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Watch the PROCESSING episode from our video series

EXTRUSION

Smooth Kynar® PVDF products of all types can be extruded at high rates without extrusion aids, lubricants or heat stabilizers. Kynar® resins can be processed using standard equipment with materials of construction similar to those used to process PVC or polypropylene. Drying of Kynar® resin is usually not required; however, it has been shown to reduce some surface blemishes in film, sheet and pipe extrusion. High viscosity polyethylene (PE) can be used as a purge compound at the end of a production run. However, if the extrusion equipment is not properly cleaned after purging, PE will act as a contaminant in subsequent runs. Cast acrylic resin can also be used as a purge compound, and unfilled Kynar® grades can be used to purge flame-retardant Kynar® grades.

PIPE EXTRUSION

Kynar® 740 resin and Kynar® 1000 resin are the primary grades used in chemical pipe applications. Kynar® 740-02 resin contains a smoke suppressant package and is primarily used for waste drainage pipe and fittings. Kynar Flex® 2850 copolymer can be used for applications requiring higher impact and stress crack resistance.

Standard metering screws with an L/D ratio of 24/1 and a compression ratio of 3/1 are commonly used. The screw should have an even flight distribution between the feed, transition and metering zones. Better temperature and output stability can be achieved by using a barrier-type screw. Maddox and spiral mixers are also acceptable, but pin type mixers are not recommended. Good temperature control of the extruder and tooling is required for optimal processing.

It is important to eliminate areas of slow-flow, or hang-up points, to prevent Kynar® resin from discoloring. Common areas of melt accumulation include behind the breaker plate, at undercuts and in any other stagnant areas. In-line spider dies are commonly used for producing Kynar® pipe. The design should minimize material inventory in the head and be streamlined to eliminate material hang-up. Spiral dies should be designed similarly and can provide better weld line strength.

The draw down ratio (DDR) for tip and die selection generally ranges from 1.3-2.1 (area DDR), or 1.05-1.5 (OD DDR), but varies based on the dimensions of the finished pipe. The optimum land length will vary based on pipe size, process conditions and material grade. Extrusion temperatures range between 200°-240°C (392°-464°F), but vary depending on material grade, as well as pipe and tooling size. Lower melt temperatures provide a “stronger” melt and are used when product whiteness is of primary concern.

Pipe is typically sized using a vacuum calibration system equipped with either a solid brass or a brass disk caliper, which is oversized to accommodate material shrinkage. See Table XII for common pipe processing temperatures.

TABLE 1: KYNAR® PVDF

PIPE EXTRUSION BARREL TEMPERATURES

 

GRADE

 

BARREL TEMPERATURE °C

 

 

 

REAR

 

MIDDLE

 

FRONT

 

HEAD

 

DIE

 

Kynar® 460

 

200 - 230

 

220 – 240

 

230 - 250

 

230 - 250

 

230 - 260

 

Kynar® 740

 

190 - 220

 

200 – 230

 

210 - 240

 

210 - 240

 

210 - 250

 

Kynar® 1000

 

190 - 220

 

200 – 230

 

210 - 240

 

210 - 240

 

210 - 250

 

Kynar Flex® 2850

 

190 - 220

 

200 – 230

 

210 - 240

 

210 - 240

 

210 - 250

TUBE EXTRUSION

The technical information mentioned for pipe extrusion (equipment, processing temperatures, etc.) also applies to tube extrusion. Kynar® homopolymers can typically be calibrated using standard contact sizing equipment similar to that used to produce pipe. The OD DDR used for contact sizing of tubing can range from 1.2 - 1.5. All other Kynar Flex® PVDF resin grades, as well as thin-walled tubing, are best processed using non-contact sizing calibrators. See Table XIII for common tube processing temperatures. Please contact our technical group for more information on this process.

 

TABLE 2: KYNAR® PVDF

TUBE EXTRUSION BARREL TEMPERATURES

 

GRADE

 

BARREL TEMPERATURE °C

   

REAR

 

MIDDLE

 

FRONT

 

HEAD

 

DIE

 

Kynar® Homopolymer

 

195 - 220

 

210 - 240

 

210 - 240

 

210 - 240

 

210 - 250

 

Kynar Flex® 3120

 

195 - 220

 

210 - 240

 

210 - 240

 

210 - 240

 

210 - 250

 

Kynar Flex® 2850

 

195 - 220

 

210 - 240

 

210 - 240

 

210 - 240

 

210 - 250

 

Kynar Flex® 2800

 

195 - 220

 

210 - 240

 

210 - 240

 

210 - 240

 

210 - 250

 

Kynar Flex® 2750

 

195 - 220

 

200 - 240

 

200 - 240

 

210 - 240

 

210 - 250

 

Kynar Superflex® 2500

 

195 - 220

 

200 - 240

 

200 - 240

 

210 - 240

 

210 - 250

INJECTION MOLDING

Standard injection molding equipment and tooling can be used to process Kynar® resin. No specialty materials of construction are required, but chrome or nickel plating of polymer contact surfaces is recommended to prevent pitting.

