Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a synthetic polymer, which is made by joining lots of smaller molecules called tetrafluoroethylene monomers. PTFE was accidentally invented by Roy Plunkett in 1938, and later, DuPont registered the Teflon trademark for it. PTFE’s amazing properties are related to strong carbon-fluorine bonds in its structure, which are extremely resistant to react by any other chemical reagents.
Other properties include slipperiness, high flexibility and resistance to water, electricity and heat (melting point, 327 ℃). Many of us are familiar with Teflon, used in production of non-stick cookware. Apart from cooking pans, PTFE has a wide range of applications in several industries, such as medical implants, cable insulation, aerospace industry and Teflon coatings for pipes.