Fluoropolymers (PTFE, PVDF): Feedstocks
Fluorspar, hydrofluoric acid and China's mining grip
Fluorspar, hydrofluoric acid and China's mining grip What this tab covers What it is made from and what it feeds: the raw materials and energy per tonne with their share of cost (linked to the commodity table), who is low-cost and why, and the chemicals made from it.Fluoropolymers start with fluorspar, converted to HF with sulphuric acid. PTFE also needs chloroform (from methane and chlorine), and PVDF needs chlorinated C2 intermediates. China mines 60% of fluorspar (fluorspar tile), which gives Chinese integrated producers like Dongyue and Juhua a cost edge.
Inputs per tonne
| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| F Fluorspar | about 1.8-2.0 t per t PTFE (derived: about 0.85 t HF x 2.1-2.2 t fluorspar per t HF) | fluorine source | about 10-15% of PTFE cash cost (indicative) | hydrofluoric acid and fluorspar tiles; acidspar $470/t US import unit value 2025 (USGS MCS 2026) |
| Hydrofluoric acid (chemical tile: hydrofluoric_acid) | about 0.8-0.9 t per t PTFE (stoichiometric, indicative) | fluorinating agent | about 15-20% (indicative) | stoichiometric; hydrofluoric acid tile |
| Chloroform (from methane and chlorine; chemical tile: chlorine) | about 2.4 t per t PTFE (stoichiometric) | carbon backbone of R22 | about 15-20% (indicative) | stoichiometric; indicative |
| Gas Natural gas | indirect | feed and energy | energy about 10% (indicative) | indicative |
| S Sulfur | about 2.2-2.3 t H2SO4 per t PTFE (derived from HF tile) | acid for HF kiln | small | hydrofluoric acid tile |
Who is low-cost, and why
Chinese integrated fluorspar-to-polymer groups are lowest cost. Japanese, US and European producers compete on purity and specialty grades. Indian producers import acidspar but run integrated HF, R22 and polymer chains at lower labour and capital cost.
Raw materials on the commodity table
F FluorsparWhat it is made into
| Product | Note |
|---|---|
| LiPF6 Battery electrolytes | PVDF binder about 40 t per GWh of cells (GFL, Aug 2026) |
| UPW Ultra-pure wet chemicals | PFA and PTFE fluid-handling parts carry ultra-pure chemicals in fabs |