Polytetrafluoroethylene facts for kids

Teflon redirects here, other uses are at Teflon (disambiguation)

PTFE is often used to coat non-stick frying pans as it is hydrophobic and has a fairly high heat resistance.

In chemistry, Polytetrafluoroethylene (often shortened to PTFE) is a polymer of tetrafluoroethylene. It is a fluoropolymer, because the polymerization is based on strong bonds of fluorine and carbon. Polytetrafluoroethylene is not very reactive. It also repels oil and water. It is better known by its trade-names, Teflon, and Gore-Tex. Teflon is a coating done to frying pans, among others. Gore-Tex is a membrane used in clothing.

Problems

Perfluorooctanoic acid is needed to produce Polytetrafluoroethylene,. Perfluorooctanoic acid is because it is very toxic for people and may cause cancer. The precursors for many chemical weapons are highly corrosive, their containers are therefore often treated with Polytetrafluoroethylene. For this reason, the export of Polytetrafluoroethylene from the European Union may need a special permit.

Images for kids

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  Advertisement of the Happy Pan, a Teflon-coated pan from the 1960s

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  Advertisement for Zepel, the trade name used to market Teflon as a fabric treatment

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  Teflon thermal cover showing impact craters, from NASA's Ultra Heavy Cosmic Ray Experiment (UHCRE) on the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF).

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  PTFE-jacketed (white) shielded twisted-pair cables

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  Two teflon jars

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  Teflon is also used as the trade name for a polymer with similar properties, perfluoroalkoxy polymer resin (PFA).

See also

In Spanish: Politetrafluoroetileno para niños