Abstract
Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) based polymer resins have been used for corrosive and chemically aggressive fluid containment since 1964. Original components supplied with this resin were rigid piping, valves & fittings, tanks, linings, and heat shrinkable tubing. As plastic processing technologies grew, additional products were offered such as nozzles, dump tower packing, pumps, flow meters, coatings, filtration membranes, and fabrics. In the 1980’s copolymers of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene (HFP) were introduced to compliment the very rigid PVDF product line with a more flexible version. These materials were used as flexible tubing and as linings for large metal components.
The latest PVDF technology is a functionalized version that can be bonded directly to lower cost structural polymers during processing. The PVDF/polyolefin, PVDF/polyamide, and PVDF/polyurethane systems allow designers to create low cost and lightweight piping and tubing composite structures with excellent chemical resistance barrier layer properties, coupled with high flexibility or rigidity depending on the need.
The unique properties of PVDF explain its extensive use in the following industries: halogen containment, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, food & beverage, semiconductor, nuclear waste processing, pulp & paper, waste water treatment, and power generation. This paper will outline case histories of the use of PVDF, reactive PVDF and/or PVDF based copolymers in specific chemical applications and the special corrosive conditions that can be associated with them.
