| HS Code | 664488 |
| Chemical Name | Polyvinyl Butyral |
| Appearance | White or off-white fine powder |
| Glass Transition Temperature | 60-80 °C |
| Molecular Weight | 40,000-200,000 g/mol |
| Hydroxyl Content | 18-23 wt% |
| Butyral Content | 70-80 wt% |
| Acetate Content | 1-3 wt% |
| Solubility | Soluble in alcohols, ketones, and esters; insoluble in water |
| Viscosity | Depends on grade, typically 10-100 cP in 10% solution |
| Thermal Decomposition Temperature | 200-250 °C |
| Ash Content | <0.5 wt% |
| Density | 1.07-1.15 g/cm³ |
As an accredited PVB Ceramic Binder factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Supplied in 25 kg quantities, PVB Ceramic Binder is packed in moisture-proof, sealed plastic-lined paper bags. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL: 25kg bags on pallets, shrink-wrapped, loaded in dry container, secured, moisture-proof, stable, safe transport. |
| Shipping | PVB Ceramic Binder ships in sealed moisture-barrier bags or fiber drums, palletized and wrapped to prevent damage. It is non-hazardous under normal transport conditions but should be kept dry, away from heat, sparks, and ignition sources. Labeling and documentation follow standard chemical shipping regulations. |
| Storage | Store PVB Ceramic Binder in a tightly sealed, original container in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. Protect from moisture, humidity, direct sunlight, and high temperatures. Keep away from open flames, sparks, and ignition sources. Ensure the area is clean and segregated from incompatible materials. Avoid prolonged storage under excessive heat to prevent degradation. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is typically 12 months when stored in a cool, dry place in a sealed container. |
Barium titanate dielectric tape for MLCC stacks imposes the tightest binder-pyrolysis control among ceramic tape casting applications because the PVB decomposition interval from approximately 250 °C to 480 °C coincides with the temperature zone in which the BaTiO3 surface can catalytically crack remaining carbon fragments. In production-scale slurry preparation, PVB solids are added at 8–12 wt% relative to 100 parts of BaTiO3-based dielectric powder, together with a phthalate plasticizer such as dibutyl phthalate at 2–4 wt% and a toluene/ethanol or methyl ethyl ketone/ethanol solvent system adjusted to 3,000–6,000 mPa·s at 10 s−1. The suspension is dispersed in a high-shear dissolver at 1,500–3,000 rpm until a Hegman grind below 5 µm is achieved, followed by 1 µm filtration and vacuum deairing. Tape casting onto silicone-coated PET carrier film uses a doctor blade gap of 25–120 µm; a three-zone drying tunnel at 60–110 °C removes solvent while maintaining green tensile strength sufficient for slitting and handling without edge tearing. Lamination of green sheets is performed in a heated hydraulic press at 55–70 °C and 2,000–4,000 psi for 60–180 s. The subsequent co-firing schedule limits the ramp rate between 250 °C and 450 °C to ≤0.5 °C/min to prevent surface skin-over and internal porosity. Final components are 0201, 0402, and 0603 MLCC chips with qualification under IEC 60384-22:2019 and AEC-Q200 Rev D for automotive-grade parts. RoHS 2011/65/EU compliance requires documenting that the binder system does not introduce restricted heavy metals, phthalates, or other substances above the maximum concentration values in homogeneous materials. Moisture absorption by the hydroxyl-bearing PVB chain becomes process-relevant above 60% RH; dry-room storage at ≤30% RH is specified for high-layer stacks, and amine-based dispersants that accelerate acetal hydrolysis should be avoided where slurry dwell time exceeds 24 h.
