Time to Time Advancements in Tetrafluoroethylene

6-The Chronological profile of Polytetrafluroethylene

List of the Events:

1-Discovery of PTFE

PTFE burst upon the scene quite by the accident, true to the discovery pattern of so many great inventions. In 1938 Mr. Roy J. Plunkett, a DuPont chemist, was developing a new refrigerant when he discovered “Polytetrafluoroethylene” often referred to as the PTFE resins.

2-Slickest substance known to man

Tough and weather resistance, PTFE immediately showed promise; a promise that would culminate in recognition as the slickest substance known to man, Plunkett had struck gold.

3-Entry in the Guinness Book of Records

This “slickest substance” phenomenon is recorded in the PHYSICAL EXTREMES section of the Guinness Book of World Records under the heading Lowest Friction, it declares, The Lowest coefficient of static and dynamic friction of any solid is 0.02, in the case of Polytetrafluoroethylene it is equivalent to wet ice on wet ice”.

4- Helps to end World War II

During the early 1940s many technological efforts had to be the directed toward the demands of the World War II. PTFE had surfaced just in time to play the decisive roles, including development of the weapon that would end the war.

5-The first atomic bomb

In 1942 Plunkett’s PTFE invention contributed to the Manhattan project, created to produce the first atomic bomb and provided material for the gaskets, packing and linings to handle the corrosive uranium hexafluoride, and made development of this critical weapon possible.

6-Registered Teflon trademark

DuPont learned that PTFE by providing a combination of properties unmatched by any of the other material and registered the Teflon trademark.

7-Teflon in food processing

French ministry of agriculture approves the use of Teflon in food processing and other edible material.

8-The non-stick “Happy Pan”

Demand for the non-stick “Happy Pan” pan in USA has reached 1 million per month surprisingly.

9-PTFE comes to the UK

PTFE was brought to the UK by Fluorotec’s very own Bruce McAllister.

10-The race to space

The “Race to Space” led to a hunt for a material with unhealthy properties. The only plastic suitable for the environments of extremes cold, low pressure, and the corroding effects of activated atmosphere was PTFE.

11-Future of PTFE

Production of PTFE will surpass 240,000 tons by the year 2017.

The story of Teflon was begun on April 6, 1938. During this time Dr. Roy J. Plunkett was working with gases that have connection to refrigerants. He checked the frozen and compressed sample of Tetrafluoroethylene, and then he shocked by an unexpected discovery. The discovered compound had polymerized spontaneously to form a white, waxy solid and convert into a tough polymer called Polytetrafluoroethylene.

6.1-Registration

Since its registration in 1945, the known polymer Teflon has gained a significance importance and become a familiar brand. It has been common worldwide for its superior non-stick properties that are quite beneficial in certain areas of field. Such as;

• Coating on Cookware

• It becomes a stain repellent and use in textile and fabric industries

• Provides crucial coatings in manufacturing of different environmental friendly products.

6.2-First product

The first known Teflon product was sold under the trade mark starting in 1946. It was accepted world-wide for its unique non-stick property and product innovations are quickly followed.

Today we noticed, the family of Teflon fluoropolymers from Chemours consist of

• PTFE, it is an original polymer that was introduced in 1946

• FEP, it was introduced in 1960

• Tefzel ETFE was introduced in late 1970s

• PFA, was introduced in 1972

Scientist considered this invention “An example of serendipity, a flash of genius, a lucky accident” or they consider it a mixture of all three. Whatever the situation is, one thing is confirm and to the point that PTFE modernized and revolutionized the plastic industry. It also gives birth to certain other timeless applications that are helpful for the mankind.

Scientific, academic, and civic communities worldwide have recognized Plunkett for his contribution. Inducted into the Plastics Hall of Fame in 1973, and in 1985, to the National Inventors' Hall of Fame, he joined distinguished scientists and innovators like Thomas Edison, Louis Pasteur, and the Wright Brothers.

7-Physical properties

Property Values

Melting point 317-337

Tensile strength 550

Breakage elongation 300-550

Dielectric strength 19.7

Dielectric constant 2.0

Friction Co-efficient 0.04

Surface energy 18

Basic Temperature 260

Refractive index 1.35