Amorphous fluoropolymer (Teflon AF) AF
Amorphous fluoropolymer
Amorphous fluoropolymer, sold by Chemours as Teflon AF, is a glassy fluoroplastic that dissolves in selected perfluorinated solvents, so it can be spun, sprayed or dipped into thin films.
Evidence level
5 of 5
Flown or field-proven
- 0Predicted only. No one has made it, or no measurement exists.
- 1Calculated. Only calculated or predicted values from sources.
- 2Lab-measured. Measured properties with their conditions stated.
- 3Space-relevant tests. Measured in conditions relevant to space, such as vacuum or atomic oxygen.
- 4Ground-qualified. Qualified for an application on the ground.
- 5Flown or field-proven. Flight or field results exist.
Erosion in low Earth orbit
1.98×10^-25 cm³/atom
Optics
1.31 unitless
Heat
160 °C
Recipe, share of the weight
- C not statedCarbon
- O not statedOxygen
- F not statedFluorine
Best for
Thin, low-index, optically clear and hydrophobic fluoropolymer coatings and claddings that must survive atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit
Weakest at
Strength and stiffness at high temperature: tensile strength falls from 26.9 MPa at 23 degC to 7.7 MPa at 220 degC, and the material decomposes above 360 degC
Risk at a glance
- People Low. Hazards come from residual gases and vapours, not from the…
- If it fails No data. No failure risks recorded
- Corrosion No data. No corrosion data recorded
Quick facts: AF
| Property | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Density | 2.15 g/cm³ | 1 sourced value |
| Yield strength | 27.4 to 28.4 MPa | 1 sourced value |
| Tensile strength | 26.9 to 28.4 MPa | 1 sourced value |
| Young's modulus | 1.6 GPa | 1 sourced value |
What is the density of Amorphous fluoropolymer (Teflon AF)?
Amorphous fluoropolymer (Teflon AF) has a density of 2.15 g/cm³. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the yield strength of Amorphous fluoropolymer (Teflon AF)?
Amorphous fluoropolymer (Teflon AF) has a yield strength of 27.4 to 28.4 MPa. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the tensile strength of Amorphous fluoropolymer (Teflon AF)?
Amorphous fluoropolymer (Teflon AF) has a tensile strength of 26.9 to 28.4 MPa. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is the Young's modulus of Amorphous fluoropolymer (Teflon AF)?
Amorphous fluoropolymer (Teflon AF) has a Young's modulus of 1.6 GPa. The source and test conditions are listed in the properties table on this page.
What is Amorphous fluoropolymer (Teflon AF) used for?
Uses recorded in the sources include Low-index optical cladding and anti-reflective coatings; Hydrophobic dielectric layer in electrowetting devices.
Why it exists
AF is a clear, amorphous fluoropolymer with a low refractive index and a low dielectric constant. On the MISSE 2 PEACE flight outside the ISS it eroded at 1.98e-25 cm3/atom, which puts it in the low-erosion group of fluoropolymers. It is a candidate where a thin, optically clear or hydrophobic coating must survive atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit.
Where it's used
Use
Optical cladding and anti-reflective coatings, where its refractive index of 1.31 is the reason it is used (Chemours).
Use
Hydrophobic dielectric layers in electrowetting devices, as used in the arXiv paper with Teflon AF 1600 films.
Recipe
Amorphous fluoropolymer; NASA repeat unit C19O6F32 for Teflon AF 1601
Amorphous fluoropolymer is a fluorine-rich polymer. NASA's composition table gives the Teflon AF 1601 repeat unit as C19O6F32, with 57 atoms per unit and a molar mass of 932.1414. Chemours says it is dissolved in certain perfluorinated solvents and then spun, sprayed or dipped into thin films.
| Ingredient | Share of the weight | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Carbon C | not stated | Backbone and side-group carbon. With fluorine it forms the perfluorinated, low-polarizability structure behind the low refractive index and dielectric constant. |
| Oxygen O | not stated | Ether oxygens in the ring structure. NASA counts these in its erosion model, since atomic oxygen can react with them. |
| Fluorine F | not stated | Most of the repeat unit by count. Fluorine gives the chemical resistance, low surface energy and low water absorption that Chemours reports. |
Weight shares are as printed in the sources.
What it can do
Erosion in low Earth orbit
1.98×10^-25 cm³/atom
measured
The MISSE 2 PEACE measurement gives 1.98e-25 cm3/atom after an atomic oxygen fluence of 8.43e21 atoms/cm2 and about 6,300 equivalent sun hours.
Optics
1.31 unitless
measured
The grade 1600 refractive index is 1.31, and the optical transmission is printed as greater than 95 percent.
Heat
160 °C
measured
The grade 1600 glass transition is 160 degC, and the deflection temperature at 66 psi is 156 degC.
How it compares
AF is a low-erosion fluoropolymer. Among the MISSE 2 PEACE polymers it eroded about as much as FEP and somewhat more than PTFE, but far less than Kapton H, PEEK or polyethylene in the same MISSE 2 table. Its room-temperature strength is low. The compare rows show the three numbers that most often decide between it and the alternatives.