In Ag-metallized LTCC tape stacks, the PVB binder is selected primarily for low ash content and a burnout interval that ends before the CaO-Al2O3-SiO2-B2O3 glass-ceramic matrix begins to densify at 800–900 °C. Commercial LTCC tape formulations typically incorporate PVB at 6–12 wt% of glass-ceramic solids, with a plasticizer such as benzyl butyl phthalate at 1.5–4 wt% and a solvent package based on ethanol and methyl ethyl ketone to provide a slurry viscosity of 2,000–5,000 mPa·s. The tape is cast to a green thickness of 100–250 µm on PET carrier film; laser or punch via formation at 0.1–0.3 mm diameter is followed by silver conductor paste filling. Lamination is carried out at 70–85 °C and 15–20 MPa for 10–20 min, after which the binder burnout ramp from 350 °C to 450 °C is held at 0.3–0.8 °C/min. Constrained sintering between alumina setter plates at 850–900 °C controls x-y shrinkage to approximately 0.2–0.4%. Finished LTCC products include 5G RF filters, baluns, Bluetooth/Wi-Fi module substrates, and automotive radar module carriers. Final component qualification commonly references JEDEC J-STD-020E moisture sensitivity level MSL 3, RoHS 2011/65/EU for printed circuit carrier materials, and REACH SVHC declarations for the binder system. The PVB binder is incompatible with aqueous lamination adhesives and with screen-printing thick-film pastes formulated for water-based rheology; using such materials in the same stack may cause green sheet swelling and via distortion before burnout.
Alumina HTCC tape for hermetic ceramic packages uses 92–96% Al2O3 powder and PVB as the primary green sheet binder. In this application, PVB loading is maintained at 5–10 wt% of ceramic solids, with dibutyl phthalate or dioctyl phthalate at 1–3 wt% as plasticizer and a methyl ethyl ketone/ethanol solvent system adjusted to a slurry viscosity of 3,500–7,000 mPa·s. The slurry is cast at 200–500 µm wet thickness onto polyester film and dried in a two-zone dryer at 70–100 °C. Green sheets are via punched at 0.20–0.35 mm diameter using CNC punch tooling; the PVB binder must provide sufficient elongational strength so that punched via holes do not crack or collapse between adjacent holes spaced at 2–4 mm pitch. Tungsten conductor paste is screen printed through a 325-mesh stainless steel screen into blind and through vias. Lamination of 8–40 layers is performed at 70–80 °C and 10–20 MPa, after which the stack is cut with a heated blade. Co-firing at 1,500–1,600 °C occurs in a wet H2/N2 atmosphere with a ramp of 0.5–1.5 °C/min through the PVB pyrolysis zone from 250 °C to 500 °C. Fired density is typically 3.75–3.90 g/cm³ for electronic-grade alumina. Terminal products are hermetic leadless chip carriers, ceramic quad flat packages, high-temperature co-fired ceramic substrates, and downhole oil and gas electronic housings. Qualification is performed under MIL-STD-883 method 1014 for hermeticity and MIL-PRF-38534 for hybrid microcircuits, with RoHS 2011/65/EU documentation for any lead-bearing glass frit in the metallization paste. A PVB grade with ash content above 0.1 wt% is generally avoided in HTCC via fill because metal oxides deposited in the via channel can reduce tungsten adhesion and cause intermittent electrical continuity after co-firing.
Where piezoelectric transducer elements are produced by tape stacking rather than dry pressing, the PVB binder must burn out completely before PZT sintering at 1,200–1,300 °C so that residual carbon does not reduce the transition metal oxide dopants and shift the poling response. In lead zirconate titanate tape casting, PVB is loaded at 4–8 wt% of PZT powder, with a phthalate plasticizer at 1–2.5 wt% and an ethanol/toluene or ethanol/methyl ethyl ketone solvent system set to a slurry viscosity of 1,800–4,000 mPa·s. Tape thickness from 40 µm to 200 µm is controlled by doctor blade gap; after drying, Ag/Pd electrode paste is screen printed on the green tape surface. Stack lamination proceeds at 60–75 °C and 10–20 MPa for 15–30 min. The burnout stage to 600 °C is run at 0.5–1.5 °C/min in an oxygen-containing kiln, with the stack placed on lead zirconate setters to minimize PbO volatilization. Sintering is performed in sealed crucibles at 1,250–1,300 °C; after electrode termination, poling is conducted in silicone oil at 90–120 °C under an electric field of 2–3 kV/mm. Finished parts include single-element ultrasonic transducers, stacked piezoelectric actuators, medical imaging probe elements, hydrophones, and vibration sensors. Compliance for the final ceramic properties references EN 50324-1 for piezoelectric ceramic materials, and the PZT content is assessed under RoHS 2011/65/EU Annex III 7(c)-I where the lead-in-ceramics exemption applies. The PVB system must also be evaluated for REACH SVHC content when exported to the European Union. Because PVB can absorb moisture above 60% RH, tape handling prior to screen printing is conducted in a dry room at ≤25% RH to prevent electrode paste spreading caused by surface moisture.