MOLD SHRINKAGE DATA

Melt temperatures will vary based on the part geometry, tooling and resin grade. In general, lower melt and mold temperatures can be used effectively with low viscosity Kynar® copolymer grades. Kynar® resin is best processed with a large sprue or edge gates. To produce the best quality parts, fill the sprue, runners and gates slowly and then ramp up the injection speed until the screw reaches its transfer position. Small pin or subgates can be used for smaller parts and will require faster injection speeds and higher melt temperatures to fill the part. If a process calls for use of a hot runner system, please contact a technical representative before committing to this practice.

Kynar® PVDF resin requires generous venting at the end of the filling process or a burning phenomenon known as dieseling can occur. Kynar® PVDF resin is a highly crystalline material and will exhibit shrinkage. Shrinkage rate is a function of part thickness, flow direction (which is a function of gate type and location) and processing conditions (See Table 1 below). Voiding can be a problem when molding Kynar® resin due to the polymer’s high crystallinity. Good part design practices are required to prevent voiding in thick sections of the part. See Table 2 below for common injection molding temperatures.

Arkema technical service is available to discuss tooling and processing of Kynar® PVDF.

 

TABLE 3: KYNAR® PVDF

MOLD SHRINKAGE RATE

GRADE

% SHRINKAGE* IN FLOW DIRECTION

CROSS FLOW DIRECTION

Kynar® 370

1.2 - 3.5

0.8 - 3.0

Kynar® 710

1.9 - 3.5

1.6 - 3.0

Kynar® 720

2.0 - 3.5

1.6 - 3.0

Kynar® 740

2.8 - 3.5

1.9 - 3.0

Kynar Flex® 2850-04

1.9 - 3.5

1.6 - 3.0

Kynar Flex® 2800-00

2.5 - 3.5

1.6 - 3.0

*Measurements taken after 24 hours at ambient conditions.

Actual shrinkage percent is related to size of the part and its geometry.

 

TABLE 4: KYNAR® PVDF

INJECTION MOLDING BARREL TEMPERATURES

GRADE

BARREL TEMPERATURE °C

 

REAR

MIDDLE

FRONT

HEAD

DIE

Kynar® 460

200 - 230

210 - 240

220 - 250

230 - 255

50 - 90

Kynar® 710

190 - 210

200 - 220

200 - 240

200 - 240

50 - 90

Kynar® 720

190 - 210

200 - 220

200 - 240

200 - 240

50 - 90

Kynar® 740

200 - 220

210 - 230

210 - 245

210 - 245

50 - 90

Kynar® 1000

200 - 220

210 - 230

210 - 245

210 - 245

50 - 90

Kynar® 6000

190 - 210

200 - 220

200 - 240

200 - 240

50 - 90

Kynar® 9000

190 - 210

200 - 220

200 - 240

200 - 240

50 - 90

Kynar® 370

190 - 210

200 - 220

200 - 240

200 - 240

50 - 90

Kynar SuperFlex®   2500

170 - 220

170 - 220

170 - 245

170 - 245

50 - 90

Kynar Flex®   2750-01

200 - 220

210 - 230

210 - 245

210 - 245

50 - 90

Kynar Flex® 2800-20

200 - 220

210 - 230

210 - 245

210 - 245

50 - 90

Kynar Flex® 2850-04

190 - 210

200 - 220

200 - 240

200 - 240

50 - 90

Kynar Flex® 3120-10

190 - 210

200 - 220

200 - 240

200 - 240

50 - 90

RECOMMENDED SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR MELT PROCESSING

Kynar® resins are relatively nontoxic and non-hazardous under typical handling conditions. Mechanical malfunctions or human error, however, may lead to thermal decomposition with evolution of hydrogen fluoride (HF). Precautions must be taken to prevent excessive inhalation and physical contact with hydrogen fluoride should decomposition take place. Unlike PVC, Kynar® resins will stop decomposing when the heat source is removed and the temperature of the melt is allowed to fall to normal processing temperature.

Additives, such as mica, asbestos, glass fibers, certain formulations of titanium dioxide, and very finely divided metals, may catalyze thermal de- composition rates during processing and should be used with caution. It is strongly recommended that the fabricator consult with the local Fluoropolymer Sales Representative before using any additives.

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