The same measurements for each material, so you can compare them. Each row names the key condition under the value; the full conditions and methods are in the numbered notes under Technical details. Other materials are shown beside it; each was measured under its own conditions, so open its page before comparing closely. Compare every grade in the family.
| Measurement | AF | PCTFE (CTFE, Kel-F) | ECTFE (Halar) | ETFE | FEP | PFA | PTFE | PVDF (Kynar) | PVF | PVF (white Tedlar) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity and energy | ||||||||||
| Critical surface energy (grade 1600)As printed by the manufacturer | 15.7 dynes/cm | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Thermal behavior and safety | ||||||||||
| Deflection temperature at 66 psi (grade 1600)ASTM D648, as printed by the manufacturer | 156 °C | no data | 115 °C | no data | no data | 91 °C | no data | 125 °C | no data | no data |
| Onset of decompositionManufacturer processing guidance | 360 °C | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Lifetime and stability | ||||||||||
| Volume coefficient of thermal expansion (grade 1600)ASTM E831, as printed by the manufacturer | 260 ppm/°C | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Physical and electrical | ||||||||||
| Density (MISSE 2 PEACE sample) | 2.146 g/cm³2 | 2.133 g/cm³ | 1.68 g/cm³ | 1.74 g/cm³ | 2.144 g/cm³ | 2.138 g/cm³ | 2.17 g/cm³ | no data | 1.379 g/cm³ | 1.624 g/cm³ |
| Temperature behavior | ||||||||||
| Glass transition temperature (grade 1600)ASTM D3418, as printed by the manufacturer | 160 °C | 45 °C | no data | no data | no data | no data | 170 K | -40 °C | no data | -20 °C |
| Other measurements | ||||||||||
| Atomic oxygen erosion yield (MISSE 2 PEACE, ISS) | 1.98×10^-25 cm³/atom1 | 8.31×10^-25 cm³/atom | 1.79×10^-24 cm³/atom | 9.61×10^-25 cm³/atom | 2×10^-25 cm³/atom | 1.73×10^-25 cm³/atom | 1.42×10^-25 cm³/atom | 1.29×10^-24 cm³/atom | 3.19×10^-24 cm³/atom | 1.01×10^-25 cm³/atom |
| Ash content (mass fraction of polymer that is ash) | 0.0358 mass fraction3 | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Specific gravity (grade 1600)ASTM D792, as printed by the manufacturer | 1.78 none | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | 1.76 dimensionless | no data | no data |
| Refractive index (grade 1600)ASTM D542, as printed by the manufacturer | 1.31 unitless | no data | no data | no data | no data | 1.35 - | no data | no data | 1.46 nD | 1.46 nD |
| Dielectric constant (grade 1600)ASTM D150, as printed by the manufacturer | 1.93 unitless | no data | 2.5 none | 2.6 dimensionless | 2.03 - | 2 - | 2.1 dimensionless | no data | no data | 11 - |
| Dielectric strength (grade 1600)ASTM D149, as printed by the manufacturer | 2.1 kV/0.1 mm | no data | 500 V/mil | no data | 80 kV/mm | 260 kV/mm | 30 kV/mm | no data | no data | 3.5 kV/mil |
| Dissipation factor (grade 1600) | 1×10^-4 unitless4 | no data | no data | no data | 6×10^-4 - | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Optical transmission (grade 1600)ASTM D1003, as printed by the manufacturer | 95 % | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Contact angle with water (grade 1600)ASTM D570, as printed by the manufacturer | 104 degrees | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Water absorption (grade 1600)As printed by the manufacturer | 0.01 % | no data | 0.1 % | no data | 0.01 % | no data | no data | no data | 0.5 % | 0.5 % |
| Yield strength at 23 degC (grade 1600)As printed by the manufacturer | 27.4 MPa5 | no data | no data | no data | 13.8 MPa | 12 MPa | no data | no data | no data | no data |
| Tensile strength at 23 degC (grade 1600)ASTM D638, as printed by the manufacturer | 26.9 MPa6 | 34 MPa | 7000 psi | 40 MPa | 20 MPa | 21 MPa | no data | no data | 8 kpsi | 55 MPa |
| Tensile strength at 220 degC (grade 1600)ASTM D638, as printed by the manufacturer | 7.7 MPa7 | 34 MPa | 7000 psi | 40 MPa | 20 MPa | 21 MPa | no data | no data | 8 kpsi | 55 MPa |
| Elongation at break at 23 degC (grade 1600)ASTM D638, as printed by the manufacturer | 17.1 %8 | 100 % | 200 % | 300 % | 300 % | 300 % | no data | no data | 90 % | 90 % |
| Tensile modulus (grade 1600)ASTM D638, as printed by the manufacturer | 1.6 GPa | 5.65 GPa | 2.4×10^5 psi | 1075 MPa | no data | 480 MPa | no data | no data | no data | 2655 MPa |
| Flexural modulus at 23 degC (grade 1600)ASTM D790, as printed by the manufacturer | 1.8 GPa9 | no data | no data | no data | 520 MPa | 0.54 GPa | no data | 1655 MPa | no data | no data |
Why choose it, and why not
Good for
- Thin, optically clear, low-index or hydrophobic coatings and claddings that must survive atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit with less erosion than most hydrocarbon or polyimide films.
Watch out for
- Do not heat it above 360 degC, where it decomposes. Its strength is low at room temperature (26.9 MPa) and drops to 7.7 MPa at 220 degC. Residual HFA and other gases can be harmful.
AF erodes slowly in low Earth orbit and is a sound choice for thin optical and hydrophobic layers. It is soft and weak, so it is a coating, not a structural material.