Solid oxide fuel cell tape casting applies PVB at two distinct loadings across a graded co-fired structure: the NiO-YSZ anode support layer is mixed with 3–6 wt% PVB relative to anode solids, while the dense YSZ electrolyte layer uses 6–10 wt% PVB to withstand the mechanical strain of co-lamination. A phosphate ester dispersant is added to a toluene/ethanol or methyl ethyl ketone/ethanol solvent system before sequential doctor blade casting; the support layer wet thickness is 500–1,000 µm and the electrolyte layer is cast to 5–25 µm green thickness. The two-layer tape is laminated at 60–70 °C and 10–15 MPa, then cut into cell plates. Binder removal is carried out before densification in air up to 1,100 °C with a ramp rate of 0.2–0.5 °C/min between 300 °C and 500 °C; the slow ramp avoids trapped carbon that would prematurely reduce NiO to metallic nickel and create an uncontrolled pore network. Co-sintering in air at 1,350–1,450 °C produces a dense YSZ electrolyte bonded to a porous NiO-YSZ support; terminal cells are subsequently reduced under forming gas. Finished products are anode-supported SOFC single cells, repeat units for planar stacks, and solid oxide electrolyser cells for hydrogen production. Single-cell performance testing is typically conducted according to IEC 62282-7-2:2020, and the ceramic binder system must meet REACH and RoHS administrative requirements where applicable. PVB grades with high residual ash above 0.05 wt% are undesirable in the electrolyte layer because impurity oxides can lower ionic conductivity at operating temperatures around 700–800 °C.
Flat-sheet α-alumina membrane supports are produced by tape casting a coarse and fine alumina powder blend with PVB at 6–10 wt% of ceramic solids, benzyl butyl phthalate at 1–3 wt%, and an ethanol/toluene solvent system. The slurry is cast onto PET carrier film at 200–400 µm wet thickness and dried at 60–90 °C; after slitting, the green sheets are sintered at 1,400–1,500 °C to create a mechanically strong support with a pore size distribution of 0.2–0.8 µm and open porosity of 35–40%. PVB burnout through 600 °C is run at 0.5–1.0 °C/min to prevent lamination cracks in thick multiple-sheet supports. Finished terminal products include single-channel and multi-channel ceramic microfiltration and ultrafiltration modules for industrial water treatment, food and beverage clarification, and oil-water separation. Pore size data for the porous support layer is measured by bubble point testing under ASTM F316. RoHS 2011/65/EU and REACH documentation apply to the binder system, while end-use water-contact approvals are evaluated under the relevant regional drinking water standards. The PVB binder is not suitable for aqueous tape casting systems and cannot be directly substituted into CMC/SBR formulations without changing solvent-handling equipment, fire suppression requirements, and dryer zoning.
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PVB Ceramic Binder is supplied as a free-flowing powder with a density of 1.07–1.12 g/cm³ measured by ISO 1183-1:2019. Polyvinyl butyral content is controlled between 75 wt% and 88 wt%, polyvinyl alcohol content between 11 wt% and 25 wt%, and polyvinyl acetate content between 0 wt% and 2.5 wt%. The glass transition temperature determined by ISO 11357-2:2020 lies between 60 °C and 78 °C across commercial grades. Representative model designations employed in ceramic processing include Eastman Butvar B-72, B-74, B-76, B-79 and B-98, and Kuraray Mowital B 30 H, B 45 H and B 60 H. The resin is soluble in ethanol/toluene mixtures, methyl ethyl ketone/ethanol blends, and selected ester solvents, and is insoluble in water and aliphatic hydrocarbon diluents. Ash content after 600 °C in air is typically below 0.05 wt% for neat resin measured by ISO 3451-1:2019, which makes the binder suitable for high-purity oxide and glass-ceramic tape formulations.
