一批极片烘完一撕就掉粉,PVDF粘结剂这个坑,电池厂每年都得踩

产品中心 发布时间: 2026-09-13 4010 阅读

Every year during the few months when lithium electrode sheets are being coated, the manufacturers of binders start to get headaches.

The situation is like this: The slurry has just been prepared, the viscosity looks right, but when it is applied on the coater, the film thickness comes out uneven; after entering the oven for drying, it looks fine; but after calendering and peeling, the active material comes off in sheets. The entire roll of electrodes is judged as scrap, and tens of thousands of units of material from one batch are wasted.

The boss called over the purchasing staff and engineer and asked: 'Aren't we using imported PVDF? Why is it still like this?'

Purchase and incoming inventory record: It is imported PVDF, but why is the viscosity of this batch different from the last time?

The problem is not complicated—you bought the wrong grade of PVDF viscosity, or you simply bought the wrong material. When making lithium battery binders with PVDF, the molecular weight (corresponding to viscosity) is an unavoidable key factor. If the viscosity fluctuates, the slurry rheology, coating, and adhesion will all fluctuate accordingly.

Today's article will thoroughly explain the global landscape of the PVDF category, how three leading manufacturers and sub-brands are used in battery binders all at once.

What kind of material is PVDF?

PVDF is polyvinylidene fluoride, polymerized from vinylidene fluoride monomers. It belongs to the same fluorine family as PTFE, but PVDF is not as 'aloof'—it can be melt-processed, injection molded, extruded, and made into films, with much better processability than PTFE.

Its core capabilities: chemical resistance, weather resistance, piezoelectric and thermoelectric properties, and compatibility with electrode materials. When used as a lithium battery binder, the point is that it can withstand the electrolyte and stick the active material to the current collector without falling off. For photovoltaic backsheet coatings, corrosion-resistant pipeline linings, and piezoelectric sensors, PVDF is also used.

But making lithium battery binders requires very strict standards for PVDF. The molecular weight must be precise, the residual fluorine ions must be low, it must dissolve well in NMP, and the adhesion strength with the cathode material must be stable. If it's slightly off, the electrode sheet will have problems.

Globally, for PVDF production, three major foreign companies dominate the high-end market.

Based on production capacity, the global PVDF total capacity is about more than 200,000 tons per year, and the high-end lithium battery market is dominated by a few foreign manufacturers. The following three are the main suppliers that cannot be bypassed.

The first one, Arkema. France's Arkema is a long-established major manufacturer of PVDF, with the brand name Kynar. According to 2025 data, Arkema accounts for about 18% of global PVDF production capacity, making it the number one player. Its Kynar brand is well-known in lithium battery binders, and the Kynar Flex series is stably supplied to leading battery systems, with bases in Puyoo, France, Pennsylvania, USA, and Changshu, China. In high-end photovoltaic and lithium battery applications, Arkema is the highly frequently mentioned company.

The second company is Kureha. The PVDF brand of Japan's Kureha Chemical is called KF Polymer. According to 2025 data, Kureha accounts for about 17% of the global PVDF capacity, closely following Arkema. Kureha's characteristic is that it has developed extremely high-purity lithium battery-grade PVDF. The high-purity PVDF from its Kashima plant is exclusively supplied to Japanese and Korean battery manufacturers, forming deep ties with clients like Panasonic and Samsung SDI. Its accumulation in optimizing the electrochemical performance of binders is recognized in the industry as solid expertise.

The third company, Solvay (Specialty Polymers business is now Syensqo). It should be clarified here: the Specialty Polymers business of the original Belgian Solvay was later spun off into an independent company called Syensqo, and the PVDF brand is called Solef. According to 2025 data, this company accounts for about 15% of global PVDF capacity. Solef holds an important position in power batteries and high-end photovoltaics, with a good reputation for chemical resistance and thermal stability.

Next is Daikin, which has PVDF across its entire fluoropolymer lineup, but its market share is one level smaller than the top three. The top three together account for most of the global high-end lithium battery-grade PVDF.

Side Brand General Knowledge: Where Does the PVDF Side Brand Float

The principle of sub-brands is generally applicable: if it's the same manufacturer and the same grade, but the factory inspection of individual indicators misses the lower bound of the official grade, it's considered a sub-brand. The four main sources are: leftover material from starting and stopping production, transitional material when switching grades, batches with slight deviations in molecular weight/viscosity/purity during normal production, and leftover material from secondary lines. It is still the original manufacturer's native resin, with molecular chains from the same source as the official grade.

Using PVDF as a binder, the indicators where secondary brands fall short are precisely the ones that are particularly critical: first, molecular weight (corresponding to viscosity in NMP); second, purity and residual fluoride ions; third, solubility performance. For parts made with a binder, there is zero tolerance for these three items.

But PVDF is not only used as a binder. For applications like anti-corrosion coatings, pipe linings, and photovoltaic backsheet coatings, these uses are not sensitive to slight viscosity fluctuations, and secondary brands can fully be used.

