TRANSIENT ABLATION OF TEFLON IN INTENSE RADIATIVE AND CONVECTIVE ENVIRONMENTS

On the basis of this investigation of the high-temperature behavior of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), the transient one-dimensional ablation of PTFE has been developed by taking into account the optical transmittance of both the amorphous zone and the crystalline zone of PTFE layer. Results show that although the exposed surface receded at an apparently steady state, both the internal temperature and the thickness of the gel layer increase continuously due to the internal absorption of radiation. © 1979 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc., All rights reserved.