The primary differentiation among PVB binder models is the polyvinyl alcohol content and the molecular-weight-dependent solution viscosity. A lower hydroxyl content of 10.5–13.0 wt% reduces slurry viscosity and water uptake in stored green tape, while a higher hydroxyl content of 17.5–20.0 wt% increases adhesion to oxide and glass-ceramic powders and improves green strength. Solution viscosity at 10 wt% solids in 60:40 toluene:ethanol measured at 25 °C by ASTM D2196-20 ranges from 30 mPa·s to 250 mPa·s across commercial grades. Table 1 lists typical manufacturer-reported ranges for several ceramic-grade PVB resins.
| Model example | Polyvinyl alcohol content | Glass transition temperature | Viscosity at 10 wt% in 60:40 toluene:ethanol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butvar B-98 | 18.0–20.0 wt% | 72–78 °C | 30–60 mPa·s |
| Butvar B-79 | 10.5–13.0 wt% | 70–75 °C | 75–130 mPa·s |
| Butvar B-76 | 11.0–13.0 wt% | 62–68 °C | 160–250 mPa·s |
| Butvar B-74 | 17.5–20.0 wt% | 72–78 °C | 60–90 mPa·s |
| Butvar B-72 | 17.5–20.0 wt% | 72–78 °C | 170–250 mPa·s |
Table 1. Typical manufacturer-reported data for ceramic-grade PVB resins; lot-specific certificates of analysis prevail. Kuraray Mowital B 30 H and B 60 H are used as regional equivalents where similar hydroxyl content and viscosity profiles are required.
In multilayer ceramic capacitor tape casting, the PVB Ceramic Binder is charged at 5–20 parts per 100 parts of ceramic powder. The binder is pre-dissolved in a solvent blend such as 60:40 toluene:ethanol or MEK/ethanol at 10–25 wt% solids before addition to the ceramic slurry. High-shear dispersion on a vacuum planetary mixer with a rotor-stator tip speed of 5–25 m/s is used to deagglomerate the powder; slurry temperature is maintained at or below 35 °C to avoid solvent evaporation. The mixed slurry is filtered through an absolute-rated depth filter of 10–25 µm and deaerated under 20–50 mbar for 30–60 min. Final casting viscosity at 10 s⁻¹ is typically 500–3000 mPa·s. Doctor blade gap is set between 50 µm and 500 µm on polyethylene terephthalate carrier film at casting speeds of 0.5–3.0 m/min. Drying zones operate at 70–110 °C, and residual volatile content is kept below 1.0 wt% by gravimetric loss-on-drying at 105 °C for 1 h following ISO 3251:2019. Plasticizer addition at 20–40 wt% relative to PVB shifts the free-film glass transition temperature from 60–78 °C to −10–20 °C, depending on whether dibutyl phthalate or benzyl butyl phthalate is selected.
The selection of PVB over acrylic binder emulsions or ethyl cellulose solutions is governed by burnout residue, green strength, and solvent compatibility. PVB leaves a neat-resin ash content below 0.05 wt% after 600 °C in air when measured by ISO 3451-1:2019; acrylic binder emulsions typically contain surfactant and defoamer residues that raise ash to 0.1–0.5 wt%. Ethyl cellulose can produce carbonaceous residue in thick sections because its high pyrolysis char yield requires oxygen access. Table 2 summarizes the main comparative properties.
