PTFE virgin is a fluoroplastic with a high-temperature resistance and good resistance to chemicals. The material has particularly good anti-adhesion properties (also known as non-sticking in the industry). Moreover, it has a very low frictional resistance and is 100% resistant to UV radiation and weather influences. PTFE virgin is also widely used in the medical industry because the material is not absorbed by the body.
Teflon is a brand name of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a chemical compound discovered by Roy Plunkett in 1938 in the Jackson Laboratory of the Dupont company in the US state of New Jersey. Plunkett applied for a patent on the substance, which was granted on 4 February 1941. Teflon was introduced as a commercial product in 1949.
Teflon is an ethylene polymer in which all hydrogen atoms are replaced by fluorine. The polymer has a very large length and is still one of the largest molecules. PTFE is a thermoplastic; however, it cannot be processed in a thermoplastic manner. PTFE is pressed as a powder at room temperature in a mold and then sintered in an oven.
There are also other polymers with the same trade name and similar properties: per-fluoro-alkoxy-polymers (PFA) and fluorinated-ethylene-propylene (FEP). These materials can be processed thermoplastically.
PTFE is plastic and has the lowest coefficient of friction of all plastics. It is used, among other things, as a non-stick coating in pans, such as the Tefal pan. There are no indications that the Teflon layer is toxic, even if it is damaged and gets into the diet. At high temperatures, above 260 ° C, the quality of the layer deteriorates and above 350 ° C the substance starts to decompose. [1] The decomposition products released thereby are harmful and are fatal to birds. [2] They can cause flu-like symptoms in people. [3] For comparison, butter and other fats used in baking and roasting start to sear and smoke from 200 ° C. As a rule, meat is not heated further than 230 ° C during cooking to prevent burning. Cookware that is placed empty on a hot hob can, however, reach the temperatures at which harmful gases are released.
Research is being conducted into the potential toxicity of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is used in the production of Teflon. Teflon is extremely unreactive and is therefore used in all kinds of applications for storage and transport of reactive chemicals. The melting point is 327 ° C.
Teflon is said to be a spin-off (useful side effect) of the US space program, although it came on the market long before that time. The claim that it is a spin-off from the Manhatten project is closer to the truth.
The Manhattan project was the name of the very secret operation, led by the United States, with the help of Canada and the United Kingdom. With this project the United States was able to develop the atomic bomb during the Second World War.
A PTFE coating was used to protect the inside of vessels and pipes against the highly reactive uranium hexafluoride. In order to provide PTFE with the manhole project, Dupont quickly built a special factory. The high production costs of PTFE played no role in the war conditions.
Following research from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1959, Teflon was approved for use in food preparation equipment. The investigation showed that the toxicity of the vapors released by large heating of an empty pan was lower than that of conventional oils.
Teflon is often used in electrical installations because of its high resistivity, the aforementioned resistance to high temperatures, and low frictional resistance, making it, for example, the ideal insulator for cabling in aircraft or military installations.
PTFE is a chemical compound discovered in 1938 by Roy Plunkett in the Jackson Laboratory of the Dupont Company in America. Plunkett applied for a patent on the substance, which was granted on 4 February 1941. Teflon was introduced as a commercial product in 1949. The material is used in the manned space travel as a heat shield, as a coating for space suits and as insulation material for cables. The first lunar lander contained more than one hundred kilos of Teflon. Thanks to the space experience, production could become cheaper, while the myth of wonder material stimulated sales.
Pure PTFE has optimum properties when it comes to chemical and temperature resistance. However, on its own, the material is often too hard to be used as a seal or o-ring.
In its pure form, it can actually only be used as a static seal. The perfect properties of the material are therefore better reflected in a compound, such as kalrez o-rings. These perfluoro elastomers are the most evolved compounds for corrosive applications.
Teflon is extremely unreactive and is therefore used in all kinds of applications for storage and transport of reactive chemicals. The melting point is 327 C.
PTFE, better known as Teflon, has the lowest coefficient of friction of all plastics.
