Arkema   is to expand PVDF production by 15% at its Calvert City facility in Kentucky, USA.

Arkema, a manufacturer of specialty materials, has announced a US$20M investment to expand production capacity by 15% for polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) in the USA. Arkema’s expansion of its Calvert City PVDF facility aims to support the growing domestic demand in the US lithium-ion battery, semiconductor, and cable markets. The company expects to complete the construction and commissioning of this expansion by mid-2026, aligning with the needs of North American battery gigafactories and semiconductor production.

This project is the second in the United States set to produce PVDF. In April 2024, Syensqo announced plans to construct a PVDF manufacturing facility in Augusta, Georgia. The company received a US$179M grant from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chain to support the construction of this facility. This initiative is part of a joint venture agreement between Syensqo and Orbia, which was announced in November 2023, aimed at supplying the US’ lithium-ion battery production chain.

The PVDF facility will produce Solef, Syensqo's signature PVDF product, using R-142b (a primary building block for PVDF) sourced from Orbia’s facility in St. Gabriel, Louisiana, which is also currently under construction. Orbia's St. Gabriel facility is set to produce 10kt of lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6) and 40kt of R-142b annually. Both facilities are expected to begin production in 2026, aiding in strengthening the US domestic battery supply chain. Orbia, through its subsidiary, Koura, is a leading global supplier of fluorspar from Mexico, the fluorine source used in the fluoropolymer compounds.

PVDF is a high-performance fluoropolymer used in various applications, including lithium-ion batteries and semiconductors. The growing demand for EVs is a significant driver for the fluoropolymer market, which is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 4.2% over the next decade. This growth is fuelled by increasing investments in green technologies and the shift towards more sustainable energy solutions, highlighting the critical role that fluoropolymers like PVDF will play in the advancement of modern electronics and energy storage systems.