Coil and extruded metal manufacturers concerned about challenges in the PVDF supply chain can achieve a comparable finish and performance using non-PVDF alternatives in most applications, advises a new whitepaper from AkzoNobel, the leading coatings and paints manufacturer.

Changes in global market dynamics, including increased demand from markets such as electric vehicle batteries and solar panels, have led to volatility in the cost and supply of PVDF resin commonly used in coil coatings. This, in turn, has affected the availability of some PVDF-containing products.

But AkzoNobel’s whitepaper, “Navigating the PVDF landscape: A market in transition,” explains how coatings based on alternative technologies, such as silicone modified polyester (SMP), can often provide a comparable performance, without the drawbacks of PVDF coatings.

“PVDF coatings are particularly suited to environments, such as those that experience saltwater spray, extreme moisture or extreme humidity,” explains Brent Fletcher, Product Marketing Manager Americas, Coil and Extrusion Coatings at AkzoNobel. “However, the vast majority of the Northern Hemisphere does not have such extremes, so PVDF coatings may not be necessary. SMPs, for example, would be a good substitute for most locations in Central and Northern U.S., Canada, and North Asia.”

In many cases, Fletcher says, AkzoNobel offers a non-PVDF equivalent or similar product delivering the same quality required. At the same time, its research and development team, with decades of experience in the Coil and Extrusion coatings industry, is working to develop new offerings.

AkzoNobel’s whitepaper is part of the company’s ongoing campaign to help its partners and coatings customers navigate the volatile PVDF situation and make more informed decisions about the best solutions for their specific circumstances.