Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF)
PVDF is a thermoplastic, further classified as a polyvinyl plastic. It has a fairly high density and a moderately high ductility among thermoplastics. The graph bars on the material properties cards below compare PVDF to: polyvinyl plastics (top), all thermoplastics (middle), and the entire database (bottom). A full bar means this is the highest value in the relevant set. A half-full bar means it's 50% of the highest, and so on.
Mechanical Properties
Elastic (Young's, Tensile) Modulus
1.1 GPa 0.16 x 106 psi
Elongation at Break
200 %
Flexural Modulus
1.5 GPa 0.22 x 106 psi
Flexural Strength
75 MPa 11 x 103 psi
Impact Strength: Notched Izod
180 J/m 3.3 ft-lb/in
Rockwell R Hardness
110
Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS)
49 MPa 7.1 x 103 psi
Thermal Properties
Glass Transition Temperature
-40 °C -40 °F
Heat Deflection Temperature At 1.82 MPa (264 psi)
85 °C 190 °F
Heat Deflection Temperature At 455 kPa (66 psi)
150 °C 300 °F
Maximum Temperature: Autoignition
640 °C 1180 °F
Maximum Temperature: Corrosion
150 °C 300 °F
Maximum Temperature: Decomposition
440 °C 820 °F
Maximum Temperature: Mechanical
140 °C 290 °F
Melting Onset (Solidus)
170 °C 330 °F
Specific Heat Capacity
1120 J/kg-K 0.27 BTU/lb-°F
Thermal Conductivity
0.12 W/m-K 0.069 BTU/h-ft-°F
Thermal Expansion
120 µm/m-K
Electrical Properties
Dielectric Constant (Relative Permittivity) At 1 Hz
7.5
Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential)
10 kV/mm 0.39 V/mil
Electrical Resistivity Order of Magnitude
12 10x Ω-m
Otherwise Unclassified Properties
Density
1.8 g/cm3 110 lb/ft3
Limiting Oxygen Index (LOI)
49 %
Refractive Index
1.4
Water Absorption After 24 Hours
0 %
Common Calculations
Stiffness to Weight: Axial
0.35 points
Stiffness to Weight: Bending
20 points
Strength to Weight: Axial
7.8 points
Strength to Weight: Bending
17 points
Thermal Diffusivity
0.061 mm2/s
Thermal Shock Resistance
27 points
Followup Questions
Further Reading
Handbook of Vinyl Formulating, 2nd ed., Richard F. Grossman (editor), 2008
Fluoroplastics: Volume 2 - Melt Processable Fluoropolymers, Sina Ebnesajjad, 2003
SPI Plastics Engineering Handbook of the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc., 5th ed., Michael L. Berins (editor), 2000
Modern Plastics Handbook, Charles A. Harper (editor), 1999
Plastics Materials, 7th ed., J. A. Brydson, 1999