PVDF
ASTM D3222 · ISO 12086, 1043 PVDF · also Foraflon, Hylar
PVDF (Solef, Kynar; ASTM D3222) is a semi-crystalline fluoropolymer that keeps most of the chemical and UV resistance of PTFE while remaining melt-processable by conventional injection moulding, extrusion and welding.
PVDF grades and fills
PVDF is supplied in 3 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 3 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PVDF copolymer (VDF-HFP / VDF-CTFE), flexible grade | Choose for flexible tubing, film, liners, cable jacketing and battery binders where impact and low-temperature flexibility matter more than stiffness and peak service temperature. | 33 | 400 | 63 Shore D | |
Carbon-filled conductive / antistatic PVDF | Use for high-purity chemical delivery tubing, fittings and wafer-handling parts where static build-up in flowing solvents or DI water must be bled away. | 40 | 42 | 15 | 79 Shore D |
Glass-fibre reinforced PVDF | Use where stiffness, creep resistance under load and dimensional stability at 100–150 °C matter more than ductility and impact (pump housings, impellers, structural chemical hardware). | 85 | 3 | 82 Shore D |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways PVDF is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
FDA | Food / pharmaceutical contact and high-purity grade | Certification |
UnfilledDefault | Natural PVDF homopolymer | Standard supply |
What is PVDF?
PVDF (Solef, Kynar; ASTM D3222) is a semi-crystalline fluoropolymer that keeps most of the chemical and UV resistance of PTFE while remaining melt-processable by conventional injection moulding, extrusion and welding. It is far stiffer and stronger than PTFE — about 50 MPa tensile with 60 % elongation and service to 150 °C — and is supplied as pipe, valve and pump components, sheet, rod, film and coating resins. Limits are the 150 °C continuous ceiling, attack by strong bases, amines, ketones and esters, high mould shrinkage of 2–3 %, and a resin price several times that of commodity plastics. Where 150 °C or base resistance is not enough, step up to PFA or PTFE. PVDF has a density of 1.78 g/cm³ (0.0643 lb/in³), heavier than 95% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -40°C (-40 °F). PVDF has a yield strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) and a tensile strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) — stronger than 52% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 60% and the elastic modulus is 2.1 GPa (0.305 Msi).
What is PVDF used for?
- High-purity chemical piping and fittings
- Valve bodies and diaphragms
- Pump bodies and impellers
- Semiconductor wet-bench fluid handling
- Pharmaceutical process tubing and tanks
- Battery binders and separators
- Architectural coatings
- Piezoelectric films and sensors
Advantages
- Good UV / weathering resistance — 96/100, better than 98% of polymer grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 92/100, better than 91% of polymer grades
- Readily welded — 88/100, better than 91% of polymer grades
- Low moisture uptake — 0.04%, better than 86% of polymer grades
- High service temperature — 150°C (302 °F), better than 79% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Heavy — 1.78 g/cm³ (0.0643 lb/in³), worse than 95% of polymer grades
- High mold shrinkage — 2.5%, worse than 93% of polymer grades
- High embodied carbon — 8.5 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 85% of polymer grades
PVDF properties
Typical room-temperature values in the Unfilled condition; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical6
PVDF has a density of 1.78 g/cm³ (0.0643 lb/in³), heavier than 95% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -40°C (-40 °F).
Mechanical16
PVDF has a yield strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) and a tensile strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) — stronger than 52% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 60% and the elastic modulus is 2.1 GPa (0.305 Msi).
Thermal11
PVDF is rated for continuous service to 150°C (302 °F). It conducts heat at 0.19 W/m·K (0.11 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 68% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 130 µm/m·K (72.2 µin/in·°F).
Electrical7
PVDF is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 22 kV/mm (558.8 V/mil) and a resistivity of 2×10¹² Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (92/100), better than 91% of polymer grades. UV resistance is excellent.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PVDF takes about 145 MJ of energy and emits 8.5 kg of CO₂ — more than 83% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
PVDF's machinability is very good (75/100, better than 78% of polymer grades); weldability excellent (88/100); formability good (60/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the polymer family
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade FabDigit runs. PVDF is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PVDF
Is PVDF easy to machine?
Machines cleanly like a tough nylon with sharp positive-rake carbide tools, high speed and light feed; use coolant/air blast because low thermal conductivity plus a 172 °C melt causes smearing, and allow for stress relaxation on thin walls.
Can PVDF be welded?
Excellent hot-gas, butt-fusion, socket-fusion, IR and ultrasonic welding with PVDF filler rod (DVS 2207-15); joint efficiencies of 80–100 % are routine, but glass-filled grades weld poorly and adhesive bonding needs surface etch/plasma.
