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.

8 sources · Updated 2026-10-20 · CC BY 4.0

Evidence level

5 of 5

Flown or field-proven

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

Key properties of AF
PropertyValueBasis
Density2.15 g/cm³1 sourced value
Yield strength27.4 to 28.4 MPa1 sourced value
Tensile strength26.9 to 28.4 MPa1 sourced value
Young's modulus1.6 GPa1 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.

What AF is made of
IngredientShare of the weightWhat 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.

Benchmarks
MeasurementAFPCTFE (CTFE, Kel-F)ECTFE (Halar)ETFEFEPPFAPTFEPVDF (Kynar)PVFPVF (white Tedlar)
Capacity and energy
Critical surface energy (grade 1600)As printed by the manufacturer15.7 dynes/cmno datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Thermal behavior and safety
Deflection temperature at 66 psi (grade 1600)ASTM D648, as printed by the manufacturer156 °Cno data115 °Cno datano data91 °Cno data125 °Cno datano data
Onset of decompositionManufacturer processing guidance360 °Cno datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Lifetime and stability
Volume coefficient of thermal expansion (grade 1600)ASTM E831, as printed by the manufacturer260 ppm/°Cno datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Physical and electrical
Density (MISSE 2 PEACE sample)2.146 g/cm³22.133 g/cm³1.68 g/cm³1.74 g/cm³2.144 g/cm³2.138 g/cm³2.17 g/cm³no data1.379 g/cm³1.624 g/cm³
Temperature behavior
Glass transition temperature (grade 1600)ASTM D3418, as printed by the manufacturer160 °C45 °Cno datano datano datano data170 K-40 °Cno data-20 °C
Other measurements
Atomic oxygen erosion yield (MISSE 2 PEACE, ISS)1.98×10^-25 cm³/atom18.31×10^-25 cm³/atom1.79×10^-24 cm³/atom9.61×10^-25 cm³/atom2×10^-25 cm³/atom1.73×10^-25 cm³/atom1.42×10^-25 cm³/atom1.29×10^-24 cm³/atom3.19×10^-24 cm³/atom1.01×10^-25 cm³/atom
Ash content (mass fraction of polymer that is ash)0.0358 mass fraction3no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Specific gravity (grade 1600)ASTM D792, as printed by the manufacturer1.78 noneno datano datano datano datano datano data1.76 dimensionlessno datano data
Refractive index (grade 1600)ASTM D542, as printed by the manufacturer1.31 unitlessno datano datano datano data1.35 -no datano data1.46 nD1.46 nD
Dielectric constant (grade 1600)ASTM D150, as printed by the manufacturer1.93 unitlessno data2.5 none2.6 dimensionless2.03 -2 -2.1 dimensionlessno datano data11 -
Dielectric strength (grade 1600)ASTM D149, as printed by the manufacturer2.1 kV/0.1 mmno data500 V/milno data80 kV/mm260 kV/mm30 kV/mmno datano data3.5 kV/mil
Dissipation factor (grade 1600)1×10^-4 unitless4no datano datano data6×10^-4 -no datano datano datano datano data
Optical transmission (grade 1600)ASTM D1003, as printed by the manufacturer95 %no datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Contact angle with water (grade 1600)ASTM D570, as printed by the manufacturer104 degreesno datano datano datano datano datano datano datano datano data
Water absorption (grade 1600)As printed by the manufacturer0.01 %no data0.1 %no data0.01 %no datano datano data0.5 %0.5 %
Yield strength at 23 degC (grade 1600)As printed by the manufacturer27.4 MPa5no datano datano data13.8 MPa12 MPano datano datano datano data
Tensile strength at 23 degC (grade 1600)ASTM D638, as printed by the manufacturer26.9 MPa634 MPa7000 psi40 MPa20 MPa21 MPano datano data8 kpsi55 MPa
Tensile strength at 220 degC (grade 1600)ASTM D638, as printed by the manufacturer7.7 MPa734 MPa7000 psi40 MPa20 MPa21 MPano datano data8 kpsi55 MPa
Elongation at break at 23 degC (grade 1600)ASTM D638, as printed by the manufacturer17.1 %8100 %200 %300 %300 %300 %no datano data90 %90 %
Tensile modulus (grade 1600)ASTM D638, as printed by the manufacturer1.6 GPa5.65 GPa2.4×10^5 psi1075 MPano data480 MPano datano datano data2655 MPa
Flexural modulus at 23 degC (grade 1600)ASTM D790, as printed by the manufacturer1.8 GPa9no datano datano data520 MPa0.54 GPano data1655 MPano datano 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.

Notes for the numbered rows
#MeasurementMethodConditionsCaveat
1Atomic oxygen erosion yield (MISSE 2 PEACE, ISS)Mass loss measured after flight, divided by density, area and fluence, as tabulated by NASAgrade 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)—
2Density (MISSE 2 PEACE sample)Density gradient column testing as described by NASAgrade flown Teflon AF 1601—
3Ash content (mass fraction of polymer that is ash)Fractional ash content measured for the MISSE 2 PEACE polymersgrade flown Teflon AF 1601—
4Dissipation factor (grade 1600)ASTM D150, as printed as a range by the manufacturergrade 1600—
5Yield strength at 23 degC (grade 1600)—grade 1600temperature 23 °C (73 degF)note printed as 27.4 plus or minus 1.0 MPa—
6Tensile strength at 23 degC (grade 1600)—grade 1600temperature 23 °C (73 degF)note printed as 26.9 plus or minus 1.5 MPa—
7Tensile strength at 220 degC (grade 1600)—grade 1600temperature 220 °C (428 degF)note printed as 7.7 plus or minus 6.1 MPa—
8Elongation at break at 23 degC (grade 1600)—grade 1600temperature 23 °C (73 degF)note printed as 17.1 plus or minus 5.0 percent—
9Flexural 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.

Corrosion and compatibility
EnvironmentConcernWhat 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
Corrosion details
#EnvironmentDetailsTest 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 risks
FailureTrigger 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 temperatureStrength 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 polymerProcessing 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.