Technical details
For scientists and researchers. Everything above comes from the record below: every number with its method, its conditions and its source.
Notes
The method, full conditions and any caveat for the numbered rows above.
| # | Measurement | Method | Conditions | Caveat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Atomic oxygen erosion yield (MISSE 2 PEACE, ISS) | Mass loss measured after flight, divided by density, area and fluence, as tabulated by NASA | grade flown Teflon AF 1601exposure outside the ISS, MISSE 2 PEACE tray E5atomic oxygen fluence 8.43e21 atoms/cm2solar exposure 6,300 ESHuncertainty plus or minus 0.05E-25 cm3/atom (NASA/TM-2010-216903, Table 6) | — |
| 2 | Density (MISSE 2 PEACE sample) | Density gradient column testing as described by NASA | grade flown Teflon AF 1601 | — |
| 3 | Ash content (mass fraction of polymer that is ash) | Fractional ash content measured for the MISSE 2 PEACE polymers | grade flown Teflon AF 1601 | — |
| 4 | Dissipation factor (grade 1600) | ASTM D150, as printed as a range by the manufacturer | grade 1600 | — |
| 5 | Yield strength at 23 degC (grade 1600) | — | grade 1600temperature 23 °C (73 degF)note printed as 27.4 plus or minus 1.0 MPa | — |
| 6 | Tensile strength at 23 degC (grade 1600) | — | grade 1600temperature 23 °C (73 degF)note printed as 26.9 plus or minus 1.5 MPa | — |
| 7 | Tensile strength at 220 degC (grade 1600) | — | grade 1600temperature 220 °C (428 degF)note printed as 7.7 plus or minus 6.1 MPa | — |
| 8 | Elongation at break at 23 degC (grade 1600) | — | grade 1600temperature 23 °C (73 degF)note printed as 17.1 plus or minus 5.0 percent | — |
| 9 | Flexural modulus at 23 degC (grade 1600) | — | grade 1600temperature 23 °C (73 degF)note printed as 1.8 plus or minus 0.1 GPa | — |
Corrosion and compatibility
What happens when it meets other materials and environments.
| Environment | Concern | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Low Earth orbit, atomic oxygen (MISSE 2 PEACE, ISS) | not rated | Erodes at about the same rate as FEP and a little faster than PTFE, and about fifteen times slower than Kapton H.1 |
| Thermal cycling on an ISS base plate | not rated | The flight tray saw a nominal base-plate range of +40 degC to -30 degC.2 |
| Heating during processing or use | not rated | The polymer begins to decompose above 360 degC, and its tensile strength is much lower at 220 degC.3 |
| Water and humid air | not rated | Takes up very little water and is strongly water-repellent.4 |
| # | Environment | Details | Test conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Low Earth orbit, atomic oxygen (MISSE 2 PEACE, ISS) | On the MISSE 2 PEACE tray, AF eroded at 1.98e-25 cm3/atom. In the same table FEP eroded at 2.00e-25 cm3/atom, PTFE at 1.42e-25 cm3/atom, and Kapton H at 3.00e-24 cm3/atom. | — |
| 2 | Thermal cycling on an ISS base plate | The MISSE 2 base-plate thermal cycling range was nominally between +40 degC and -30 degC, with occasional short excursions. The fetched pages report no AF-specific damage from this cycling, so the effect is not known from these sources. | — |
| 3 | Heating during processing or use | Chemours says processing above 360 degC should be avoided. At 220 degC the grade 1600 tensile strength is 7.7 MPa, against 26.9 MPa at 23 degC. | — |
| 4 | Water and humid air | Water absorption is printed as less than 0.01 percent, and the contact angle with water is 104 degrees for grade 1600. No corrosion or hydrolysis data for AF were found in the fetched pages. | — |
Risks and side effects
Hazards to people, what happens when a cell overheats, and how the material is handled and stored.
For people
Chemours and PubChem name hexafluoroacetone, hydrogen fluoride and other residual gases as the hazard. The fetched sources do not describe the hazard of the solid polymer itself.
- Residual gases
- Chemours says residual gases, including HF, COF2, CO and HFA, diffuse from the resin even at room temperature and may be harmful.
- Medical use
- Chemours does not allow permanent implantation or contact with bodily fluids unless covered by a written contract.
Test details
The original wording and numbers from the sources, for readers who want them.
Failure risks
| Failure | Trigger and consequence |
|---|---|
| Atomic oxygen erosion removes material at 1.98e-25 cm3/atom in low… | Atomic oxygen erosion removes material at 1.98e-25 cm3/atom in low Earth orbit. The MISSE 2 film was 2 mils thick, so the film thins with fluence. |
| Strength and stiffness fall at high temperature | Strength and stiffness fall at high temperature. Grade 1600 tensile strength is 7.7 MPa at 220 degC against 26.9 MPa at 23 degC. |
| Processing above 360 degC decomposes the polymer | Processing above 360 degC decomposes the polymer. |
Handling and storage
- Before using Teflon AF, read the Safety Data Sheet and the Guide to the Safe Handling of Fluoropolymer Resins, as Chemours instructs.
- Avoid skin contact with the resin during processing, and wear protective gloves when handling it in manufacturing operations.
- Keep processing below 360 degC and use corrosion-resistant tooling, as recommended for Teflon FEP and PFA.
