Polytetrafluoroethylene facts for kids
Polytetrafluoroethylene, often called PTFE, is a special type of plastic. You might know it better by its famous brand names: Teflon and Gore-Tex.
PTFE is made from tiny building blocks called tetrafluoroethylene. It's a polymer, which means it's a long chain of these blocks linked together. This material is very useful because it doesn't react easily with other chemicals. It also naturally pushes away both oil and water.
You'll find Teflon used as a coating on many things, like frying pans, to make them non-stick. Gore-Tex is a special membrane used in clothing to make it waterproof and breathable.
What is PTFE?
PTFE is a fluoropolymer. This means it's built with strong connections between fluorine and carbon atoms. These strong connections make PTFE very stable and durable. Because it repels water and oil, it's great for surfaces that need to stay clean or prevent things from sticking.
Concerns About Production
To make PTFE, a chemical called Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was often used in the past. PFOA has been a concern because it can be harmful to people and the environment. Studies have shown that PFOA may cause health problems, including certain types of cancer. Because of these concerns, companies have been working to find safer ways to produce PTFE without using PFOA.
Images for kids
-
Advertisement of the Happy Pan, a Teflon-coated pan from the 1960s
-
Advertisement for Zepel, the trade name used to market Teflon as a fabric treatment
-
Teflon thermal cover showing impact craters, from NASA's Ultra Heavy Cosmic Ray Experiment (UHCRE) on the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF).
-
PTFE-jacketed (white) shielded twisted-pair cables
-
Two teflon jars
-
Teflon is also used as the trade name for a polymer with similar properties, perfluoroalkoxy polymer resin (PFA).
_(cropped).jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Politetrafluoroetileno para niños
