Polytetrafluoroethylene
- Teflon redirects here, other uses are at Teflon (disambiguation)
In chemistry, Polytetrafluoroethylene (often shortened to PTFE) is a polymer of tetrafluoroethylene. It is a fluoropolymer, because the polymerization is based on strong covalent bonds of fluorine and carbon. Polytetrafluoroethylene is not very reactive. It also repels oil and water. E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company developed it in 1938.
It is better known by its trade-names, Teflon and Gore-Tex. Teflon is a coating for frying pans, among others. Gore-Tex is stretched PTFE, used as a membrane in clothing.
Problems
Perfluorooctanoic acid was formerly used to produce Polytetrafluoroethylene. It is very toxic for people and may cause cancer. In the 2010s it was replaced with other chemicals.
The precursors for many chemical weapons are highly corrosive, so their containers are often treated with Polytetrafluoroethylene. For this reason, the export of Polytetrafluoroethylene from the European Union may need a special permit.
Polytetrafluoroethylene Media
Advertisement of the Happy Pan, a Teflon-coated pan from the 1960s
Advertisement for Zepel, the trade name used to market Teflon as a fabric treatment
PTFE thermal cover showing impact craters, from NASA's Ultra Heavy Cosmic Ray Experiment (UHCRE) on the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF)
PTFE-jacketed (white) shielded twisted-pair cables
Two PTFE jars
PTFE tapes with pressure-sensitive adhesive backing
Teflon is also used as the trade name for a polymer with similar properties, perfluoroalkoxy polymer resin (PFA).
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