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Polyvinylidene Fluoride

date2025-07-24tags:meche:

https://reprap.org/forum/read.php?2,207096

Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) for 3D Printing

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), a fluoropolymer, is emerging as a significant material in 3D printing, offering unique properties and expanded application possibilities. Traditionally used in various industries, PVDF is now being commercialized in filament form for Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) / Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) processes. Material Properties and Characteristics

Chemical Resistance: Highly resistant to a wide range of chemicals, including acids, bases, solvents, oils, and fuels. Radiation Resistance: Exhibits strong resistance to nuclear radiation. UV Resistance: Maintains mechanical properties after prolonged exposure to sunlight. Thermal Stability: High continuous use temperature, up to 150°C. Flame Resistance: Rated V-0 for low smoke and flame characteristics. Hydrolytic Stability: Non-hygroscopic, meaning it does not absorb moisture, and offers long-term stability in humid environments. Food Safety: Food-safe in its pure form. Sterilizability: Can be sterilized with gamma rays without loss of tensile strength. Material Release Properties: Exhibits excellent material release. Mechanical Strength: High mechanical strength and low permeability.

3D Printing Specifics

Printability: PVDF can be printed on standard FFF/FDM printers, removing the need for high-temperature machines. Copolymer variants (e.g., PVDF-C) are generally easier to print than homopolymer variants (e.g., PVDF-H). Warpage can occur, but adhesion techniques like glue sticks on a heated glass bed or PEI sheets can mitigate this. Heated bed is recommended around 100°C. Extrusion temperature range: 240-260°C. Print speed: 10-30 mm/s. Filament Variants: Homopolymer (PVDF-H): Offers superior properties but is more challenging to print. Copolymer (PVDF-C): Easier to print, providing a balance of properties and printability. Suppliers and Brands: Arkema (Kynar): A primary supplier of PVDF resin used in many filaments. Solvay (Solef): Developing optimized PVDF filaments for FFF/FDM. Daikin (Neoflon or Polyflon) Kureha (KF Polymer) 3M Dyneon Nile Polymers (Fluorinar-H, Fluorinar-C): Offers Kynar-based filaments. 3DXTech: Provides Kynar-based filaments, including ESD-safe variants. Convena Polymers: Offers Kynar and 3M Dyneon based filaments. 3Dogg: Reseller of PVDF-H and PVDF-C filaments. Cost: PVDF filaments are generally more expensive than common materials like PLA or ABS. Prices vary based on supplier and filament type, ranging from approximately $100 to $170 per 500g spool. Safety: PVDF should be printed in an enclosed 3D printer with filters. Heating PVDF above 350°C releases toxic hydrogen fluoride fumes.

Applications

Industrial: Chemical processing (valves, pipes, tanks, filters). Nuclear industry components. Oil and gas applications. Automotive (fuel lines, battery components, body parts). Aerospace. Electronics: Wire and cable insulation. Protective sheathing. Pharmaceutical: Chemical storage containers. Water purification filters. Prototyping and Low-Volume Production: Ideal for applications requiring chemical resistance and durability.

Key Considerations

Material handling and storage are simplified due to PVDF's non-hygroscopic nature. The availability of both homopolymer and copolymer filaments allows for flexibility in application and printability. The use of PVDF is expanding the range of functional 3D printed parts, particularly in demanding industrial environments.

Effect of Near-Electric-Field 3D Printing on the β-Phase of PVDF Thin Films https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-023-10869-x https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11664-023-10869-x

High β-phase polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) thin films have excellent piezoelectricity and flexibility. They are widely used in wearable devices, hydroacoustic ultrasound, and energy harvesting. The preparation of PVDF thin films by near-electric-field 3D printing can be customized in shape, and the high β-phase can be obtained without stretching or polarization. In this work, the effects of polar solvent, printing voltage, and PVDF molecules on the β-phase content of PVDF thin films prepared by near-electric-field 3D printing were analyzed. The results show that the polarity of the solvent affects the molecular chain conformation of PVDF, which is favorable for the generation of the β-phase. With the increase of solvent polarity, the β-phase content in PVDF films increased from 21.40% to 26.31%. The mutual motion of the collecting plate and the needle will produce stronger mechanical traction on the PVDF fibers, which is due to the smaller diameter of the PVDF fibers caused by the high printing voltage. The joint action of this tensile force and the strong electric field attraction promotes the β-phase transition. When the printing voltage is 8 kV, the F(β) value of PVDF film is increased by 47.37% over that without applied voltage. In addition, the interaction of small and large PVDF molecular weight will also result in mechanical deformation of the molecular chain and promote the β-phase transition.

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