THV
also Dyneon THV
A melt-processable terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene and vinylidene fluoride offering lower melt temperature and higher clarity/flexibility than FEP or PFA, used where transparency and low-temperature flex are needed.
Reference datasheet — THV is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
Values for the THV500 condition
THV grades and fills
THV is supplied in 5 conditions, soft to hard. THV500 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 5 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
intermediate melting grade (Tm ≈ 155 °C) | Balance of flexibility and heat resistance for multilayer fuel/chemical hose liners bonded to elastomers or polyamide. | 9 | 22 | 550 | 49 Shore D |
higher-melting grade (Tm ≈ 185–190 °C) | Use where higher continuous service temperature and stiffness are needed while keeping melt processability and bondability; also offered as high-melt-strength X versions. | 13 | 27 | 500 | 58 Shore D |
low-melting, softest grade (Tm ≈ 115–120 °C) | Pick when maximum flexibility, lowest processing temperature and co-extrusion with polyolefins/TPU are required and service stays below ~90 °C. | 19 | 600 | 44 Shore D | |
THV500Default general-purpose extrusion/molding grade (Tm ≈ 165 °C) | Default THV: best all-round balance of clarity, flexibility, chemical resistance and processability for tubing, film and wire jacketing. | 25 | 500 | 54 Shore D | |
highest-melting, stiffest grade (Tm ≈ 225 °C) | Choose for the hottest THV service and best barrier/stiffness, e.g. high-temperature fuel hose liners and semiconductor tubing, accepting higher processing temperature. | 30 | 480 | 63 Shore D |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways THV 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-contact / medical compliant grade | Certification |
DISP | Aqueous dispersion / latex grade | Supply option |
What is THV?
A melt-processable terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene and vinylidene fluoride offering lower melt temperature and higher clarity/flexibility than FEP or PFA, used where transparency and low-temperature flex are needed. THV has a density of 1.97 g/cm³ (0.0712 lb/in³), heavier than 97% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 0°C (32 °F). THV has a tensile strength of 25 MPa (3.63 ksi), weaker than 66% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 500% and the elastic modulus is 0.2 GPa (0.029 Msi).
What is THV used for?
- Flexible fluoropolymer tubing
- Heat-shrink and release films
- Fuel-cell membranes/laminates
- Coextruded barrier layers
Advantages
- Good UV / weathering resistance — 95/100, better than 95% of polymer grades
- Good corrosion resistance — 92/100, better than 91% of polymer grades
- Forms and bends easily — 90/100, better than 91% of polymer grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 500%, better than 90% of polymer grades
- Readily welded — 85/100, better than 89% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Heavy — 1.97 g/cm³ (0.0712 lb/in³), worse than 97% of polymer grades
- High mold shrinkage — 3%, worse than 97% of polymer grades
- High embodied carbon — 13 kg CO₂/kg, worse than 93% of polymer grades
- Difficult to machine — 45/100, worse than 78% of polymer grades
THV properties
Typical room-temperature values for THV-THV500; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical6
THV has a density of 1.97 g/cm³ (0.0712 lb/in³), heavier than 97% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 0°C (32 °F).
Mechanical6
THV has a tensile strength of 25 MPa (3.63 ksi), weaker than 66% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 500% and the elastic modulus is 0.2 GPa (0.029 Msi).
Thermal9
THV is rated for continuous service to 130°C (266 °F). It conducts heat at 0.2 W/m·K (0.116 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 56% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 130 µm/m·K (72.2 µin/in·°F).
Electrical5
THV is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 25 kV/mm (635 V/mil).
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (92/100), better than 91% of polymer grades. UV resistance is excellent.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of THV takes about 230 MJ of energy and emits 13 kg of CO₂ — more than 91% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
THV's machinability is fair (45/100, worse than 78% of polymer grades); weldability excellent (85/100); formability excellent (90/100).
Common Calculations4
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. THV is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with THV
Is THV easy to machine?
Soft and low-modulus — machine only for prototypes with very sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, light cuts and firm workholding to avoid smearing and deflection.
Can THV be welded?
Readily heat-sealed, hot-gas, impulse or IR welded; the VDF content also gives good melt adhesion to polyamides, TPU and polyolefins in co-extrusion (often with tie layers).
Can THV be formed, bent or molded?
Melt processes on standard PVDF-class equipment (extrusion, blown/cast film, injection, blow molding) at 200–300 °C depending on grade; use corrosion-resistant (Hastelloy/nickel-alloy) screws and dies and purge to avoid HF-generating degradation.
THV 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 |
|---|---|---|
| tetrafluoroethylene (TFE)increases with higher-melting grades | 35 – 72 | 60 |
| hexafluoropropylene (HFP)lowers crystallinity, adds clarity/flexibility | 10 – 30 | 20 |
| vinylidene fluoride (VDF)provides adhesion and melt processability; raises dielectric constant | ≥ 10 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on THV?
Low surface energy resists printing and bonding — corona, plasma or sodium-naphthalene treatment is needed before painting or adhesive bonding; the natural resin is highly transparent and needs no polishing.
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to THV in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- Dyneon THV
How much does THV cost?
THV 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.
THV — frequently asked
What is THV used for?
THV is typically used for flexible fluoropolymer tubing, heat-shrink and release films, fuel-cell membranes/laminates and coextruded barrier layers. In short: clearest flexible fluoropolymer; lowest melt temperature fluoroplastic; bonds to non-fluoro polymers.
What is the tensile strength of THV?
THV has a typical tensile strength of 25 MPa (3.63 ksi) — weaker than 66% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 5 listed tempers.
Is THV easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated fair (45/100, worse than 78% of polymer grades). Soft and low-modulus — machine only for prototypes with very sharp positive-rake tools, high speed, light cuts and firm workholding to avoid smearing and deflection.
Can THV be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (85/100). Readily heat-sealed, hot-gas, impulse or IR welded; the VDF content also gives good melt adhesion to polyamides, TPU and polyolefins in co-extrusion (often with tie layers).
What surface finishes work on THV?
Low surface energy resists printing and bonding — corona, plasma or sodium-naphthalene treatment is needed before painting or adhesive bonding; the natural resin is highly transparent and needs no polishing.
Can THV be formed, bent or molded?
Melt processes on standard PVDF-class equipment (extrusion, blown/cast film, injection, blow molding) at 200–300 °C depending on grade; use corrosion-resistant (Hastelloy/nickel-alloy) screws and dies and purge to avoid HF-generating degradation.
What is the maximum service temperature of THV?
THV is rated for continuous use to about 130°C (266 °F), and briefly to 150°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between THV500 and THV610?
THV500 is the default condition — default THV: best all-round balance of clarity, flexibility, chemical resistance and processability for tubing, film and wire jacketing. THV610: use where higher continuous service temperature and stiffness are needed while keeping melt processability and bondability; also offered as high-melt-strength X versions.
How much does THV cost?
THV 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.
Sources
- Dyneon THV Fluorothermoplastic product data sheets (THV 221/415/500/610/815) — 3M / Dyneon (2021)
- Fluoroplastics, Volume 2: Melt Processible Fluoropolymers — Elsevier / William Andrew (S. Ebnesajjad) (2015)
- CAMPUS / UL Prospector fluoropolymer datasheets — CAMPUS / UL (2023)
- ASTM D638 / D790 / D2240 / D257 test methods for plastics — ASTM International (2022)
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.