Mitigations
- Keep processing temperatures below the 360 degC decomposition onset, and use corrosion-resistant tooling.
Supply and geography
How common the raw materials are and where they come from.
Fluorine feedstock: fluorspar (calcium fluoride, CaF2)
USGS estimates global mine production decreased by 1 percent to 10 million tons in 2025. The world reserves total is printed as 330,000 in the USGS table, with no unit printed beside it.
- Top producers
- Mexico 64%
- Recycling
- USGS notes that synthetic fluorspar may be produced from neutralization of waste in uranium enrichment, petroleum alkylation and other processes.
- Substitutes
- USGS lists fluorspar substitutes for some uses, such as AlF3 and HF production.
Documents
Datasheets, safety data sheets, papers and standards you can open.
Full record
The complete spore, as stored. Free to reuse under CC-BY-4.0. Images keep the licence shown with each one.
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spore: profile
id: af
spore_version: 0.2
family: fluoropolymers
name: Amorphous fluoropolymer (Teflon AF)
abbreviation: AF
role: clear, amorphous fluoroplastic coating and optical-cladding polymer
category: polymers
type: fluoropolymers
summary: Amorphous fluoropolymer, sold by Chemours as Teflon AF, is a glassy fluoroplastic that dissolves in selected perfluorinated solvents, so it can be spun, sprayed or dipped into thin films. On the NASA MISSE 2 PEACE flight outside the ISS it eroded under atomic oxygen at 1.98e-25 cm3/atom, about the same as FEP (2.00e-25 cm3/atom) and a little more than PTFE (1.42e-25 cm3/atom), and about fifteen times less than Kapton H (3.00e-24 cm3/atom). Chemours gives a glass transition of 160 degC for its 1600 grade and a refractive index of 1.31.
best_for: Thin, low-index, optically clear and hydrophobic fluoropolymer coatings and claddings that must survive atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit
weakest_at: 'Strength and stiffness at high temperature: tensile strength falls from 26.9 MPa at 23 degC to 7.7 MPa at 220 degC, and the material decomposes above 360 degC'
identity:
formula: Amorphous fluoropolymer; NASA repeat unit C19O6F32 for Teflon AF 1601
cas: ''
source: nasa-2008
where: 'Table V (repeat-unit atom counts for AF: C19 O6 F32, 57 atoms in total); formula and molar mass 932.1414 from the AF row of the composition table in the same report'
tags:
environments:
- low-earth-orbit
stresses:
- atomic-oxygen
- thermal-cycling
applications:
- optics-and-cameras
- electronics-and-chips
properties:
- benchmark: atomic_oxygen_erosion_yield
label: Atomic oxygen erosion yield (MISSE 2 PEACE, ISS)
value: 1.98e-25
unit: cm3/atom
scope: material
conditions:
grade_flown: Teflon AF 1601
exposure: outside the ISS, MISSE 2 PEACE tray E5
atomic_oxygen_fluence: 8.43e21 atoms/cm2
solar_exposure: 6,300 ESH
uncertainty: plus or minus 0.05E-25 cm3/atom (NASA/TM-2010-216903, Table 6)
method: Mass loss measured after flight, divided by density, area and fluence, as tabulated by NASA
status: flight
source: nasa-2006
where: Table 4, row 2-E5-45 (Amorphous Fluoropolymer, AF, erosion yield column)
- benchmark: density
label: Density (MISSE 2 PEACE sample)
value: 2.1463
unit: g/cm3
scope: material
conditions:
grade_flown: Teflon AF 1601
method: Density gradient column testing as described by NASA
status: ground
source: nasa-2006
where: Table 4, row 2-E5-45, density column
- benchmark: ash_mass_fraction
label: Ash content (mass fraction of polymer that is ash)
value: 0.0358
unit: mass fraction
scope: material
conditions:
grade_flown: Teflon AF 1601
method: Fractional ash content measured for the MISSE 2 PEACE polymers
status: ground
source: nasa-2008
where: Table II, AF row (mass fraction of polymer that is ash, Na)
- benchmark: specific_gravity
label: Specific gravity (grade 1600)
value: 1.78
unit: none
scope: material
conditions:
grade: '1600'
method: ASTM D792, as printed by the manufacturer
status: ground
source: chemours-af
where: Typical Property Data table, Other section, Specific Gravity row, 1600 column
- benchmark: glass_transition_temperature
label: Glass transition temperature (grade 1600)
value: 160
unit: degC
scope: material
conditions:
grade: '1600'
tolerance: plus or minus 5 degC as printed (320 degF)
method: ASTM D3418, as printed by the manufacturer
status: ground
source: chemours-af
where: Typical Property Data table, Other section, Tg row, 1600 column
- benchmark: refractive_index
label: Refractive index (grade 1600)
value: 1.31
unit: unitless
scope: material
conditions:
grade: '1600'
method: ASTM D542, as printed by the manufacturer
status: ground
source: chemours-af
where: Typical Property Data table, Optical section, Refractive Index row, 1600 column
- benchmark: dielectric_constant
label: Dielectric constant (grade 1600)
value: 1.93
unit: unitless
scope: material
conditions:
grade: '1600'
method: ASTM D150, as printed by the manufacturer
status: ground
source: chemours-af
where: Typical Property Data table, Electrical section, Dielectric Constant row, 1600 column
- benchmark: dielectric_strength
label: Dielectric strength (grade 1600)
value: 2.1
unit: kV/0.1 mm
scope: material
conditions:
grade: '1600'
method: ASTM D149, as printed by the manufacturer
status: ground
source: chemours-af
where: Typical Property Data table, Electrical section, Dielectric Strength row, 1600 column
