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Benchmarks/Polymers

Atomic oxygen erosion benchmark

polymers

40 polymers · NASA MISSE 2 · 3.95 years outside the ISS

Polymers flown outside the International Space Station, ranked by how fast atomic oxygen erodes them (NASA MISSE 2).

Atomic oxygen erosion benchmark: materials ranked by the chosen measurement
#MaterialErosion yieldCompared with Kapton HLost in 3.95 years
1 white TedlarCrystalline polyvinylfluoride with white pigment 1.01×10⁻²⁵ cm³/atom 0.03× 8.5 µm
2 PTFEPolytetrafluoroethylene 1.42×10⁻²⁵ cm³/atom 0.05× 12 µm
3 PFAPerfluoroalkoxy copolymer resin 1.73×10⁻²⁵ cm³/atom 0.06× 15 µm
4 AFAmorphous fluoropolymer 1.98×10⁻²⁵ cm³/atom 0.07× 17 µm
5 FEPFluorinated ethylene propylene 2.00×10⁻²⁵ cm³/atom 0.07× 17 µm
6 PGPyrolytic graphite 4.15×10⁻²⁵ cm³/atom 0.14× 35 µm
7 KevlarPoly-(p-phenylene terephthalamide) 6.28×10⁻²⁵ cm³/atom 0.21× 53 µm
8 Kel-FChlorotrifluoroethylene 8.31×10⁻²⁵ cm³/atom 0.28× 70 µm
9 TefzelTetrafluoroethylene-ethylene copolymer 9.61×10⁻²⁵ cm³/atom 0.32× 81 µm
10 ABSAcrylonitrile butadiene styrene 1.09×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 0.36× 92 µm
11 KynarPolyvinylidene fluoride 1.29×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 0.43× 109 µm
12 ZylonPoly(p-phenylene-2 6-benzobisoxazole) 1.36×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 0.45× 115 µm
13 PANPolyacrylonitrile 1.41×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 0.47× 119 µm
14 NomexPolyphenylene isophthalate 1.41×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 0.47× 119 µm
15 PUPolyurethane 1.56×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 0.52× 132 µm
16 HalarEthylene-chlorotrifluoroethylene 1.79×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 0.60× 151 µm
17 PA 66Polyamide 66 (nylon 66) 1.80×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 0.60× 152 µm
18 CP1Polyimide 1.91×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 0.64× 161 µm
19 PEOPolyethylene oxide 1.93×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 0.64× 163 µm
20 PBIPolybenzimidazole >2.21×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom >0.74× >186 µm
21 PPPolypropylene 2.68×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 0.89× 226 µm
22 Kapton HNPolyimide (PMDA) 2.81×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 0.94× 237 µm
23 PSUPolysulphone 2.94×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 0.98× 248 µm
24 PEEKPolyetheretherketone 2.99×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 1.00× 252 µm
25 Kapton HPolyimide (PMDA) 3.00×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 1.00× 253 µm
26 MylarPolyethylene terephthalate 3.01×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 1.00× 254 µm
27 PMR-15High temperature polyimide resin >3.02×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom >1.01× >255 µm
28 clear TedlarPolyvinyl fluoride 3.19×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 1.06× 269 µm
29 PEIPolyetherimide >3.31×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom >1.10× >279 µm
30 PA 6Polyamide 6 (nylon 6) 3.51×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 1.17× 296 µm
31 PEPolyethylene >3.74×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom >1.25× >315 µm
32 PSPolystyrene 3.74×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 1.25× 315 µm
33 EPEpoxide or epoxy 4.21×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 1.40× 355 µm
34 PCPolycarbonate 4.29×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 1.43× 362 µm
35 CACellulose acetate 5.05×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 1.68× 426 µm
36 PMMAPolymethyl methacrylate >5.60×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom >1.87× >472 µm
37 CR-39Allyl diglycol carbonate >6.80×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom >2.27× >573 µm
38 PBTPolybutylene terephthalate 9.11×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 3.04× 768 µm
39 DelrinPolyoxymethylene (acetal) 9.14×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 3.05× 771 µm
40 Upilex-SPolyimide (BPDA) 9.22×10⁻²⁴ cm³/atom 3.07× 777 µm

Hover a value to see its conditions. Open a material for the method and the source. Want a missing value? Add a result.

How to read this

  • Measured values come from a test or a flight. Calculated values are worked out from the material's formula. Prediction values come from a model.
  • no data means nobody has published a value we could source. It does not mean zero.
  • Every value links to its source, with the place in the source where it can be found.