Late 1930s, it was absolutely keeping quiet about another material that one of its scientist had stumbled on. This was inert ,completely stable - corrosion proof, unaffected by heat, electricity, acids and solvents. What is this material? What are its other properties which make it so indispensable today?
PTFE fluoropolymer resin was discovered by DuPont chemist Roy J. Plunkett in 1938. The same year, DuPont chemist Wallace H. Carothers invented nylon. The Teflon® trademark was registered to DuPont in 1945. Nylon was never registered as a trademark and was given to all to use.
Teflon® fluoropolymer resin is used in the manufacture of DuPont branded nonstick coatings: Teflon®, SilverStone®, SilverStone® Xtra, SilverStone® Select, SilverStone® Professional and Autograph.
Teflon® is used for O-ring gaskets and tape for the protective case housing the original Emancipation Proclamation, delivered in 1862 by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.
Teflon® has been involved in the U.S. space program since the program's infancy. When astronaut Neil Armstrong took his historic "giant leap for mankind" in 1969, the moon module included numerous applications involving Teflon® resin, including space suits and blankets, heat shields, insulation and cargo hold liners.
Teflon® is used in many applications for computer chip manufacture because it is very inert and non-reactive. It's used in filters to keep air clean, in chip carriers, and virtually all tubing and piping in the semiconductor industry. DuPont Teflon® is the dominant brand used in the industry and DuPont has supplied Teflon® to that market since its inception.
Teflon® was one of the discoveries cited when DuPont received the U.S. National Medal of Technology from U.S. President Bush in 1990 for its role in the development and commercialization of man-made polymers in the 20th century.
As a fiber, Teflon® is used to manufacture socks that reduce friction and blisters. These are especially crucial for diabetics, people with circulatory problems, geriatric needs, obesity and sensitive skin. They are made by Comfort Socks and were recently approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
Technology based on Teflon® also is used to repel dirt and spills from DuPont StainMaster® carpet, which is specially engineered to protect carpet from tracked in dirt and spilled food and drinks. As a result, carpets stay 40% cleaner, vacuum cleaner efficiency is increased and carpet looks new longer.
PTFE fluoropolymer resin is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's most slippery substance.
Teflon® is used to insulate thousands of miles of data communications cables because of its outstanding properties, heat and chemical resistance.
Other unique uses of Teflon® include: wiper blades and refills, leashes, collars, harnesses and belts, nail enamel treatment (Sally Hansen), bicycle lubricants, hosiery (Teflon® is made as a fiber, too), among others.
Teflon® is used to coat fiberglass fabrics for permanent architectural structures such as the Pontiac Silverdome in Detroit, Michigan, and the Orange Bowl at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York.
Major fashion designers and brands that use Teflon® fabric protector include: Hugo Boss, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Nautica, Yeohlee, Kenneth Cole, Woolrich, Pendleton, Koret, The Gap, J. Crew, L.L. Bean, Eddie Bauer, Robert Allen Beacon Hill Fabrics and Lee Jofa Fabrics, among others.
As a liquid, Teflon® repels water and stains for the apparel, home fashions, furniture, and uniform markets. The Teflon® forms a molecular shield around each fiber, guarding them from oil and water-based stains, dust and soil. Undetectable by sight, smell or touch, Teflon® protects virtually all kinds of fabrics — silk, wool, wool-blends, cotton, linen, velvet, heavy wovens, microfibers and both smooth and rugged fabrics — without affecting their color, feel or breathability.
Teflon® industrial coatings can be used on carbon steel, aluminum, stainless steel, steel alloys, brass and magnesium, as well as non-metallics such as glass, fiberglass, some rubber and plastics. The versatility of these coatings allows almost unlimited application to a wide variety of part sizes and con