- benchmark: dissipation_factor
label: Dissipation factor (grade 1600)
value: 0.0001
value_high: 0.0002
unit: unitless
scope: material
conditions:
grade: '1600'
method: ASTM D150, as printed as a range by the manufacturer
status: ground
source: chemours-af
where: Typical Property Data table, Electrical section, Dissipation Factor row, 1600 column
- benchmark: optical_transmission
label: Optical transmission (grade 1600)
value: 95
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
grade: '1600'
note: printed as greater than 95 percent
method: ASTM D1003, as printed by the manufacturer
status: ground
source: chemours-af
where: Typical Property Data table, Optical section, Optical Transmission row
- benchmark: water_contact_angle
label: Contact angle with water (grade 1600)
value: 104
unit: degrees
scope: material
conditions:
grade: '1600'
method: ASTM D570, as printed by the manufacturer
status: ground
source: chemours-af
where: Typical Property Data table, Chemical section, Contact Angle with Water row, 1600 column
- benchmark: critical_surface_energy
label: Critical surface energy (grade 1600)
value: 15.7
unit: dynes/cm
scope: material
conditions:
grade: '1600'
method: As printed by the manufacturer
status: ground
source: chemours-af
where: Typical Property Data table, Chemical section, Critical Surface Energy row, 1600 column
- benchmark: moisture_absorption
label: Water absorption (grade 1600)
value: 0.01
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
grade: '1600'
note: printed as less than 0.01 percent
method: As printed by the manufacturer
status: ground
source: chemours-af
where: Typical Property Data table, Chemical section, Water Absorption row, 1600 column
- benchmark: yield_strength
label: Yield strength at 23 degC (grade 1600)
value: 27.4
value_high: 28.4
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
grade: '1600'
temperature: 23 degC (73 degF)
note: printed as 27.4 plus or minus 1.0 MPa
method: As printed by the manufacturer
status: ground
source: chemours-af
where: Typical Property Data table, Mechanical section, Yield Strength row, 23 degC line
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength at 23 degC (grade 1600)
value: 26.9
value_high: 28.4
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
grade: '1600'
temperature: 23 degC (73 degF)
note: printed as 26.9 plus or minus 1.5 MPa
method: ASTM D638, as printed by the manufacturer
status: ground
source: chemours-af
where: Typical Property Data table, Mechanical section, Tensile Strength row, 23 degC line
- benchmark: ultimate_tensile_strength
label: Tensile strength at 220 degC (grade 1600)
value: 7.7
unit: MPa
scope: material
conditions:
grade: '1600'
temperature: 220 degC (428 degF)
note: printed as 7.7 plus or minus 6.1 MPa
method: ASTM D638, as printed by the manufacturer
status: ground
source: chemours-af
where: Typical Property Data table, Mechanical section, Tensile Strength row, 220 degC line
- benchmark: elongation
label: Elongation at break at 23 degC (grade 1600)
value: 17.1
unit: '%'
scope: material
conditions:
grade: '1600'
temperature: 23 degC (73 degF)
note: printed as 17.1 plus or minus 5.0 percent
method: ASTM D638, as printed by the manufacturer
status: ground
source: chemours-af
where: Typical Property Data table, Mechanical section, Elongation at Break row, 23 degC line
- benchmark: elastic_modulus
label: Tensile modulus (grade 1600)
value: 1.6
unit: GPa
scope: material
conditions:
grade: '1600'
method: ASTM D638, as printed by the manufacturer
status: ground
source: chemours-af
where: Typical Property Data table, Mechanical section, Tensile Modulus row, 1600 column
- benchmark: flexural_modulus
label: Flexural modulus at 23 degC (grade 1600)
value: 1.8
value_high: 1.9
unit: GPa
scope: material
conditions:
grade: '1600'
temperature: 23 degC (73 degF)
note: printed as 1.8 plus or minus 0.1 GPa
method: ASTM D790, as printed by the manufacturer
status: ground
source: chemours-af
where: Typical Property Data table, Mechanical section, Flexural Modulus row, 23 degC line
- benchmark: heat_deflection_temperature
label: Deflection temperature at 66 psi (grade 1600)
value: 156
unit: degC
scope: material
conditions:
grade: '1600'
load: 66 psi
method: ASTM D648, as printed by the manufacturer
status: ground
source: chemours-af
where: Typical Property Data table, Mechanical section, Deflection Temperature row, 66 psi line
- benchmark: volume_cte
label: Volume coefficient of thermal expansion (grade 1600)
value: 260
unit: ppm/degC
scope: material
conditions:
grade: '1600'
method: ASTM E831, as printed by the manufacturer
status: ground
source: chemours-af
where: Typical Property Data table, Other section, Volume Coefficient of Thermal Expansion row
- benchmark: decomposition_onset_temperature
label: Onset of decomposition
value: 360
unit: degC
scope: material
conditions:
note: The polymer begins to decompose above 360 degC (680 degF)
method: Manufacturer processing guidance
status: ground
source: chemours-af
where: Processing section, first paragraph (molding temperatures and decomposition warning)
corrosion:
- environment: Low Earth orbit, atomic oxygen (MISSE 2 PEACE, ISS)
headline: Erodes at about the same rate as FEP and a little faster than PTFE, and about fifteen times slower than Kapton H.
