Polytetrafluoroethylene PTFE is a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene , and has numerous applications because it is chemically inert. PTFE is hydrophobic : neither water nor water-containing substances wet PTFE, as fluorocarbons exhibit only small London dispersion forces due to the low electric polarizability of fluorine.
PTFE has one of the lowest coefficients of friction of any solid. Polytetrafluoroethylene is used as a non-stick coating for pans and other cookware. It is non-reactive , partly because of the strength of carbonโfluorine bonds , so it is often used in containers and pipework for reactive and corrosive chemicals.
Where used as a lubricant , PTFE reduces friction, wear, and energy consumption of machinery. It is used as a graft material in surgery and as a coating on catheters.
PTFE and chemicals used in its production are some of the best-known and widely applied PFAS , [ 5 ] which are persistent organic pollutants. Although GenX was designed to be less persistent in the environment compared to PFOA, it has proven to be a "regrettable substitute". A team of Dupont chemists attempted to make a new chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant, called tetrafluoroethylene. The gas in its pressure bottle stopped flowing before the bottle's weight had dropped to the point signaling "empty".
John J. Beall chemist , noticing a weight differential in his test cylinder, brought it to the attention of Roy Plunkett. The chemists in the lab sawed the bottle apart and found the bottle's interior coated with a waxy white material that was oddly slippery.