| Property | PVB ceramic binder | Acrylic binder | Ethyl cellulose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preferred solvent or diluent | Ethanol/toluene, MEK/ethanol | Water or ester/alcohol | Terpineol/alcohol |
| Neat resin ash after 600 °C in air | ≤0.05 wt% | 0.1–0.5 wt% | 0.05–0.2 wt% |
| Typical free-film glass transition temperature | 60–78 °C | −30–60 °C | 120–140 °C |
| Thermal debinding completion in air | 450–600 °C | 350–500 °C | 350–550 °C |
| Green tape mechanical response at equal binder addition | Stiffer, higher strength | More flexible, lower strength | Stiffer, higher modulus |
In doctor-blade casting, PVB produces higher green tensile strength than low-Tg acrylic binders at the same binder weight fraction. A cast tape produced with 8 wt% PVB at a 125 µm doctor blade gap can show a green tensile strength of 2–6 MPa when measured by ASTM D882-18; a comparable acrylic-bound tape frequently falls below 2 MPa unless the formulation includes reinforcing fugitive additives. Ethyl cellulose, although used for screen-printable thick-film pastes, imparts higher solution viscosity and requires higher solvent dilution to achieve doctor-blade casting viscosity below 3000 mPa·s. The PVB acetal backbone also provides stronger adsorption onto barium titanate and alumina surfaces through the hydroxyl and acetate groups, which reduces binder migration during fast drying. Unlike polyvinyl alcohol, PVB is not water-soluble, and therefore green tapes prepared with PVB show lower sensitivity to ambient humidity during storage.
Thermogravimetric analysis at a heating rate of 10 °C/min in air shows three mass-loss regions for PVB: residual moisture and low-molar-mass plasticizer loss below 150 °C; deacetalization and side-group oxidation between 200 °C and 350 °C; and oxidative combustion of the carbonaceous backbone at 350–450 °C. A hold at 300–350 °C for 1–3 h is the critical step in thin tape, because this interval removes the largest mass fraction before ceramic particle necks form. For laminates above 1 mm thickness, the heating rate is limited to 0.2–0.5 °C/min between 100 °C and 350 °C; otherwise internal pressure from butyraldehyde and CO₂ evolution can produce delamination cracks. Continuous oxygen flow of 5–10 chamber volumes per hour in a ventilated kiln or box furnace with cross-flow architecture maintains oxygen partial pressure; stagnant loads can produce carbon residue above 0.05 wt% at the center of large batches. For tape thickness below 100 µm, ramp rates up to 2.0 °C/min are tolerated through the 200–350 °C band. Residual carbon is determined by high-frequency combustion infrared absorption per ISO 15350:2000 and should remain below 200 ppm in high-reliability MLCC dielectrics before sintering. PVB should not be used for non-oxide ceramics that require oxygen-free debinding, because the dominant weight-loss mechanism is oxidative; inert pyrolysis leaves a char that may not be removed before sintering. For thick multilayer blocks, published data for this specific configuration is limited, and trial runs with the actual laminate thickness and furnace load are required.
Green-strength retention during low-pressure lamination is controlled by the binder-to-plasticizer ratio and the lamination temperature relative to the plasticized binder Tg. Textural analysis of 100 µm green tapes containing 5 wt% PVB and 30 wt% plasticizer relative to binder gives maximum stress values of 1.5–4.0 MPa and strain at break of 4–10% under ASTM D882-18. Lamination at 70 °C and 15 MPa for 10 min in an isostatic press raises green density to 55–65% of theoretical density for tape-cast alumina. Batch-to-batch slurry viscosity drift from moisture absorption can exceed ±15% when PVB powder is stored in open bins at RH >60%; pre-drying at 40 °C under 20–40 mbar for 4–8 h restores lot-to-lot slurry viscosity within specification.
Incoming lots are released against a certificate of analysis that reports solution viscosity by ASTM D2196-20, moisture by ISO 15512:2019, ash by ISO 3451-1:2019, and glass transition temperature by ISO 11357-2:2020. The binder is not classified as dangerous goods under typical ceramic use, but local REACH and RoHS obligations must be confirmed for the specific destination. Storage is carried out in sealed containers at ≤35 °C and ≤60% RH; typical quoted shelf life is 24 months when unopened. Pre-drying is required at relative humidity above 60% before slurry compounding.
Because PVB is solvent-borne, it is not directly compatible with aqueous ceramic slurries; water addition above 5 wt% of the solvent blend can cause phase separation and viscosity instability. Strongly acidic suspensions below pH 3 or alkaline suspensions above pH 9 can hydrolyse acetal groups over storage periods exceeding 24 h. Aliphatic hydrocarbons should be avoided as dilution solvents because they are non-solvents and induce precipitation. For high-titanate dielectric powders with residual surface amines, published data for this specific configuration is limited; compatibility trials are recommended with the actual powder and solvent package before scaling to a continuous tape-casting line.