Teflon and PTFE Technical work
Teflon is the brand name used for polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE. In 1938 the American chemist Roy Plunkett accidentally discovered polytetrafluoroethylene in the Jackson Laboratory of the DuPont company. This laboratory is located in the US state of New Jersey. Roy Plunkett gave the name Teflon to the polytetrafluoroethylene fabric and applied for a patent on this fabric in 1938. The patent was granted on 4 February 1941 and Teflon was introduced as a commercial product in 1949.
What is Teflon exactly?
Teflon is polytetrafluoroethylene, this word makes clear what kind of plastic it is. This is namely an ethylene polymer. In this ethylene polymer, all hydrogen atoms have been replaced by fluorine (halogen alkene). The ethylene polymer is very long and is one of the largest molecules in the world. PTFE belongs to the thermoplastics, this means that this plastic becomes liquid through heating.
Despite that, PTFE cannot be processed in a thermoplastic manner. PTFE is pressed into a mold in powder form at room temperature. The plastic is then sintered in an oven. This sintering means that powder is heated until the moment that it just does not turn into a liquid form. The powder granules get more contact points during sintering. As a result, the grains adhere well to each other and a sturdy material is created.
Properties of Teflon or PTFE
The plastic PTFE has a number of special properties. First of all, this plastic has the lowest coefficient of friction. If PTFE is exposed to temperatures above 260 degrees Celsius, the quality of the material decreases. The substance decomposes at temperatures above 350 degrees Celsius. The substances released thereby are gaseous and are harmful to birds. In humans, the harmful fumes can cause flu symptoms such as fever, headache and shivers. This is also called Teflon fever or polymer smoke fever. This can happen if, for example, so-called Tefal pans are used with a Teflon non-stick coating. On the internet, you can find various reports about the toxicity of Teflon or Tefal pans. For and opponents of Teflon as a non-stick coating claim to have research results with which the harmful effects of Teflon can be demonstrated or, on the contrary, suppressed. Because there is no clarity about the harmful effects, it is better to take a look at it yourself as a precaution before deciding to cook with pans that contain a non-stick coating consisting of Teflon.
Applications of PTFE
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigated PTFE in 1959 and approved the plastic. As a result, the material was used in various types of food preparation equipment. Teflon is used, among other things, as a non-stick coating for pans. But can also be processed in other materials used for food preparation.
Teflon is also used as an insulation material in electrical installations. PTFE has high resistivity (1020 Ohm meter). In addition, this plastic is also resistant to high temperatures and contains a low frictional resistance. Because of these properties, it is suitable as a cable insulator in specialist installations where high demands are placed on the material, such as in aircraft or military installations.
Teflon can be used as an insulator for high voltage installations. PTFE is used in space travel as a heat-resistant material in a heat shield. It is also used in the coating of space suits.
Teflon tape is a known material that is used for sealing threads on gas pipes. Hereby the Teflon tape is first wrapped around the thread (counter thread) and then the coupling is attached. The Teflon tape then ensures optimum sealing.
The low coefficient of friction also makes PTFE suitable as material for computer mice. In liquid form such as drops or spray, Teflon is used as a lubricant. Here too, the low coefficient of friction is an important advantage.
Chemical Facts
Teflon, the official chemical name is: polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE. It is an ethylene polymer in which all hydrogens have been replaced by fluorine. The applications are numerous due to the unique properties of the material. It is a very versatile plastic, but not easy to make and process.
Teflon was discovered in 1938 by Roy J. Plunkett who worked as a chemist at the Jackson Laboratory of Dupont in the US. He did research into new coolants as an alternative to the existing ones because they were rather fire-hazardous. At the end of the Second World War, DuPont introduced PTFE under the Teflon® brand name. In the meantime, there are other manufacturers who market PTFE, for example under the trade names Fluon®, Gaflon®, Hostaflon® and Ertaflon®.
