For 50 years, 70 percent PVDF resin-based coatings have both literally and figuratively stood the test of time. Originally introduced to the market in 1965, 70 percent PVDF coatings have steadily grown to be one of the most sought after and recognized coil and extrusion coatings available. Continuous improvements to the PVDF technology have contributed to the coating’s longevity, and resulted in additional PVDF coatings, formulations and uses.
PVDF is the abbreviation for polyvinylidene difluoride, a fluoropolymer resin. Coatings containing fluoropolymer resins are produced by many manufacturers and branded with a variety of trademarked names. It can be confusing for those outside of the coatings industry to differentiate between the resin manufacturers and the coating manufacturers. Furthermore, although architectural coatings from different manufacturers contain similar PVDF resins, the application and performance of the coating systems can widely vary. This is due to the proprietary formulations of each coating manufacturer. Hylar by Solvay Solexis and Kynar by Arkema Inc. are the two brands of PVDF resins most widely recognized in the U.S., and offer equivalent performance per industry standards for weathering.