The boundaries are still the same: the genuine brand fully meets standards with stable batches; for the secondary brand, a few indicators fluctuate slightly, but the base material is the same source; reclaimed material is made from edge scraps granulated again; recycled material comes from collected waste. Because lithium battery grade PVDF is expensive, on the market it's not uncommon for coating-grade secondary brands to be passed off as binder grade, so it is essential to distinguish the application grades.

How to use Arkema Kynar's sub-brands, coatings, and linings

Akomma's sub-brand Kynar mainly differs in molecular weight and purity.

For architectural coatings and corrosion-resistant pipe linings, these applications are not very sensitive to slight differences in viscosity, so Kynar secondary brand works well. For lithium battery binders, the requirements for molecular weight and purity are strict, so use the main brand, and don’t try to save a little money with the secondary brand. Kynar secondary brand is mostly available in large packages, supplied to the storage bins of coating and pipe manufacturers.

Wu Yu KF Polymer's sub-brand, small quantity and high price

Wu Yu KF Polymer itself does not have a large production capacity, and the proportion of high-purity lithium battery grade is high, with limited output of secondary brands. Its secondary brands are mostly used for coatings and liner applications without binders. When encountering KF Polymer secondary brands, first confirm which grade it is; do not use the coating grade for binders.

Solef's sub-label from Solvay, suitable for backup material

Solef's secondary brand is mainly used as a backup supply for anti-corrosion and photovoltaic coatings. The main production uses the primary brand, while the secondary line uses the secondary brand to divert non-adhesive components. Switching to the Solef secondary brand doesn't require major changes to the formula; you just need to check the viscosity once before running it on the machine.

Choosing Secondary Brands: Three Things to Know About PVDF

First, distinguish the application grades. Adhesive grade, coating grade, and lining grade have an order of magnitude difference in requirements for viscosity and purity; do not mix them.

Second, priors on molecular weight and viscosity. When a secondary brand of binder enters the factory, the viscosity in NMP must be sampled and measured, not just relied on the supplier's guarantee.

Third, packaging comes in different sizes. PVDF sub-brands have both large and small packaging; small packaging is for sampling, while large packaging is for mass production.

Cologne Warehouse Stock | PVDF Anti-Theft

Main promoted brands: Arkema (Kynar/Kynar Flex), Kureha (KF Polymer), Syensqo (Solef).

Main grades: Kynar, KF Polymer, Solef series.

Packaging specifications: Both large and small packages are available. Small packages are for trial runs and sampling, while large packages and ton bags are for mass production and cost dilution.

Warehouse Stock: PVDF secondary brand warehouse stock is usually around 5,000 tons, with continuous inventory throughout the year.

Among them, 800-1000 tons of small-package secondary brand stock, 300-500 tons of boxed secondary brand stock, and 3500-3900 tons of large-bag/ton-bag material stock are available, flexibly dispatched according to order ratios.

Supply assurance: test first, sign later; release goods only after the indicators match.

Selection mnemonic and a real case

When choosing a PVDF secondary brand, remember these five points: first, check whether the material is a binder or a coating; second, recognize the brands Kynar/KF Polymer/Solef; third, check viscosity and purity; fourth, choose the packaging size according to batch size; fifth, keep samples from each batch.

Here's a case. In Daqing, there is a factory that produces lithium battery cathode binders, supplying PVDF slurry to local battery manufacturers. They had always used Arkema's genuine Kynar, costing over 100,000 yuan per ton, and the slurry cost couldn't be reduced. They tried a batch of cheaper PVDF, but the viscosity was wrong, the slurry would sag immediately after coating, and the adhesion dropped after drying. A whole roll of cathodes was scrapped on the spot, causing significant loss. Later, we supplied them with a secondary brand of the same grade from Arkema, but used it on their anti-corrosion coating line, while the binder line continued to use the genuine brand. By diverting the secondary brand to the coating line, material costs on that line dropped significantly, and the cathode yield on the binder line stabilized above 95%, with both lines running without interference.

This is how PVDF secondary labeling is used—it’s not about forcibly putting secondary labels on the adhesive line; it’s about diverting coating parts that are not sensitive to viscosity. Ningbo Kolon New Materials Co., Ltd. has been making imported secondary labels for many years. For new energy materials like PVDF, similar diversion formulations are adjusted quite a bit every year. Simply put, it helps you lock in the adhesive strength and cost of the adhesive line before mass production.

Those making lithium battery binders, photovoltaic coatings, or corrosion-resistant linings, who hasn’t been crushed by PVDF’s high price? Is it because the branded one costs over a hundred thousand per ton and you dare not buy more? Or did you try to save money and end up with recycled material with poor flow? Or did you get a secondary brand and later find out it’s coating grade pretending to be binder grade?

Sources of information and data

DouDing.com '2026 China Battery Binder Industry Market Size and Competitive Landscape Analysis Report' (2025 Global PVDF Production Capacity Share)

Dataintelo 'PVDF Binder for Battery Market' Research Report (2026)

Sina Finance 'Sasol Plans PVDF North America Production Capacity' (2026-09)

DataVagyanik 'PVDF Adhesives for Lithium Battery Market' Company Share

Zhenjiang Rongcheng Pipe Industry 'PVDF Pipe Material Resin Manufacturer' (Arkema Kynar Brand)

Data

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