DuPont Teflon® Coating: Not Just For Cookware

Teflon® has often been described as "an example of serendipity, a flash of genius, a lucky accident ... even a mixture of all three." It was in 1938 that Dr. Roy Plunkett, a DuPont chemist, began to work with refrigerants. After checking a frozen compressed sample, Plunkett discovered that it had polymerized into a waxy, white solid which formed polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Plunkett's subsequent tests showed the polymer to be highly resistant to electricity, temperature, mold and fungus. And to top it off, the polymer was very slippery.

DuPont Teflon® was born.

It however would be several more decades until DuPont felt comfortable enough to market its Teflon® coating on cookware. Laboratory tests confirm Teflon® cookware only begins to deteriorate when misused and exposed to extreme heat of 500°F or more. It's important to note that fats, butter, and cooking oil tend to burn and smoke at only 400°F. In fact, cooked foods will burn beyond an edible state before non-stick cookware deteriorates and poses dangerous health risks.

Teflon®, however, isn't just used for cookware.

Let's Look At Three Other Interesting Ways DuPont Teflon® Coating Is Used Today:

1. The Statue of Liberty: Many people might not ever guess that one of the most iconic American statues, The Statue of Liberty, uses Teflon ® as a lubricator and insulator for the statue's outer structure of pure copper and steel framework. The Teflon® coating protects most metals against wear and corrosion.

2. The Windshield Wiper: For the automotive industry, DuPont Teflon® coating created a solution for the noisy windshield wiper that squeaks when drizzling. The blade is coated with Teflon® to reduce friction and make for a smoother motion across the windshield.

3. Modern Food Processing Equipment: There are many benefits to using Teflon® coated components and linings in food processing plants. Food does not react with Teflon, so the purity of the product is maintained. Equipment maintenance costs are reduced because Teflon protects against wear and corrosion, and keeps the food products from sticking or plugging. Because the equipment is easier to clean and needs to be cleaned less often, less harsh or harmful cleaning chemicals are introduced into the environment, making Teflon a good way to go green. In addition, less down time for cleaning increases the productivity of the equipment.

DuPont Teflon®, with its unique non-stick, temperature stability, low friction and chemical resistant properties has found revolutionary new uses from everyday non-stick cookware to modern architecture, coating metal, fabrics, plastics and more. To ensure that the application of its Teflon product is performed correctly, DuPont created a Licensed Industrial Applicator program that authorizes only a limited number of companies to apply this revolutionary coating. Moreover, DuPont continues to reduce the number of Licensed Industrial Applicators to ensure that only companies that meet an exceedingly high standard can apply the coating.


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About Plas-Tech Coatings: Plas-Tech, Inc. is a DuPont Licensed Industiral Applicator of Teflon'. Originally accepted into the program in 1981, Plas-Tech has retained this designation for over 25 years where it has developed expertise in the application of Teflon' and other fluoropolymers. Plas-Tech is well known for it's commitment to quality and its turnaround times are the best in the industry.