Polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) By. Sarah Dyke
What is it? Polytetrafluoroethylene otherwise known as Teflon was synthesized in 1940 therefore it is not a natural occurring compound. Teflon is a synthesized polymer which has many general uses. It is commonly used as a non-stick substance on frying pans and other forms of cookware
How and Who Made the Discovery? Teflon was created by accident when Dr. Roy Plunkett who was a Duepoint chemist who at the time was working on a project to find an alternate material that could be used in the cooling for refrigerators. He tried to store Tetrafluorethylene gas in a container to leave over night. The next day when he came to check on the container the Tetrafluorethylene gas was gone and the remaining product was a white waxy substance which is what would be known as Polytetrafluoroethylene.
Uses of Teflon Indirect Direct Non-stick pan coatings Cookware Carpet treating for stain resistance Personal care products Paint Home and garden products Direct Catheters Artificial limbs and body parts Coatings of surgical blades Surgical implants
How synthesis of Teflon has changed its uses The change of the original compound has given the new molecule many uses that would not have been known if not for the accidental discovery. The cost of the product is relatively cheap, its highest known price was $55 in 2013 and has decreased since then.
Risks of Product Due to the fact that it is used as a non-stick agent for cooking ware it is heated to high temperatures, these temperatures have caused a chemical to be released into the air which can be lethal to birds and can cause humans to develop flu like symptoms. People with workplace exposure to Teflon have been known to have a higher risk of bladder and kidney cancers The product has also been detected in water systems although reasons why are unknown.
Alternates to Teflon Other cookware products that don’t have a Teflon coating will reduce the risks of developing the flu like symptoms but may not be totally harmless. Pots and pans can be made of many other products including copper, cast iron, aluminium and combinations of other metals.
Benefits of Product The benefits of this product include the prevention or cut back of unnecessary fats and oils being added into foods in order to reduce sticking. Coating pans in Teflon helps prevent rust and is also known to be very resistant to chemicals.
Sources http://www.phy.davidson.edu/fachome/dmb/PY430/Friction/teflon.html http://scifun.chem.wisc.edu/chemweek/polymers/polymers.html http://pslc.ws/macrog/ptfe.htm http://web.mst.edu/~jstoffer/chem381/chap26.html http://www.aliexpress.com/polytetrafluoroethylene_price.html http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/athome/teflon-and-perfluorooctanoic-acid--pfoa http://www.ewg.org/research/healthy-home-tips/tip-6-skip-non-stick-avoid-dangers-teflon http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=1&ContentID=4491 http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Teflon