations and production share were not read.
source: arkema-kynar-chemical
where: Kynar product family navigation
documents:
- title: Arkema Kynar PVDF Resin, contact physical and mechanical properties page
type: datasheet
url: https://hpp.arkema.com/en/product-families/kynar-fluoropolymer-family/contact-physical-and-mechanical-properties/
- title: Fluorotherm, PVDF Properties
type: datasheet
url: https://www.fluorotherm.com/technical-information/materials-overview/pvdf-properties/
- title: Kureha, Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) KF Polymer, battery material page
type: datasheet
url: https://www.kureha.co.jp/en/business/material/kfpolymer/battery_material.html
- title: Banks, de Groh and Backus, Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Predictive Tool for Spacecraft Polymers in Low Earth Orbit, NASA/TM-2008-215490
type: report
url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20090011780
year: 2008
- title: 'USGS, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Fluorspar'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-fluorspar.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'PubChem: Vinylidene fluoride (CID 6369), GHS classification'
type: database
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6369
year: 2026
- title: Arkema Kynar, chemical resistance and fuel resistance
type: datasheet
url: https://hpp.arkema.com/en/product-families/kynar-fluoropolymer-family/chemical-resistance-fuel-resistance/
year: 2025
- title: 'Arkema Kynar, design properties: solubility and irradiation'
type: datasheet
url: https://hpp.arkema.com/en/product-families/kynar-fluoropolymer-family/design-properties-solubility-irradiation/
year: 2025
- title: Arkema Kynar, burning studies
type: datasheet
url: https://hpp.arkema.com/en/product-families/kynar-fluoropolymer-family/burning-studies/
year: 2025
gaps:
- Kynar 1000 Series is printed as a range of grades on the Arkema page; the page does not explicitly label it homopolymer, so the homopolymer label follows the page's tab structure.
- 'No single-grade density or melting point was read. The Arkema TDS PDFs were not reachable: guessed PDF URLs returned HTML and the Arkema product page returned 404 in this run.'
- Solef (Syensqo) 1015 and KF 1700 values are behind a free account. Syensqo product URLs returned 404 and a search gave only gated UL Prospector listings, so no Solef value or producer detail is recorded.
- No Kynar copolymer values are recorded; the Arkema copolymer series were not used.
- The Fluorotherm page prints a flexural strength of 2100 psi with 11165 MPa, a unit conflict, so no flexural strength is recorded from it.
- No outgassing, total mass loss or UV result for PVDF was read; the only space result is the MISSE 2 erosion yield in NASA TM-2008-215490.
- No dielectric, electrolyte-swelling or electrochemical-window value was read from a fetched page in this run.
- Strong-base dehydrofluorination is not on the Arkema chemical or design pages read here, so the basic-solution entry has no alkali-attack result.
- Thermal decomposition products, including hydrogen fluoride, were not read from a fetched source. The hazard entries cover the monomer and the burn rating only.
- Polymerisation conditions and catalyst were not read from a permitted source; Wikipedia was not used for process details.
- PVDF producer country shares and Arkema plant locations were not found.
- Critical-mineral status for fluorspar was not printed in the USGS text read.
- Piezoelectric film uses were not sourced from a permitted page; only Wikipedia was read for them.
