SynopsisThe evaluation of the permeation parameters of water for Teflon FEP has shown that permeation is a dual mode process: Water is initially adsorbed onto the polymer surface in a layer; because the residence time of the layer is short, little is ultimately absorbed. The diffusion process is disrupted a t the onset of molecular motion, a t the glass transition, due to an increase in effective tortuosity. Variations of the permeation parameters with thickness suggest a skin, of total thickness near 25 pm, whose permeation parameters differ from those of the bulk.