Teflon

Teflon is the brand name for polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a synthetic fluoropolymer noted for its very low friction, chemical inertness, high heat resistance, and non-stick properties. PTFE is used in a range of applications from nonstick cookware coatings to industrial components and medical devices.

PTFE was discovered inadvertently in 1938 by Roy J. Plunkett while he was working for DuPont in Delaware; the polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene gas produced a waxy solid with remarkable properties. The material was later brought to market under the Teflon name, initially for industrial use and later for consumer cookware coatings.

PTFE is produced by free-radical polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene. It does not melt and flow like most plastics at normal processing temperatures, so it is typically processed by extrusion, paste extrusion, sintering, or compression molding. It is also available as expanded PTFE (ePTFE), a microporous variant used in gaskets, seals, vascular grafts, and Gore-Tex brand textiles.

During manufacturing, certain processing aids such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were used; PFOA has raised health and environmental concerns leading to industry phaseouts by major producers under regulatory agreements in the 2000s and 2010s. PTFE itself is stable and considered biologically inert under normal conditions, but when heated beyond roughly 260–350°C it thermally degrades and can release fumes that irritate the eyes, nose, or lungs; birds are especially susceptible.