DISCOVERING PVDF: STM MICROTEC TEST RESULTS
PVDF (polyvinylidenefluoride or polyvinylidenefluoride) is a thermoplastic fluoropolymer. PVDF resins are generally found in the form of granules and can be used in compounding, moulding and extrusion, like standard thermoplastic polymers and fine powders.
PVDF is a partially fluorinated thermoplastic polymer whose chemical characteristics make it applicable to many materials used in various industries, such as food and medical.
Precisely for this reason, several customers have turned to STM Microtec to carry out milling and micronising tests on this material, requiring very specific and difficult grain size targets. In particular, unlike other polymers that are ground in cryogenics, PVDF does not require this.
In fact, a machine from the Galileo Line, a highly innovative multi-function laboratory plant from a technical point of view, was used, and more specifically the MJS Jet Mill gas (air/nitrogen) counterjet refining mill.
The tests conducted allowed STM Microtec to thoroughly analyse its characteristics in order to emphasise its special features.
STM’s micronisation process can cause PVDF to first become a 200/300 µm granule, and then be further reduced until it reaches 30 µm, resulting in an extremely fine granule. These polymers are anomalous: they have a lower strength and therefore, unlike polyethylene and PVC, grinding can take place at room temperatures, as in this case. Grinding at room temperature has the peculiarity of enhancing the physical-morphological characteristics of the material.
STM, thanks to the excellent performance of its machines, is able to obtain a controlled, homogeneous, repeatable process that produces process output appropriate to the customer’s requirements.
In conclusion, the results obtained show that the efficiency of the STM Microtec machines allowed an excellent performance in terms of granulometric reduction quality, process continuity, thanks to the elimination of the undesired electro-static qualities of the PVDF, and versatility, thanks to the possibility of fielding the STM technology most suitable for the output requested by the customer.
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