effect: On the MISSE 2 PEACE tray, AF eroded at 1.98e-25 cm3/atom. In the same table FEP eroded at 2.00e-25 cm3/atom, PTFE at 1.42e-25 cm3/atom, and Kapton H at 3.00e-24 cm3/atom.
source: nasa-2006
where: Table 4 (rows 2-E5-42, 2-E5-43, 2-E5-45 and 2-E5-30); NASA/TM-2008-215490 introduction
rating: unknown
- environment: Thermal cycling on an ISS base plate
headline: The flight tray saw a nominal base-plate range of +40 degC to -30 degC.
effect: The MISSE 2 base-plate thermal cycling range was nominally between +40 degC and -30 degC, with occasional short excursions. The fetched pages report no AF-specific damage from this cycling, so the effect is not known from these sources.
source: nasa-2006
where: Section 2 (MISSE 2 flight description), thermal cycling paragraph
rating: unknown
- environment: Heating during processing or use
headline: The polymer begins to decompose above 360 degC, and its tensile strength is much lower at 220 degC.
effect: Chemours says processing above 360 degC should be avoided. At 220 degC the grade 1600 tensile strength is 7.7 MPa, against 26.9 MPa at 23 degC.
source: chemours-af
where: Processing section and Mechanical section of the Typical Property Data table
rating: unknown
- environment: Water and humid air
headline: Takes up very little water and is strongly water-repellent.
effect: Water absorption is printed as less than 0.01 percent, and the contact angle with water is 104 degrees for grade 1600. No corrosion or hydrolysis data for AF were found in the fetched pages.
source: chemours-af
where: Chemical section of the Typical Property Data table
rating: unknown
uses:
- application: optics-and-cameras
device: Low-index optical cladding and anti-reflective coatings
example: Chemours lists its use in fiber optics as a low refractive index, high temperature cladding material over silica, methacrylates, and polycarbonates.
source: chemours-af
where: Chemical Applications list, Optical section of the product information
- application: electronics-and-chips
device: Hydrophobic dielectric layer in electrowetting devices
example: The paper made 800 nm thick amorphous fluoropolymer films by screen printing Teflon AF 1600 solution (Chemours) onto substrates for its charge-trapping and electrowetting study.
source: arxiv-electrowetting
where: Section on sample preparation (Methods)
risks:
hazards:
- text: Chemours says the resin may contain parts per million of residual hexafluoroacetone (HFA), which is readily absorbed through the skin. Residual gases including HF, COF2, CO and HFA diffuse from the resin even at room temperature and may be harmful.
ghs: []
source: chemours-af
where: Handling Practices paragraph
- text: Chemours warns that vapors can be liberated from Teflon AF that may be hazardous if inhaled.
ghs: []
source: chemours-af
where: Safety Precautions box
- text: PubChem's hexafluoroacetone record lists H330 (98.9%) Fatal if inhaled, H310 (25.1%) Fatal in contact with skin, and H314 (73.8%) Causes severe skin burns and eye damage, with signal word Danger.
ghs:
- H330
- H310
- H314
source: pubchem-hfa
where: GHS Classification, CID 12695
- text: Hydrogen fluoride is named among the residual gases. PubChem's hydrofluoric acid record lists H330 Fatal if inhaled and H314 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.
ghs:
- H330
- H314
source: pubchem-hf
where: GHS Classification, CID 14917 (Hydrofluoric Acid)
- text: Chemours cautions against medical use involving permanent implantation in the human body or contact with bodily fluids or tissues, unless covered by a written contract.
ghs: []
source: chemours-af
where: Caution note at the end of the product information
failure_risks:
- source: nasa-2006
where: Table 4, row 2-E5-45; thickness from NASA/TM-2010-216903, Table 1
mode: Atomic oxygen erosion removes material at 1.98e-25 cm3/atom in low…
consequence: Atomic oxygen erosion removes material at 1.98e-25 cm3/atom in low Earth orbit. The MISSE 2 film was 2 mils thick, so the film thins with fluence.
- source: chemours-af
where: Mechanical section of the Typical Property Data table
mode: Strength and stiffness fall at high temperature
consequence: Strength and stiffness fall at high temperature. Grade 1600 tensile strength is 7.7 MPa at 220 degC against 26.9 MPa at 23 degC.
- source: chemours-af
where: Processing section
mode: Processing above 360 degC decomposes the polymer
consequence: Processing above 360 degC decomposes the polymer.
side_effects: []
handling:
- text: Before using Teflon AF, read the Safety Data Sheet and the Guide to the Safe Handling of Fluoropolymer Resins, as Chemours instructs.
source: chemours-af
where: Safety Precautions box
- text: Avoid skin contact with the resin during processing, and wear protective gloves when handling it in manufacturing operations.
source: chemours-af
where: Handling Practices paragraph
- text: Keep processing below 360 degC and use corrosion-resistant tooling, as recommended for Teflon FEP and PFA.
source: chemours-af
where: Processing section
mitigations:
- text: Keep processing temperatures below the 360 degC decomposition onset, and use corrosion-resistant tooling.
