Polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) - Film & Granule - Material Information

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is a semi-crystalline, high-performance fluoropolymer renowned for its unique combination of mechanical robustness, chemical resistance, and electroactive properties. Its molecular polarity enables both piezoelectric and pyroelectric effects, making it valuable for electronic, chemical, and energy-harvesting applications.

Material Overview

PVDF consists of repeating units of –CH?–CF?– and exists in multiple crystalline phases (?, ?, ?, ?), each characterized by distinct dipole orientations. The ?-phase, featuring all-trans planar zig-zag conformations, is responsible for PVDF’s strong piezoelectric and pyroelectric behavior. According to Saxena and Shukla (2021), PVDF combines high dielectric strength with superior mechanical flexibility and chemical inertness, resisting acids, bases, and organic solvents. Its melting point is approximately 177 °C, and it maintains thermal stability up to 150 °C. Mechanical stretching and electrical poling processes induce ?-phase formation, enhancing its d?? piezoelectric coefficient. Hartono et al. (2015) reported ?-phase fractions exceeding 70% in thin films produced by hot pressing at 160 °C, correlating with higher piezoelectric output. Furthermore, nanocomposites of PVDF with graphene oxide or ceramic fillers can enhance dielectric permittivity and thermal conductivity, expanding its functional range (Sagar et al., 2023). Recent wide-band electromechanical studies have also confirmed PVDF’s consistent piezoelectric behavior up to gigahertz frequencies (Maréchal et al., 2023).

Applications and Advantages

PVDF’s versatility has led to widespread use in sensors, actuators, and transducers, where its electromechanical conversion efficiency and flexibility are key. It is also employed in filtration membranes, fuel cells, wire insulation, and protective coatings thanks to its resistance to radiation and harsh chemicals. In biomedical engineering, PVDF’s biocompatibility supports its use in implants, sutures, and tissue scaffolds (Cárdenas Concha et al., 2024). Piezoelectric PVDF films are integral in vibration energy harvesters and precision microphones, while its granule form allows easy processing by extrusion or injection molding into structural components that retain both mechanical strength and electroactivity.

Goodfellow Availability

Goodfellow offers PVDF in film and granule forms, providing consistent purity and dielectric performance for research and industrial use. Custom configurations are available for piezoelectric and chemical-resistant applications. Explore PVDF and other advanced fluoropolymers through the Goodfellow product finder.

References

• Saxena, P., & Shukla, P. (2021). A comprehensive review on fundamental properties and applications of poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF). SN Applied Sciences, 3, 217. https://doi.org/10.1007/S42114-021-00217-0
• Cárdenas Concha, V. O., Timóteo, L., Duarte, L., Bahú, J. O., Lopez Muñoz, F., Pioli da Silva, A., Lodi, L., Severino, P., León-Pulido, J., & Souto, E. B. (2024). Properties, characterization and biomedical applications of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF): a review. Journal of Materials Science, 59, 11046–11075. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-024-10046-3
• Hartono, A., Satira, S., Djamal, M., Ramli, & Sanjaya, E. (2015). Effect of mechanical treatment and fabrication temperature on piezoelectric properties of PVDF film. AIP Conference Proceedings, 1653, 030054. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4917107
• Sagar, R., Mahesh Kumar, A. V., Raghav, R., & Gaur, M. S. (2023). Investigations on piezoelectric, dielectric and mechanical properties of PVDF/PVC/GO nanocomposites. ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology, 12(8), 085001. https://doi.org/10.1149/2162-8777/aceeb4
• Maréchal, É., Geron, E., & Hole, S. (2023). Wide-band electrical and electromechanical properties of PVDF and PVDF-TrFE piezoelectric films using electro-acoustic reflectometry. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 153(4), 2221–2233. https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0017927