The discovery of PTFE meant the discovery of a new type of exceptional polymers. They were able to withstand high temperatures and withstand aggressive chemicals. In addition, the material stood out because virtually nothing stuck to it
Teflon does not have eternal life in daily use. Like that a pan with a Teflon layer must throw away after a certain period because the layer disappears slowly. Pieces of Teflon are released and end up in your food. But because Teflon is an inert material, it is not absorbed into the body.
If you heat a tefal pan to more than 350 C, the PTFE starts to decompose and the harmful substance tetrafluoroethylene can be released. But that only happens when an empty pan is on high heat for a few minutes. And even then, the released concentrations are so low that they pose no risk. With normal use, food-grade Teflon is not hazardous to health.
Research is still taking place into the harmfulness of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a substance that is used in the production of Teflon, and to which production workers can be exposed. The amount of PFOA in the final product is so low, according to the American environmental protection agency, that special precautions are not necessary.
Applications:
• Pans that are coated on the inside with a thin layer of Teflon do not fire
• Cyclists treat bicycle chains and gears with Teflon spray to prevent rust
• Plumbers wrap the threads of couplings in water pipes with Teflon tape so that they seal properly.
• Water-repellent intermediate layer in breathable raincoats
• Strings are provided with a Teflon coating to minimize sliding resistance when ironing
• Clothing and carpet are treated with a layer of Teflon, which offers protection against dirt and stains
• A coating of Teflon on the skin of a boat or ship reduces the chance of algae and small marine animals fouling.
• Specially processed Teflon finds application in the medical world, for example as a suture or as an artificial blood vessel
• A layer of porous Teflon offers breathable and water-repellent protection in rain gear.
• Coverings, linings
• Applications with heavy chemicals
• Lower material
• Food industry
• Seals
Good qualities:
• The material reacts with virtually nothing
• Is resistant to extreme temperatures
• Extremely smooth material
• Virtually chemically inert
• Hardly any adhesion
• No moisture absorption
• Low friction coefficient
• Non-flammable
• Food suitable
Bad features:
PTFE virgin is a fluoroplastic with a high-temperature resistance and good resistance to chemicals. The material has particularly good anti-adhesion properties (also known as non-sticking in the industry). Moreover, it has a very low frictional resistance and is 100% resistant to UV radiation and weather influences. PTFE virgin is also widely used in the medical industry because the material is not absorbed by the body.
Teflon is a brand name of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a chemical compound discovered by Roy Plunkett in 1938 in the Jackson Laboratory of the Dupont company in the US state of New Jersey. Plunkett applied for a patent on the substance, which was granted on 4 February 1941. Teflon was introduced as a commercial product in 1949.
Teflon is an ethylene polymer in which all hydrogen atoms are replaced by fluorine. The polymer has a very large length and is still one of the largest molecules. PTFE is a thermoplastic; however, it cannot be processed in a thermoplastic manner. PTFE is pressed as a powder at room temperature in a mold and then sintered in an oven.
There are also other polymers with the same trade name and similar properties: per-fluoro-alkoxy-polymers (PFA) and fluorinated-ethylene-propylene (FEP). These materials can be processed thermoplastically.
PTFE is plastic and has the lowest coefficient of friction of all plastics. It is used, among other things, as a non-stick coating in pans, such as the Tefal pan. There are no indications that the Teflon layer is toxic, even if it is damaged and gets into the diet. At high temperatures, above 260 ° C, the quality of the layer deteriorates and above 350 ° C the substance starts to decompose. [1] The decomposition products released thereby are harmful and are fatal to birds. [2] They can cause flu-like symptoms in people. [3] For comparison, butter and other fats used in baking and roasting start to sear and smoke from 200 ° C. As a rule, meat is not heated further than 230 ° C during cooking to prevent burning. Cookware that is placed empty on a hot hob can, however, reach the temperatures at which harmful gases are released.
Research is being conducted into the potential toxicity of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is used in the production of Teflon. Teflon is extremely unreactive and is therefore used in all kinds of applications for storage and transport of reactive chemicals. The melting point is 327 ° C.
