Fluorodur: Advanced material with extraordinary heat resistance

 
 

The first material by Fillamentum Industrial that will be released in 2021 is a real highlight of our portfolio! Fluorodur belongs to the group of engineering polymers with properties similar to Vinyl 303, but with even better chemical and thermal resistance. Fluorodur is made using Kynar® PVDF by Arkema.

Fluorodur is made of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF). It belongs to the group of fluoroplastics from which Teflon is the most known representative.

Fluoroplastics have polymer chains with high rigidity. Straight polymer chains can create a highly crystalline structure. The crystallinity is the ability of a polymer to organize the chains into the supramolecular structure. Thanks to this well-organized conformation, chains are very close, the intermolecular distance is smaller, and the intermolecular bonding is stronger. What does it mean regarding the properties of the filament?

First of all, it is excellent chemical resistance against a wide range of chemical substances, including automotive fluids, halogenated hydrocarbons, alcohols, acids, etc. The most important feature is that Fluorodur keeps its chemical resistance even at a wide range of temperatures (-40 °C up to +120 °C), which makes the filament unique. Its thermal resistance up to 150 °C is admirable.

The presence of halogen atoms in the polymer chains (chlorine, fluor, bromine, iodine) predetermines self-extinguishing. In the case of fire, the material starts burning, but when the source of fire moves away, it extinguishes after a short time, so the fire does not spread. It complies with the requirements of V-0 class (but always, the final product must be tested under specific conditions).

And last but not least is the excellent UV resistance. The high-energy bonds cannot be easily affected by the UV light beam. It resists more than 7 years in the outdoor environment.

For its excellent properties, PVDF can be classified as “engineering plastic.” In the Fillamentum portfolio, this group is represented by Polypropylene PP 2320, PC/ABS, Nylon FX256 and Vinyl 303.

We can have a look at their comparison in the table:

 Polypropylene PP 2320PC/ABSNylon FX256Vinyl 303Fluorodur
Typical crystallinity30–50 %0%30–45 %3–10 %35–70 %
Ease of 3D printing★★★★★★★★★
Low ★/ high ★★★★ warping★★★★★★★★★★★★
Tensile strength★★★★★★★★★★★
Impact strength184kJ/㎡ (U)53kJ/㎡ (N)7kJ/㎡ (N)~5kJ/㎡ (N)5kJ/㎡ (N)
Hardness99 MPa (ball ind.) ★★78 Shore D ★★★★
Density0,96 g/㎤1,07 g/㎤1,01 g/㎤1,35 g/㎤1,79 g/㎤
Temperature resistanceup to 115 °Cup to 125 °Cup to 140°Cup to 70 °Cup to 150 °C
Low-temperature resistancedown to -40 °Cdown to -40 °Cdown to -60 °Cdown to -40 °Cdown to -40 °C
Moisture absorptionlowmediumhighlowlow
Weather resistance★★★★★★★★★★★
Combustibility HBHBself- extinguishingself- extinguishing
Barrier properties★★★★   ★★★★
Hydrolytic stability★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

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