PVDF/Dyneon

The PVDF production in Thorofare, NJ, was originally built by Pennwalt and was diversified to Ausimont in 1999. In late 2001, Solvay started up its Decater, Alabama, plant with a capacity of 5000 MT. In 2002, Ausimont sold its Thorofare plant to Solvay and Solvay diversified its Decater plant to Dyneon (a 3M subsidiary). In 2003, Arkema expanded its PVDF production in Pierre-Benite, France. 

For areas with special application requirements, specifically modified polyester fabrics, as well as fabrics from aramid fibres, fluorine polymers and arylamides like Kevlar (ref. DuPont), have proved to be satisfactory. The membranes show different characteristics depending on the coatings used. Fluorine polymers such as PVDF (polyvinylidene fluoride) are used on PES fabrics (refs Mehler and Ferrari) a PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) coating is very suitable for fibreglass fabrics (ref Verseidag) and there is a newly developed composite membrane with THV (ret Dyneon), a polymeric blend of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoropropylene and vinylidenefluorine, used as a coating on PES fabrics, of which VALMEX vivax (ret Mehler) is one example. 

Dyneon acquired Solvay Fluoropolymers in 2001, including a PVDF manufacturing facility. In November 2004 it entered into an agreement with SpecialChem SA to moimt a web-based technical service facility for polymer process aids. The company employs more than 800 people worldwide. 

Dyneon-USA, Germany www.dyneon.com Not currently a PVDF producer produces TFE-based polymers with VDF as comonomer at low content DYNEON, HOSTAFLON... 

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