source: chemours-af
where: Processing section
supply:
- subject: 'Fluorine feedstock: fluorspar (calcium fluoride, CaF2)'
abundance: USGS estimates global mine production decreased by 1 percent to 10 million tons in 2025. The world reserves total is printed as 330,000 in the USGS table, with no unit printed beside it.
producers:
- country: Mexico
share_percent: 64
critical_lists: []
recycling: USGS notes that synthetic fluorspar may be produced from neutralization of waste in uranium enrichment, petroleum alkylation and other processes.
substitutes:
- USGS lists fluorspar substitutes for some uses, such as AlF3 and HF production.
source: usgs-fluorspar-2026
where: 'Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, Fluorspar: Import Sources (2021-24), World Mine Production and Reserves tables, Recycling and Substitutes paragraphs'
story:
recipe:
line: Amorphous fluoropolymer is a fluorine-rich polymer. NASA's composition table gives the Teflon AF 1601 repeat unit as C19O6F32, with 57 atoms per unit and a molar mass of 932.1414. Chemours says it is dissolved in certain perfluorinated solvents and then spun, sprayed or dipped into thin films.
parts:
- name: Carbon
symbol: C
role: Backbone and side-group carbon. With fluorine it forms the perfluorinated, low-polarizability structure behind the low refractive index and dielectric constant.
- name: Oxygen
symbol: O
role: Ether oxygens in the ring structure. NASA counts these in its erosion model, since atomic oxygen can react with them.
- name: Fluorine
symbol: F
role: Most of the repeat unit by count. Fluorine gives the chemical resistance, low surface energy and low water absorption that Chemours reports.
risk_groups:
- title: For people
level: 1
verdict: Hazards come from residual gases and vapours, not from the…
lead: Chemours and PubChem name hexafluoroacetone, hydrogen fluoride and other residual gases as the hazard. The fetched sources do not describe the hazard of the solid polymer itself.
points:
- label: Residual gases
line: Chemours says residual gases, including HF, COF2, CO and HFA, diffuse from the resin even at room temperature and may be harmful.
- label: Medical use
line: Chemours does not allow permanent implantation or contact with bodily fluids unless covered by a written contract.
why: AF is a clear, amorphous fluoropolymer with a low refractive index and a low dielectric constant. On the MISSE 2 PEACE flight outside the ISS it eroded at 1.98e-25 cm3/atom, which puts it in the low-erosion group of fluoropolymers. It is a candidate where a thin, optically clear or hydrophobic coating must survive atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit.
uses:
- where: Use
line: Optical cladding and anti-reflective coatings, where its refractive index of 1.31 is the reason it is used (Chemours).
- where: Use
line: Hydrophobic dielectric layers in electrowetting devices, as used in the arXiv paper with Teflon AF 1600 films.
can_do:
- label: Erosion in low Earth orbit
benchmark: atomic_oxygen_erosion_yield
line: The MISSE 2 PEACE measurement gives 1.98e-25 cm3/atom after an atomic oxygen fluence of 8.43e21 atoms/cm2 and about 6,300 equivalent sun hours.
- label: Optics
benchmark: refractive_index
line: The grade 1600 refractive index is 1.31, and the optical transmission is printed as greater than 95 percent.
- label: Heat
benchmark: glass_transition_temperature
line: The grade 1600 glass transition is 160 degC, and the deflection temperature at 66 psi is 156 degC.
compare: AF is a low-erosion fluoropolymer. Among the MISSE 2 PEACE polymers it eroded about as much as FEP and somewhat more than PTFE, but far less than Kapton H, PEEK or polyethylene in the same MISSE 2 table. Its room-temperature strength is low. The compare rows show the three numbers that most often decide between it and the alternatives.
compare_rows:
- label: Erosion under atomic oxygen
benchmark: atomic_oxygen_erosion_yield
- label: Glass transition
benchmark: glass_transition_temperature
- label: Refractive index
benchmark: refractive_index
handling:
- Read the Chemours safety data sheet and the Guide to the Safe Handling of Fluoropolymer Resins before use. Keep processing below 360 degC, use protective gloves, and avoid skin contact with the resin during processing, because residual HFA is absorbed through the skin.
good_for:
- Thin, optically clear, low-index or hydrophobic coatings and claddings that must survive atomic oxygen in low Earth orbit with less erosion than most hydrocarbon or polyimide films.
watch_out:
- Do not heat it above 360 degC, where it decomposes. Its strength is low at room temperature (26.9 MPa) and drops to 7.7 MPa at 220 degC. Residual HFA and other gases can be harmful.
verdict: AF erodes slowly in low Earth orbit and is a sound choice for thin optical and hydrophobic layers. It is soft and weak, so it is a coating, not a structural material.
gaps:
- No ionizing-radiation, ultraviolet, outgassing or thermal-vacuum result for AF was found in the fetched pages.
- No Teflon AF safety data sheet was reached. Hazards come from the Chemours product sheet and PubChem records for hexafluoroacetone and hydrofluoric acid.
- The MISSE 2 PEACE flight dates were not re-read in this run, so they are not stated in the file.
- The NASA flight grade is Teflon AF 1601, but the Chemours datasheet values are for grade 1600 (and 2400 was not used). Grade differences are not resolved.
- No production or capacity figures for Teflon AF itself were found. The supply section covers fluorspar only, the mineral feedstock for fluorine chemistry.
