Most people have never heard of
PTFE industrial coating, but when you mention Teflon, a look of understanding
passes easily on their faces. PTFE (Polytetrafluoro Ethylene) is the technical
name of the material, and it’s commonly sold under the Teflon brand name, which
is manufactured by DuPont. Dr. Roy Plunkett, a researcher who worked at DuPont,
is credited with developing PTFE industrial coating in the late 1930s.
At the time of his discovery, he was actually
trying to create a new refrigerant. During the course of development, he
noticed that the gas inside the bottle he was using actually stopped flowing
out before the bottle should have been empty. He sawed the bottle open and
discovered that the inside was coated with the non-stick material we now know
as Teflon. His contribution has changed the face of plastic manufacturing
forever.
Teflon is probably best-known for its role as the
non-stick surface inside cookware. This is because PTFE industrial coating is
one of the most slippery materials that’s in existence today. In addition to
being slippery, the material also brings a number of other features to the
table, offering high temperature resistance, little reaction to most chemicals,
and reduced stress cracking and corrosion. These features make Teflon perfect
for numerous applications, including:
Cookware – As already mentioned, the slippery surface created by Teflon makes
it perfect for cookware. Many brands offer lines of cookware that are coated
with PTFE in order to prevent food from sticking to the pots and pans. This
reduces the need for cooking oil because these pots and pans are naturally
non-stick.
Nail polish – That smooth surface that doesn’t crack is often achieved through
the use of PTFE industrial coating.
Hair styling
tools – Hair straighteners and curling irons are
often coated with Teflon because of the high temperatures emitted by these
tools.
Windshield wiper
blades – There are numerous applications for PTFE
industrial coating within the automotive industry as well. The blades of
windshield wipers are the most notable because the smooth surface enables them
to glide smoothly across the windshield.
Fabric and
carpet protection – Stains are less likely to stick
to carpets or fabrics that have been treated with PTFE industrial.
Chemical and
steel industries – Hoses and other machine parts
commonly handle some highly corrosive substances that sometimes are transferred
at extremely high temperatures. PTFE industrial coating is one of the best
materials to handle this type of use because it addresses all of the problems
that are otherwise caused by working with chemicals or steel. Every type of
hose will deteriorate over time, but those that are made of PTFE industrial
coating will do so much more slowly than those made of other materials because
of the many features of the material.
Where would the world be without PTFE industrial
coating? There is a good chance we wouldn’t be able to do much of what we are
able to do right now if this material had never been invented. Almost
everything we do on a daily basis brings us into contact with Teflon, so we
should all be thanking the memory of Dr. Plunkett and his marvelous discovery.
When he first developed this material, he probably had no idea that it would
become a household name that is critical in everyday life.
The experts at Toefco will help you figure out if
Teflon is the right solution for your project. They understand the intricacies
that go into selecting the right materials for projects that may have touchy
consequences because of the difficult variables you are dealing with. Only an
expert will be able to tell you if the combination of features offered by Teflon
will create the right circumstances for what you are working on.
