A comparison of optical properties between solid PTFE (Teflon) and (low density) sintered PTFE

Abstract

Materials with similar chemical compositions often exhibit different optical properties due to their structural composition. PTFE is widely used in many applications for both its mechanical and optical properties. Low density sintered PTFE has optical properties that make it desirable for use as a white diffuser in applications such as remote sensing. The contrast between the commonly available high density material and the low density material may be useful for those interested in optical modeling of scattered light. Additionally, some applications may find high density PTFE suitable for some optical applications. This paper describes measurements of BRDF, 8º/hemispherical reflectance, and directional hemispherical transmittance for both high density (HD) and low density (LD) sintered PTFE.