- USGS does not list fluorspar as a 2025 critical mineral in the fetched text, so no critical-list entry is given.
- Element atomic weights were not read in this run, so the recipe parts give atom counts only.
- 'Non-canonical benchmark names used: atomic_oxygen_erosion_yield, ash_mass_fraction, water_contact_angle, critical_surface_energy, volume_cte, decomposition_onset_temperature, optical_transmission.'
- Side effects are not stated for AF in any fetched source.
sources:
nasa-2006:
title: MISSE PEACE Polymers Atomic Oxygen Erosion Results (NASA/TM-2006-214482)
id: NASA/TM-2006-214482 (de Groh and Banks, November 2006)
url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20070002707/downloads/20070002707.pdf
year: 2006
kind: report
license: NASA technical report (public)
nasa-2008:
title: Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Predictive Tool for Spacecraft Polymers in Low Earth Orbit
id: NASA/TM-2008-215490 (Banks, Backus and de Groh, December 2008)
url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20090011780
year: 2008
kind: report
license: NASA technical report (public)
nasa-2010:
title: MISSE 2 PEACE Polymers Experiment Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Error Analysis
id: NASA/TM-2010-216903
url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20100040422/downloads/20100040422.pdf
year: 2010
kind: report
license: NASA technical report (public)
chemours-af:
title: Teflon AF Amorphous Fluoroplastic Resins product information
id: Chemours Teflon AF product information
url: https://www.teflon.com/en/-/media/files/teflon/teflon-af-product-info.pdf
kind: datasheet
license: Manufacturer product information (cited, not reproduced)
usgs-fluorspar-2026:
title: 'Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Fluorspar'
id: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-fluorspar.pdf
year: 2026
kind: report
license: US government work (public domain)
pubchem-hfa:
title: 'PubChem: Hexafluoroacetone (CID 12695), GHS classification'
id: PubChem CID 12695
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/12695/JSON
kind: database
license: PubChem (NIH, public)
pubchem-hf:
title: 'PubChem: Hydrofluoric Acid (CID 14917), GHS classification'
id: PubChem CID 14917
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/14917/JSON
kind: database
license: PubChem (NIH, public)
arxiv-electrowetting:
title: Electrically controlled localized charge trapping at amorphous fluoropolymer-electrolyte interfaces
id: arXiv:1909.09424 (Wu, Dey, Siretanu, van den Ende, Shui, Zhou, Mugele)
url: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1909.09424
year: 2019
kind: paper
license: arXiv preprint (cited)
documents:
- title: 'NASA/TM-2008-215490: Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Predictive Tool for Spacecraft Polymers in Low Earth Orbit'
type: report
url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/citations/20090011780
year: 2008
- title: 'NASA/TM-2006-214482: MISSE PEACE Polymers Atomic Oxygen Erosion Results'
type: report
url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20070002707/downloads/20070002707.pdf
year: 2006
- title: 'NASA/TM-2010-216903: MISSE 2 PEACE Polymers Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Error Analysis'
type: report
url: https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20100040422/downloads/20100040422.pdf
year: 2010
- title: Chemours Teflon AF Amorphous Fluoroplastic Resins product information
type: datasheet
url: https://www.teflon.com/en/-/media/files/teflon/teflon-af-product-info.pdf
- title: 'USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Fluorspar'
type: report
url: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2026/mcs2026-fluorspar.pdf
year: 2026
- title: 'PubChem: Hexafluoroacetone (CID 12695), GHS classification'
type: database
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/12695/JSON
- title: 'PubChem: Hydrofluoric Acid (CID 14917), GHS classification'
type: database
url: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rest/pug_view/data/compound/14917/JSON
- title: Electrically controlled localized charge trapping at amorphous fluoropolymer-electrolyte interfaces (arXiv:1909.09424)
type: paper
url: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1909.09424
year: 2019
license: CC-BY-4.0
updated: '2026-10-20'
review:
status: draft
method: assistant
checked_values: 22
unreachable: 0
caveats: 1
note: 'Written by an AI assistant on 2026-10-20 from pages fetched in this run: NASA/TM-2006-214482 Table 4, NASA/TM-2008-215490 Tables I, II and V, NASA/TM-2010-216903 Tables 1 and 6, the Chemours product information PDF, USGS MCS 2026 fluorspar, PubChem CID 12695 and 14917, and arXiv:1909.09424. Flight dates from the passport were not re-read.'
References
Every number above carries a reference number. Click one to see the source and where in it the value comes from.
| # | Source | Type | Year | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MISSE PEACE Polymers Atomic Oxygen Erosion Results (NASA/TM-2006-214482) | report | 2006 | 5 values | |
| Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Predictive Tool for Spacecraft Polymers in Low Earth Orbit | report | 2008 | 2 values | |
| MISSE 2 PEACE Polymers Experiment Atomic Oxygen Erosion Yield Error Analysis | report | 2010 | 0 values | |
| Teflon AF Amorphous Fluoroplastic Resins product information | datasheet | 31 values | ||
| Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Fluorspar | report | 2026 | 1 value | |
| PubChem: Hexafluoroacetone (CID 12695), GHS classification | database | 1 value | ||
| PubChem: Hydrofluoric Acid (CID 14917), GHS classification | database | 1 value | ||
| Electrically controlled localized charge trapping at amorphous fluoropolymer-electrolyte interfaces | paper | 2019 | 1 value |