Dimethylformamide (DMF) is a methylamine solvent that offers high solvency and low volatility for use in various manufacturing processes and industrial applications. ChemPoint offers DMF from Belle Chemical Company, the only domestically produced dimethylformamide in North America.
DMF for vinyl polymer applications
Dimethylformamide (DMF) is an effective solvent for vinyl-based polymers and has been used for the manufacture of films, fibers, and coatings. It provides excellent solvency to a wide range of vinyl polymers, including:
Vinylidene cyanide polymers
Vinylisothicyancate polymers
Polyvinyl formal and polyvinyl butyral copolymers
Polyvinylchlorides
Polyvinyl acetates
Vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene copolymer (Viton™ A)
N-vinyloxyalkyl acylamidoguanamines
DMF is also commonly used as a cosolvent or solvency booster for high molecular–weight polyvinyl chlorides and vinyl chloride-acetate copolymers. When DMF is used in a solution, it often provides formulations with higher solid content, lower costs, and faster dissolution of resins and polymers.
DMF is readily dilutable with common aromatic solvents with minimal viscosity change and improved solvency overall. For example, toluene containing 10% DMF has been shown to have equivalent solvency to 100% DMF for Viton™ A (VYHH). DMF has shown superior solvency than cyclodexanone and methyl isobutyl ketone when these solvents are diluted to 30% with toluene.
DMF key applications
Protective coatings
DMF's high solvency allows for higher resin content in solution and relatively thick coatings. DMF is often used in baked-on coatings due to its medium boiling point temperature.
Films
DMF is an excellent choice for film casting of polyvinyl chloride films. It can be combined with other solvents, providing more control over casting and clear, grainy, or orange-peel finish.
Polymeric membranes
DMF and its relative dimethylacetamide (DMAC) are used in the manufacturing of a wide range of membrane materials due to their organic nature, superior solvency, and efficacy when combined with other solvents.
Printing inks
When used as a booster solvent, DMF’s high solvent power allows the use of hard-to-dissolve materials coupled with increased adherence of the inks to PVC films.
Other DMF applications include:
PVC homopolymers: High–molecular weight PVCs are often difficult to dissolve in common solvents that are typically effective with low-weight PVCs. DMF is still a great choice for high–molecular weight polyvinylchloride, providing the same powerful solvency as other organic solvents showing less effect and slower dissolution of the resins.
Urethanes: DMF, or N,N-Dimethylformamide, is used as a solvent for making polyurethane lacquer for clothing and accessories made of simulated (synthetic) leather. DMF also dissolves preformed solid polyurethane to form lacquers for specialty coating applications.
Polyacrylonitrile: DMF is commonly regarded as the most effective solvent for polyacrylonitrile homopolymer and its copolymers. As such, DMF is widely used in the production of polyacrylonitrile fibers and films based on polyacrylonitrile. DMF in aqueous solutions can be used as both the polymerization medium and the spinning or casting medium, eliminating the polymer isolation steps needed in a non-DMF aqueous solution.
If you are considering DMF, or dimethylformamide, as a solvent for a different type of polymer or resin, review this table showing the qualitative solubility of polymers and resins in DMF:
Material
Solubility in DMF
Acetal
Acetal (Delrin)
Insoluble
Acrylics
Cyanoacrylate Polymer
Soluble
Methylmethacrylates Polymer
Soluble
n-Butyl Methacrylate Polymer
Soluble
Polyacrylonitrile
Soluble
Cellulosic
Cellulose Acetate
Soluble
Cellulose Acetate Butyrate
Soluble
Cellulose Acetate Propionate
Soluble
Cellulose Nitrate
Soluble
Cellulose Triacetate
Partially Soluble
Cyanoethylated Cellulose
Soluble
Ethyl Cellulose
Soluble
Chlorinate Polyether
'Penton' - Hercules
Insoluble
Elastomers
ADIRENE
Swollen
Butyl Rubber
Insoluble
Chlorosulfonated Polyethylene
Soluble
EPDM
Insoluble
Ethylacrylate/Choloroethyl Vinyl Ether
Soluble to 40%
Fluoroelastomer (Viton™)
Soluble
Neoprene
Insoluble, Swollen
Polysulfide Rubbers
Soluble
SBR
Insoluble
Silicone Rubber
Insoluble, Swollen
Epoxy
Epoxy (Cured)
Insoluble
Natural
Damar
Insoluble
Ester Gum
Soluble
Esterified Congo Copal
Insoluble
Garnet Shellac
Soluble
Kauri Gum
Soluble
Manila Copal
Soluble
Orange Shellac
Partially Soluble
Soft Albino Asphalt
Partially Soluble
Wood Resin
Soluble
Nylon (polyamides)
Types 6, 6/6, 6/10
Insoluble
Type 8
Soluble
Phenolic
Coumarone-Indene
Soluble
Ester Gum Modified Phenol-Formaldehyde
Soluble
Phenol-Formaldehyde Pure Resin
Soluble
Thiourea Formaldehyde
Soluble
Urea-Formaldehyde
Insoluble
Polycarbonate
'Lexan'
Partially Soluble
Polyesters
Alkyd
Soluble
Saturated 'Mylar'
Insoluble
Polyethylene
Polyethylene
Insoluble
Polypropylene
Polypropylene
Insoluble
Polyurethanes
Polyurethanes
Soluble
Styrene
Polystyrene
Soluble
Styrene-Acrylonitrile Copolymer
Soluble
Vinyl Polymers and Copolymers
Polyvinyl Acetate
Soluble
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Soluble
Polyvinyl Butyral
Soluble
Polyvinyl Chloride
Soluble
Polyvinyl Chloride-Acetate
Soluble
Polyvinyl Fluoride
Soluble
Polyvinyl Formal
Soluble
Vinylidene Chloride/Vinyl Chloride Copolymer
Soluble
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