sources:
arkema-kynar-physical:
title: Kynar PVDF Resin, contact physical and mechanical properties, Arkema
id: Arkema HPP product family page, physical and mechanical properties tables
url: https://hpp.arkema.com/en/product-families/kynar-fluoropolymer-family/contact-physical-and-mechanical-properties/
year: 2026
kind: datasheet
license: manufacturer web page, linked not reproduced
fluorotherm-pvdf:
title: Fluorotherm, PVDF Properties
id: Fabricator web page, PVDF properties table
url: https://www.fluorotherm.com/technical-information/materials-overview/pvdf-properties/
year: 2026
kind: web
license: web page, linked not reproduced
kureha-battery-binder:
title: Kureha, Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) KF Polymer, battery material
id: Kureha battery material page, grade table
url: https://www.kureha.co.jp/en/business/material/kfpolymer/battery_material.html
year: 2026
kind: web
license: manufacturer web page, linked not reproduced
nasa-tm-2008-215490:
title: Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Predictive Tool for Spacecraft Polymers in Low Earth Orbit
id: NASA/TM-2008-215490 (Banks, Backus and de Groh, 2008), NTRS 20090011780
url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20090011780
year: 2008
kind: report
license: NASA public document
usgs-fluorspar:
title: 'Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Fluorspar'
id: USGS MCS 2026, fluorspar chapter
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-fluorspar.pdf
year: 2026
kind: report
license: US government work
pubchem-vdf:
title: 'PubChem: Vinylidene fluoride (CID 6369)'
id: PubChem CID 6369, GHS classification
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/6369
year: 2026
kind: database
license: PubChem, public database
arkema-kynar-chemical:
title: Kynar PVDF, chemical resistance and fuel resistance, Arkema
id: Arkema HPP Kynar family, chemical resistance page
url: https://hpp.arkema.com/en/product-families/kynar-fluoropolymer-family/chemical-resistance-fuel-resistance/
year: 2025
kind: datasheet
license: manufacturer web page, linked not reproduced
arkema-kynar-design:
title: 'Kynar PVDF, design properties: solubility and irradiation, Arkema'
id: Arkema HPP Kynar family, design properties page
url: https://hpp.arkema.com/en/product-families/kynar-fluoropolymer-family/design-properties-solubility-irradiation/
year: 2025
kind: datasheet
license: manufacturer web page, linked not reproduced
arkema-kynar-burning:
title: Kynar PVDF, burning studies, Arkema
id: Arkema HPP Kynar family, burning studies page
url: https://hpp.arkema.com/en/product-families/kynar-fluoropolymer-family/burning-studies/
year: 2025
kind: datasheet
license: manufacturer web page, linked not reproduced
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-10-19'
review:
status: draft
method: assistant
checked_values: 23
unreachable: 5
caveats: 6
note: 'Values were read by an AI assistant on 2026-10-18 and 2026-10-19 from the pages named in each entry, except the erosion yield, which is copied from the MISSE 2 flight passport and verified by hand. Deepened 2026-10-19: radiation, solubility, chemical, flammability, PubChem hazard, USGS fluorspar and Kureha producer values added. Unreachable: Arkema Kynar TDS PDFs (guessed URLs returned HTML), Arkema Kynar product page (404), Solef 1015 datasheet (account required), Syensqo Solef pages (404), Kureha PDF KFpolymer_BD_en (404). The Arkema values are ranges for the 1000 Series; the homopolymer label is inferred from the page tabs. Fluorotherm is a fabricator page, not a manufacturer datasheet. Wikipedia was not used as a value source.'
story:
recipe:
line: PVDF is a linear chain of repeat units -(CH2-CF2)-, each built from one vinylidene fluoride monomer, C2H2F2 (PubChem CID 6369, molecular weight 64.03). Polymerisation conditions and catalyst were not read from a permitted source in this run.
parts:
- name: Carbon
symbol: C
atoms: 2
role: Backbone of each repeat unit, CH2 and CF2 carbons.
- name: Hydrogen
symbol: H
atoms: 2
role: Two hydrogens on the CH2 group of each repeat unit.
- name: Fluorine
symbol: F
atoms: 2
role: Two fluorines on the CF2 group of each repeat unit.
risk_groups:
- title: For people
lead: The polymer has no classification in the sources read; the monomer does, from PubChem.
level: 1
verdict: No classification read
points:
- label: Classification
line: No PVDF polymer safety data sheet was read. PubChem's classification covers the monomer vinylidene fluoride, not the polymer.
- title: If it fails
lead: The failure route in these sources is erosion in orbit, measured on one flight sample.
points:
- label: Atomic oxygen
line: On MISSE 2 the erosion yield was 1.29e-24 cm3/atom, as listed in NASA TM-2008-215490.
why: PVDF is a semicrystalline fluoropolymer. The Arkema 1000 Series is printed with a specific gravity of 1.76 to 1.78 and a melting range of 169 to 171 °C. Kureha sells PVDF as a lithium-ion electrode binder in grades with inherent viscosities from 1.1 to 2.5 dl/g. The MISSE 2 flight sample has an erosion yield of 1.29e-24 cm3/atom.
uses:
- line: Kureha says KF Polymer was selected as the binder when lithium-ion batteries were first commercialised in 1991, and that it has been the longest-used binder in the world.
source: kureha-battery-binder
where: Lithium-ion electrode binder
- line: Arkema says radiation cross-linked Kynar makes heat-shrinkable tubing and insulated wire rated for continuous temperatures up to 180 °C.
source: arkema-kynar-design
where: Insulated wire and heat-shrink tubing
can_do:
- label: Stiff enough for moulded parts
value: 1655 MPa flexural modulus
benchmark: flexural_modulus
line: The Kynar 1000 Series has a flexural modulus of 1655 to 2310 MPa and a tensile yield strength of 45 to 55 MPa, as printed on the Arkema page.
