PL · engineering plastic
Polyvinylidene Fluoride PVDF
Machines like a hard, slightly brittle plastic: clean chips, decent finish, and it holds a dimension far better than PTFE. It is bought for chemical resistance with structural strength.
Quoting this material
- Typical lead time
- 10–18 working days
- Condition
- Extruded or moulded stock
- Achievable finish
- Ra 1.6 µm typical · Ra 0.8 µm best
Machined in-house to your drawing: see the precision CNC machining service and the machine and inspection capability it runs on.
Machinability
Our own 1–10 shop ranking, not a published index: 10 is free-cutting brass C360, 1 is Inconel 718. It ranks how a material behaves on the floor - cycle time, chip control and tool life together. Where a published index exists it is quoted in the note.
Machines like a hard, slightly brittle plastic: clean chips, decent finish, and it holds a dimension far better than PTFE. It is bought for chemical resistance with structural strength.
Properties as supplied
| Parameter | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 50 | MPa |
| Modulus of elasticity | 1.4 | GPa |
| Hardness | 78 | Shore D |
| Continuous service temperature | 150 | °C |
| Thermal conductivity | 0.2 | W/m·K |
| Density | 1.78 | g/cm³ |
Hardness, tensile and thermal figures are typical published values for the condition stated. Actual mill certificates govern; send the specification with the drawing and we confirm against the certificate before the material is cut.
Condition
Extruded or moulded stock
Heat treatment
No heat treatment. It is dimensionally stable compared with PTFE and absorbs very little moisture, so it machines and stays where it is put.
Achievable surface finish
Ra 1.6 µm
Ra 0.8 µm
Takes a good finish and the machined surfaces clean up easily for a fluid-handling part.
Tooling and cutting parameters
Cutting speed
- 150–400 m/min (sharp uncoated carbide)
Feed
- 0.10–0.30 mm/rev turning · 0.10–0.25 mm/tooth milling
Tooling
- Sharp uncoated carbide, positive rake
Coolant
- Air or mist
Starting points for carbide on a rigid setup, not a guarantee. The right numbers depend on the machine, the toolholder and the fixturing - ask and we will say what we would actually run.
Typical applications
- Semiconductor wet bench components
- Chemical pump and valve parts
- Ultra-pure water handling
- Nuclear and laboratory fittings
- Corrosion-resistant linings
DFM notes for this grade
- It is the plastic for aggressive chemicals at temperature where PTFE would creep: stronger, stiffer and far more dimensionally stable
- Lower temperature limit than PTFE (around 150 °C against 260 °C) - check the service temperature rather than assuming a fluoropolymer is a fluoropolymer
- It is a good electrical insulator but it is piezoelectric in some forms, which matters for a precision sensor housing
Questions buyers ask
- PVDF or PTFE for chemical service?
- PVDF where the temperature is under 150 °C and the part needs to hold a shape or carry a load - pumps, valve bodies, wet bench hardware. PTFE where the temperature is higher or the chemical is too aggressive for PVDF, and where the part can tolerate creep and a soft material.
- Why is PVDF so common in semiconductor work?
- Ultra-pure water and aggressive wet chemistries at moderate temperature. It resists the chemicals, releases very little contamination and machines into the fittings and components the wet benches need, which is a combination PTFE does not match for dimensional work.