The Invention of Teflon - Roy Plunkett

Teflon® - Roy PlunkettByMaryBellisPTFE or polytetrafluoroethylene wasdiscovered on April 6, 1938 by Dr. Roy Plunkett at the DuPont researchlaboratories (Jackson Laboratory in New Jersey). Ceramic Coating Paint Plunkett was working withgases related to Freon®refrigerants whenupon checking a frozen, compressed sample of tetrafluoroethylene, he andhis associates discovered that the sample had polymerized spontaneouslyinto a white, waxy solid to form polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE.PTFE was first marketed under theDuPont Teflon ® trademark in 1945. The molecular weight of Teflon canexceed 30,000,000, making it one of the largest molecules known. The surfaceis so slippery, virtually nothing sticks to it or is absorbed by it. Nowonder Teflon was choosen to be used on non-stick cooking pans.Chemical Description of TeflonTeflon is a colorless, odorlesspowder, a fluoroplastic with many properties which give an increasinglywide range of uses.RoyPlunkett (1911-1994) - TeflonRoy Plunkett invented tetrafluoroethylenepolymers or Non Stick Coating Teflon - National Inventors Hall of Fame.DupontHistoryDupont are the owners of Teflon.Teflon®Dupont's own Teflon website.RoyPlunkett - TeflonIn 1938, Roy Plunkett capitalizedon an accident and invented one of the best known and most widely usedpolymers of all time: Teflon.PreparingTeflon for Bonding Using UV RadiationWhyTeflon Sticks to the PanFirstSynthesis of TeflonPreventTeflon Poisoning of BirdsRelated InnovationsPlastic