Teflon is said to be a spin-off (useful side effect) of the US space program, although it came on the market long before that time. The claim that it is a spin-off from the Manhatten project is closer to the truth.
The Manhattan project was the name of the very secret operation, led by the United States, with the help of Canada and the United Kingdom. With this project the United States was able to develop the atomic bomb during the Second World War.
A PTFE coating was used to protect the inside of vessels and pipes against the highly reactive uranium hexafluoride. In order to provide PTFE with the manhole project, Dupont quickly built a special factory. The high production costs of PTFE played no role in the war conditions.
Following research from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1959, Teflon was approved for use in food preparation equipment. The investigation showed that the toxicity of the vapors released by large heating of an empty pan was lower than that of conventional oils.
Teflon is often used in electrical installations because of its high resistivity, the aforementioned resistance to high temperatures, and low frictional resistance, making it, for example, the ideal insulator for cabling in aircraft or military installations.
PTFE is a chemical compound discovered in 1938 by Roy Plunkett in the Jackson Laboratory of the Dupont Company in America. Plunkett applied for a patent on the substance, which was granted on 4 February 1941. Teflon was introduced as a commercial product in 1949. The material is used in the manned space travel as a heat shield, as a coating for space suits and as insulation material for cables. The first lunar lander contained more than one hundred kilos of Teflon. Thanks to the space experience, production could become cheaper, while the myth of wonder material stimulated sales.
Pure PTFE has optimum properties when it comes to chemical and temperature resistance. However, on its own, the material is often too hard to be used as a seal or o-ring.
In its pure form, it can actually only be used as a static seal. The perfect properties of the material are therefore better reflected in a compound, such as kalrez o-rings. These perfluoro elastomers are the most evolved compounds for corrosive applications.
Teflon is extremely unreactive and is therefore used in all kinds of applications for storage and transport of reactive chemicals. The melting point is 327 C.
PTFE, better known as Teflon, has the lowest coefficient of friction of all plastics.
Teflon and PTFE Technical work
Teflon is the brand name used for polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE. In 1938 the American chemist Roy Plunkett accidentally discovered polytetrafluoroethylene in the Jackson Laboratory of the DuPont company. This laboratory is located in the US state of New Jersey. Roy Plunkett gave the name Teflon to the polytetrafluoroethylene fabric and applied for a patent on this fabric in 1938. The patent was granted on 4 February 1941 and Teflon was introduced as a commercial product in 1949.
What is Teflon exactly?
Teflon is polytetrafluoroethylene, this word makes clear what kind of plastic it is. This is namely an ethylene polymer. In this ethylene polymer, all hydrogen atoms have been replaced by fluorine (halogen alkene). The ethylene polymer is very long and is one of the largest molecules in the world. PTFE belongs to the thermoplastics, this means that this plastic becomes liquid through heating.
Despite that, PTFE cannot be processed in a thermoplastic manner. PTFE is pressed into a mold in powder form at room temperature. The plastic is then sintered in an oven. This sintering means that powder is heated until the moment that it just does not turn into a liquid form. The powder granules get more contact points during sintering. As a result, the grains adhere well to each other and a sturdy material is created.
Properties of Teflon or PTFE
The plastic PTFE has a number of special properties. First of all, this plastic has the lowest coefficient of friction. If PTFE is exposed to temperatures above 260 degrees Celsius, the quality of the material decreases. The substance decomposes at temperatures above 350 degrees Celsius. The substances released thereby are gaseous and are harmful to birds. In humans, the harmful fumes can cause flu symptoms such as fever, headache and shivers. This is also called Teflon fever or polymer smoke fever. This can happen if, for example, so-called Tefal pans are used with a Teflon non-stick coating. On the internet, you can find various reports about the toxicity of Teflon or Tefal pans. For and opponents of Teflon as a non-stick coating claim to have research results with which the harmful effects of Teflon can be demonstrated or, on the contrary, suppressed. Because there is no clarity about the harmful effects, it is better to take a look at it yourself as a precaution before deciding to cook with pans that contain a non-stick coating consisting of Teflon.
