Arkema invests for Kynar® Fluoropolymer production in China

KYNAR^®  PVDF Overview

Kynar^® polyvinylidene fluoride, the homopolymer of 1,1-di-fluoro-ethene (VF2) , is a tough, engineering thermoplastic that offers a unique balance of properties. It has the characteristic stability of fluoropolymers when exposed to harsh thermal, chemical, and ultraviolet environments, while the alternating CH2 and CF2 groups along the polymer chain provide a unique polarity that influence its solubility and electric properties. Kynar^® resins are readily melt-processed by standard methods of extrusion and injection / compression molding. At elevated temperatures Kynar^® PVDF can be dissolved in polar solvents such as organic esters and amines. This selective solubility is an advantage in the preparation of corrosion resistant coatings for chemical process equipment and long-life architectural finishes on building panels.

Key Attributes of Kynar^® PVDF include:

• Mechanical strength and toughness
• High abrasion resistance
• High thermal stability
• High dielectric strength
• High purity
• Readily melt processible
• Resistant to most chemicals and solvents
• Resistant to ultraviolet and nuclear radiation
• Resistant to weathering
• Resistant to fungi
• Low permeability to most gases and liquids
• Low flame and smoke characteristics
• Rigid and Flexible versions of Kynar^® PVDF are available.

CPI Chemical Process Industry

Industrial Applications

Kynar^® PVDF components are used extensively in the high purity semiconductor market (low extractable values), pulp and paper industry (chemically resistant to halogens and acids), nuclear waste processing (radiation and hot acid applications), the general chemical processing industry (chemical and temperature applications), and water treatment membrane (industrial and potable water use). Kynar^®  fluoropolymers have also met specifications for the food and pharmaceutical processing industries.

Kynar Flex^® resins are a series of PVDF-based fluoropolymers that are similar to Kynar^® resins in purity and chemical resistance, but possess unique qualities of additional chemical compatibility in high pH solutions, increased impact strength at ambient and colder temperatures, and increased clarity.

Kynar^® & Kynar Flex^® resins can be fabricated into a wide range of components including: 

• Pipes, fitting and valves
• Pump assemblies
• Sheet and stock shapes
• Films
• Tubing
• Tanks & Vessels
• Nozzles
• Membranes & Filter Housings

While Kynar^® and Kynar Flex^® resins are usually melt-processed by extrusion, injection or compression-molding, we do have specific grades for other type of melt-process:

• Kynar Flex^® 2850 PC is a functional powder coating system which enables the thick spray coating of metals for optimum corrosion resistance.
• Kynar Flex^® WR resins are specifically design for rotational molding.

Kynar^® foams

Two types of Kynar^® foams are available:

• Closed cells foams, with density down to 30 Kg/m3, are available in sheets or rolls. This foam is manufactured by our partner, Zotefoams plc and marketed under their name Zotek. Purity, very low flammability, UV and corrosion resistance are the key properties users are finding in Kynar^® closed cells foams.
• Open cell foams are also available in smaller shapes. Its purity, its high flexibility combined with its unique compression ratio make it a material of choice for different type of uses in the industry, for instance as gaskets.

Architectural
Kynar 500^® resin is polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) used as the base resin in liquid coatings formulated by leading paint manufacturers. Kynar 500^® resin is marketed and sold under exclusive license agreements to paint companies around the world. When formulated into a coating composition which, according to the license agreement, contains a minimum of 70% by weight of Kynar 500^® resin, the resultant coatings exhibit superior:

• Color retention
• Gloss retention 
• Chalk resistance 
• Corrosion resistance 
• Flexibility 
• Stain resistance  Overall exterior durability

Substrates

Liquid coatings containing Kynar 500^® resin are factory applied to properly cleaned, pre-treated and primed metal substrates and then oven baked. Metal substrates most commonly coated with Kynar 500^® resin based finishes are aluminum, galvanized steel (Galvalume®) and Zincalume^®. Kynar 500^® resin based coatings are typically used for structural components such as metal siding and roofing, storefront extrusions, curtain walls, louvers, skylights and other miscellaneous metal trim and extrusions. Components can be either post formed from pre-coated coil stock or spray coated after fabrication.

Color

Each of the Kynar 500^® brand licensees has established its own standard colors. Special colors, including metallics and exotics, are subject to approval by the licensees; however, a broad range of brighter colors is now available.

Composition & Materials

Kynar 500^® resin is a high molecular weight homopolymer of vinylidene fluoride. Finishes based on Kynar 500^® resin are formulated by the licensed formulators and contain, in addition to Kynar 500^® resin, acrylics and high quality pigments. These high quality-coating systems have a proven history of performance when exposed to severe ultraviolet radiation for extended periods (over 33 years) of time. To insure that the formulation being supplied contains Kynar 500^®  resin manufactured by Arkema, a letter of certification from the licensee is recommended.

Liquid coatings and Powder coatings

Licensees have recently developed powder coatings featuring Kynar 500^® resin.  These powder coatings feature all of the benefits of a typical Kynar 500^® resin based coating, without the use of solvents.

Kynar^® AQUATEC: water based PVDF coating

Recently developed Kynar^® AQUATEC technology presents the premium performance of Kynar^® resins in a convenient emulsion form. Coatings formulated from these emulsions provide the combined benefits of extreme weatherability in a VOC-compliant, field applied, ambient dry system.

Electrical Applications

Kynar Flex^® fluoropolymer resin is the premium jacketing material for use on plenum-rated data, voice signal, alarm, and video low-voltage cable. Because Kynar Flex^® fluoropolymer exhibits minimal flame-spread and smoke-generation, cable jacketed with this fluoropolymer meets National Electrical Code (NFPA-70A) requirements for installation in building plenum areas without conduit. In fact, to increase the safety factor, many insurance carriers recommend that their clients install plenum cable throughout in plenum and non-plenum building areas. Kynar Flex^® fluoropolymer resin is extremely durable and resistant to abrasion and mechanical damage during and after cable installation. Kynar Flex^® fluoropolymer resin is particularly well suited for use in hostile environments where corrosive atmospheres, thermal cycling, or mechanical stress to the cable are possible. Its flexibility makes cable installation faster and easier. Kynar Flex^® fluoropolymer is also a jacketing material for non-plenum cable applications where its flexibility, toughness, light weight, and resistance to chemical, thermal, corrosive, and ultraviolet attack are important. Examples include automotive, avionics, shipboard, fluid sensing, instrumentation wiring, mass transit signaling, communications and system control.
To enhance temperature performances, Kynar^® and Kynar Flex^® resins can easily be cross-linked through e-beam, with or without radiation-sensitive additives. Typical rating for a Kynar^® and most Kynar Flex^® jacket is 150°C, reaching 175°C after crosslinking.

Lithium Ion Batteries

Kynar^® PVDF homopolymers and copolymers have gained success in the battery industry as binders for cathodes and anodes in lithium-ion technology, and as battery separators in lithium-ion polymer technology.

Arkema is the world's leading producer of PVDF. Our particular brand of high purity, battery grade PVDF resins are Kynar^® and Kynar Flex^®. Arkema has been involved with lithium technology from the beginning, working closely with battery scientists to help develop the technology. We've been using our more than thirty years of experience in coatings and films to help design thinner, smaller lithium-ion batteries.

Polymer Process Additives

Kynar Flex^® PPA resins offer a range of fluorinated processing aids specifically designed to improve LLDPE/mPE and PP film extrusion, when used at 100 - 1000 500 ppm addition levels. Kynar Flex^® PPA is effective in eliminating melt fracture (shark skin) and die build-up while allowing for higher outputs and reduced extruder pressure. This results in improved film quality and strength even when utilizing anti-block agents.

Kynar Flex^® PPA processing aids are additives which solve processing problems encountered with polyolefins while increasing the throughput capacity of most extruders. Kynar Flex^® PPA can eliminate or minimize many of the melt instabilities which occur in high shear extrusion, mainly melt fracture. This allows a wider operating window for process parameters. Kynar Flex^® PPA migrates to the metallic surfaces of the equipment used to process the polymer and creates a micro-fine coating on the die surface. This coating acts as a lubricant to reduce apparent viscosity, lower die pressure and melt temperature, and increase film production rates.

Kynar^® Film

Arkema has developed Kynar^® Film for applications requiring long-term protection. Kynar^® Film is produced by a multilayer blown extrusion technology allowing thin or thick films (from 10 to 100 µm), wide film formats and a great freedom of design. The commercial range includes both mass-tinted and transparent films, which can be printed with a variety of designs. Kynar^® Film is laminated onto thermoplastic, thermoset and coated metal supports. The multilayer Kynar^® Film provides to the substrates several properties in one shot.

Kynar^® ADX resin

Arkema introduces Kynar^® ADX resin, a new functionalized PVDF range offering strong adhesion on various substrates. The Kynar^® ADX resin is based on a patented innovative synthesis process developed by the Technical Polymers' R&D of Arkema. The Kynar^® ADX can be used in a wide range of potential applications for different markets such as automotive, chemical process industry, battery, coatings, packaging.

• In co-extrusion: Kynar^® ADX resin: can be combined with most of polymers (PE, PA, Polyester ...) to achieve synergy of performances such as Mechanical, Chemical and Barrier properties.
• In solvent process: Kynar^® ADX resin: can be dissolved to be applied pure or with fillers on metals, for instance as high adhesion primer or binder.
• In powder coatings: Kynar^® ADX resin: can be apply on Steel or Aluminum for high anticorrosion coating for the chemical process industry.

Automotive industry

Kynar^®, Kynar Flex^® and Kynar 500^® polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) resins exhibit high chemical and abrasion resistance, excellent thermal stability, imperviousness to UV radiation and are rigid and resistant to creep under mechanical stress and load.  The resins can be used for molded parts and as protective coatings.

Kynar^® PVDF's strength, durability and versatility make it a preferred material in automobile wiring harnesses, fuel line coatings, decals/decorative films, coatings, electrochromic technology and plastic optical fibbers (POF). 

Development Markets

Kynar^® PVDF with its unique set of properties makes it a material of choice in emerging technologies. In the last few years Kynar^® PVDF has been employed in new market areas such as fuel cells, second generation aircraft interiors, and office automation components.

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www.kynar500.com


Disclaimer: This information is not to be construed as recommendations to use any information, product, process, equipment, or formulation that conflicts with any patent, copyright, or trademark, and Arkema and/or its subsidiaries and affiliates make no representation or warranty, express or implied, that any use of this information will not infringe on any patent, copyright or trademark. No representations or warranties, are either expressed or implied, of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose or use or of any other nature are made with respect to this information or to any product referred to in this information. All Registered^® and Trademark TM products are those of Arkema or one of its affiliates unless otherwise