PTFE - A Look at Teflon

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by: jessicamcpeterson
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Date: Thu, 20 Jan 2011 Time: 11:10 PM
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Polytetrafluoroethylene, much better referred to as PTFE or Teflon, was accidentally invented by Roy Plunkett of Kinetic Chemicals in New Jersey in 1938. Although Plunkett was attempting to create a new chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerant, the perfluorethylene polymerized in its pressurized storage container, with the iron from the inside of the container acting as a catalyst. Kinetic Chemicals patented it in 1941 and registered the Teflon trademark in 1945, which was a joint venture in between DuPont and Common Motors.

In chemistry, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) can be a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene that finds several applications. PTFE is mainly well known by the DuPont brand name Teflon. PTFE is a fluorocarbon solid, as it truly is a high molecular weight compound consisting wholly of carbon and fluorine. PTFE is hydrophobic, meaning substances containing water are expelled because of the differences in electrical charges, to be a lot more precise as a result of electronegativity of fluorine.

Teflon fluoropolymer goods are employed in industrial and commercial applications, including cabling solutions, pharmaceutical, biopharma manufacturing and semiconductor manufacturing. For instance, PTFE is employed as a non stick coating for pans along with other cookware. It is really non reactive, partly because of the strength of carbon fluorine bonds, and so it is usually utilized in containers and pipework for reactive and corrosive chemicals. Exactly where utilized as a lubricant, PTFE reduces friction, wear and power consumption of machinery.

DuPont Teflon resins are created to fulfill the requirements of a vast array of insulated wire and cable items. This is an perfect selection for insulation and jacketing applications where low flammability, exceptional dielectric properties, high resistance, chemical inertness, and thermal cycling capabilities are necessary. This is why the usage of this material in electrical devices and server centers is becoming a standard so as to steer clear of any sort of accidents. This is why this materials is considered among the biggest innovations of the twentieth century.

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