ABSTRACT
In the early 1970s it was discovered that poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) is ferroelectric. The structure of the repeating unit of PVDF is -CHz-CF:r-. It is not a new material, having been first polymerized in the 19408; and at the time of the discovery of its ferroelectric properties, it was produced commercially in very large quantities for a variety of applications. The major high-volume commercial applications include use as a base for durable long-life coatings for exterior finishes, as a chemically inert material for use in chemical processing equipment, and as an electrical insulator. PVDF is a crystalline polymer with a crystalline fraction of about 50% and high mechanical and impact strength, particularly in oriented fibers and films. It is resistant to creep under load and to fatigue after repeated flexure.