Can PVDF be formed, bent or molded?
Dry to <0.05 % is unnecessary (very low moisture pick-up) but keep melt 210–250 °C, mould 60–110 °C, avoid contact with acetal/PE regrind or ammonia-based additives (dehydrofluorination), and design for 2–3 % shrinkage with generous gates and slow cooling.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit's quote engine applies to PVDF. Design inside these and the part quotes instantly; outside them it routes to an engineer.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Better75 / 100 |
|---|---|
| ISO material group | N.8 |
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | 400 / 500 m/min |
| Minimum wall | 0.5 mm |
| Minimum internal radius | 1 mm |
| Drill depth limit | 10× diameter |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra 0.8 / — |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
Sheet metal
| Formability | Better60 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Weldability | Better88 / 100 |
Injection molding
| Mold shrinkage | — |
|---|---|
| Wall thickness | — – — |
| Recommended draft | — |
| Pre-drying | — |
PVDF chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| fluorine (by mass of polymer)theoretical F content of -(CH2-CF2)- unit | 58 – 60 | 59 |
| glass fiberonly in GF variant | 0 – 30 | 0 |
| carbon blackonly in ESD/conductive variant | 0 – 8 | 0 |
| vinylidene fluoride (VDF, CH2=CF2) repeahomopolymer; copolymer grades contain 5–25 % HFP or CTFE comonomer | balance |
What surface finishes work on PVDF?
Naturally UV- and weather-stable so no coating is required; surfaces can be flame/plasma/sodium-etch treated for printing or bonding, and parts can be machined-polished or bead-blasted but not plated.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on polymer parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Injection Molding Coating
Organic Coating
Metallization / Functional
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to PVDF in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- ASTM
- D3222
- ISO
- 120861043 PVDF
- Trade names
- ForaflonHylarSolefKynar
- Also called
- Polyvinylidene Fluoride
How much does PVDF cost?
PVDF is a high-cost polymer ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
PVDF — frequently asked
What is PVDF used for?
PVDF is typically used for high-purity chemical piping and fittings, valve bodies and diaphragms, pump bodies and impellers, semiconductor wet-bench fluid handling, pharmaceutical process tubing and tanks and battery binders and separators. In short: chemical resistant expert.
What is the yield strength of PVDF?
PVDF has a typical yield strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) and a tensile strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) — stronger than 52% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 3 listed tempers.
Is PVDF easy to machine?
Yes — machinability is rated very good (75/100, better than 78% of polymer grades). Machines cleanly like a tough nylon with sharp positive-rake carbide tools, high speed and light feed; use coolant/air blast because low thermal conductivity plus a 172 °C melt causes smearing, and allow for stress relaxation on thin walls.
Can PVDF be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (88/100). Excellent hot-gas, butt-fusion, socket-fusion, IR and ultrasonic welding with PVDF filler rod (DVS 2207-15); joint efficiencies of 80–100 % are routine, but glass-filled grades weld poorly and adhesive bonding needs surface etch/plasma.
What surface finishes work on PVDF?
Naturally UV- and weather-stable so no coating is required; surfaces can be flame/plasma/sodium-etch treated for printing or bonding, and parts can be machined-polished or bead-blasted but not plated.
Can PVDF be formed, bent or molded?
Dry to <0.05 % is unnecessary (very low moisture pick-up) but keep melt 210–250 °C, mould 60–110 °C, avoid contact with acetal/PE regrind or ammonia-based additives (dehydrofluorination), and design for 2–3 % shrinkage with generous gates and slow cooling.
What is the maximum service temperature of PVDF?
PVDF is rated for continuous use to about 150°C (302 °F), and briefly to 165°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does PVDF cost?
PVDF is a high-cost polymer ($$$$), pricier than about 78% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Can FabDigit make parts in PVDF?
Yes — PVDF is available for CNC machining, sheet metal and injection molding with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- Kynar & Kynar Flex PVDF Performance Characteristics and Data — Arkema (2023)
- Solef PVDF Design & Processing Guide — Solvay Specialty Polymers (Syensqo) (2022)
- TECAFLON PVDF stock shape datasheet — Ensinger (2023)
- CAMPUS plastics database — PVDF injection grades (ISO 527/75/180) — CWFG (2024)
- ASTM D3222 — Unmodified PVDF Molding Extrusion and Coating Materials — ASTM (2021)
- ISO 12086 — Fluoropolymer dispersions and moulding/extrusion materials — ISO (2006)
- Engineered Materials Handbook Vol.2: Engineering Plastics — ASM International (1988)
- PVDF (2026)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.