Applications of PTFE
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) investigated PTFE in 1959 and approved the plastic. As a result, the material was used in various types of food preparation equipment. Teflon is used, among other things, as a non-stick coating for pans. But can also be processed in other materials used for food preparation.
Teflon is also used as an insulation material in electrical installations. PTFE has high resistivity (1020 Ohm meter). In addition, this plastic is also resistant to high temperatures and contains a low frictional resistance. Because of these properties, it is suitable as a cable insulator in specialist installations where high demands are placed on the material, such as in aircraft or military installations.
Teflon can be used as an insulator for high voltage installations. PTFE is used in space travel as a heat-resistant material in a heat shield. It is also used in the coating of space suits.
Teflon tape is a known material that is used for sealing threads on gas pipes. Hereby the Teflon tape is first wrapped around the thread (counter thread) and then the coupling is attached. The Teflon tape then ensures optimum sealing.
The low coefficient of friction also makes PTFE suitable as material for computer mice. In liquid form such as drops or spray, Teflon is used as a lubricant. Here too, the low coefficient of friction is an important advantage.
Chemical Facts
Teflon, the official chemical name is: polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE. It is an ethylene polymer in which all hydrogens have been replaced by fluorine. The applications are numerous due to the unique properties of the material. It is a very versatile plastic, but not easy to make and process.
Teflon was discovered in 1938 by Roy J. Plunkett who worked as a chemist at the Jackson Laboratory of Dupont in the US. He did research into new coolants as an alternative to the existing ones because they were rather fire-hazardous. At the end of the Second World War, DuPont introduced PTFE under the Teflon® brand name. In the meantime, there are other manufacturers who market PTFE, for example under the trade names Fluon®, Gaflon®, Hostaflon® and Ertaflon®.
The discovery of PTFE meant the discovery of a new type of exceptional polymers. They were able to withstand high temperatures and withstand aggressive chemicals. In addition, the material stood out because virtually nothing stuck to it
Teflon does not have eternal life in daily use. Like that a pan with a Teflon layer must throw away after a certain period because the layer disappears slowly. Pieces of Teflon are released and end up in your food. But because Teflon is an inert material, it is not absorbed into the body.
If you heat a tefal pan to more than 350 C, the PTFE starts to decompose and the harmful substance tetrafluoroethylene can be released. But that only happens when an empty pan is on high heat for a few minutes. And even then, the released concentrations are so low that they pose no risk. With normal use, food-grade Teflon is not hazardous to health.
Research is still taking place into the harmfulness of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a substance that is used in the production of Teflon, and to which production workers can be exposed. The amount of PFOA in the final product is so low, according to the American environmental protection agency, that special precautions are not necessary.
Applications:
• Pans that are coated on the inside with a thin layer of Teflon do not fire
• Cyclists treat bicycle chains and gears with Teflon spray to prevent rust
• Plumbers wrap the threads of couplings in water pipes with Teflon tape so that they seal properly.
• Water-repellent intermediate layer in breathable raincoats
• Strings are provided with a Teflon coating to minimize sliding resistance when ironing
• Clothing and carpet are treated with a layer of Teflon, which offers protection against dirt and stains
• A coating of Teflon on the skin of a boat or ship reduces the chance of algae and small marine animals fouling.
• Specially processed Teflon finds application in the medical world, for example as a suture or as an artificial blood vessel
• A layer of porous Teflon offers breathable and water-repellent protection in rain gear.
• Coverings, linings
• Applications with heavy chemicals
• Lower material
• Food industry
• Seals
Good qualities:
• The material reacts with virtually nothing
• Is resistant to extreme temperatures
• Extremely smooth material
• Virtually chemically inert
• Hardly any adhesion
• No moisture absorption
• Low friction coefficient
• Non-flammable
• Food suitable
Bad features:
