Polytetrafluoroethylene

1
Polytetrafluoroethylene

• (Teflon)

2
Background Information

• Teflon is a synthetic fluoropolymer of
  tetrafluoroethylene
• It is the non-stick coating on your frying pans
• It is used as lubricants in machinery
• Powdered Teflon is used as an oxidizer in
  pyrotechnics
• Teflon in put in sportswear to reduce
  friction-induced blisters

3
History

• Polytetrafluoroethylene was accidentally
  discovered in 1983 by Roy Plunkett. Roy was
  attempting to make a new chlorofluorocarbon
  refrigerant for Kinetic Chemicals during the
  process, there was a weight problem and upon
  investigation, he found a white, waxy material
  which was quite slippery. Further analysis showed
  that it was polymerized perfluoroethylene. This
  new material was patented by Kinetic Chemicals in
  1941 and the Teflon trademark was registered in
  1945.

4
Risks

• Over-heated pans can release fumes which will
  cause flu-like symptoms for a little while.
• Perfluorooctanoic Acid or PFOA (a by-product of
  Teflon) has shown the potential to develop tumors
  in animal studies.
• Human studies with PFOA have shown slightly
  similar results with tumors, but much less so.
• This in NO WAY means that you will grow a tumor
  from frying your eggs on a Teflon pan.

5
Benefits

• The benefits of Polytetrafluoroethylene lie in
  the many products that it can be made with. There
  aren't any medical or health other than lubricant
  in tools.

6
Alternate Solutions

• Not enough is known about the effects of Teflon
  and PFOA due to them being minimal. We dont
  really have an alternate action or material.

7
Sources

• princeton.edu
• cancer.org