- label: Hold a melt window
value: 169 °C melting temperature
benchmark: melting_temperature
line: The Kynar 1000 Series melts at 169 to 171 °C by ASTM D3418, as printed on the Arkema page.
- label: Survive in orbit
value: 1.29e-24 cm3/atom
benchmark: atomic_oxygen_erosion_yield
line: NASA lists a MISSE 2 erosion yield for PVDF of 1.29e-24 cm3/atom.
compare: The values here are for different products and test sources, so read the table rows as examples, not a ranking. The Arkema values are for the 1000 Series and the Kureha values are for binder grades.
compare_rows:
- scope: material
label: Specific gravity
benchmark: specific_gravity
- scope: material
label: Erosion yield
benchmark: atomic_oxygen_erosion_yield
- scope: material
label: Melting temperature
benchmark: melting_temperature
handling:
- Specify the grade, since the Kynar series differ in modulus and heat deflection.
- Treat the Arkema and Fluorotherm values as typical, since the pages print them as typical.
- Check the current supplier safety data sheet before handling, since none was read here.
- The monomer vinylidene fluoride is an extremely flammable, pressurised gas (PubChem H220, H280); this applies to the feedstock, not the polymer.
good_for:
- 'Moulded parts that need chemical resistance: a specific gravity of 1.76 to 1.78 in the Kynar 1000 Series.'
- 'Lithium-ion electrode binder: Kureha grades from 1.1 to 2.5 dl/g inherent viscosity.'
- 'Known atomic oxygen behaviour: 1.29e-24 cm3/atom on MISSE 2, measured in low Earth orbit.'
watch_out:
- 'Heat under load: the heat deflection temperature is 125 to 140 °C at 0.45 MPa, well below the melting range of 169 to 171 °C.'
- 'Stiffness: a tensile yield strength of 45 to 55 MPa is low for a structural metal replacement.'
- Atomic oxygen erodes PVDF at 1.29e-24 cm3/atom, so exterior use needs protection or a rate allowance.
- No outgassing or UV result for PVDF in space was found beyond the erosion yield, and no polymer safety data sheet was read.
verdict: PVDF is a fluoropolymer with a specific gravity of 1.76 to 1.78 and a melting range of 169 to 171 °C in the Kynar 1000 Series, a binder role in lithium-ion electrodes, and a MISSE 2 erosion yield of 1.29e-24 cm3/atom in low Earth orbit. Arkema reports essentially unchanged tensile strength after 100 Mrad of gamma radiation and resistance to most acids and weak bases. Its heat deflection of 125 to 140 °C at 0.45 MPa limits use under load, and no polymer safety data sheet, UV or outgassing value was found.
References
Every number above carries a reference number. Click one to see the source and where in it the value comes from.
| # | Source | Type | Year | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kynar PVDF Resin, contact physical and mechanical properties, Arkema | datasheet | 2026 | 10 values | |
| Fluorotherm, PVDF Properties | web | 2026 | 2 values | |
| Kureha, Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) KF Polymer, battery material | web | 2026 | 4 values | |
| Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Predictive Tool for Spacecraft Polymers in Low Earth Orbit | report | 2008 | 4 values | |
| Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Fluorspar | report | 2026 | 5 values | |
| PubChem: Vinylidene fluoride (CID 6369) | database | 2026 | 2 values | |
| Kynar PVDF, chemical resistance and fuel resistance, Arkema | datasheet | 2025 | 2 values | |
| Kynar PVDF, design properties: solubility and irradiation, Arkema | datasheet | 2025 | 5 values | |
| Kynar PVDF, burning studies, Arkema | datasheet | 2025 | 2 values |