What is Teflon?
Teflon is the trademark name for the extremely useful polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which was registered in 1945. PTFE is a fluroplastic with many properties, deeming to be one of the worlds slipperiest substances, giving it an increasingly wide range of uses.
Teflon is a compound made up of fluorine and carbon (fluorocarbon). It has a unique molecular structure, a chain of carbon atoms are at the base, completely surrounded by fluorine atoms. Due to the fact carbon and fluorine form tight bonds, the fluorine atoms more or less protect the vulnerable carbon chain. This structure gives Teflon its properties.
PTFE has a coefficient of friction against polished steel of 0.05 to 0.1, which is one of the lowest for any measured solid. This factor makes it great for use in situations that require reduced friction between two solids, like the gears on a bike.
Some of Teflon's more useful qualities are its high melting point, its electrical insulating properties and that it is hydrophobic.
Teflon is a compound made up of fluorine and carbon (fluorocarbon). It has a unique molecular structure, a chain of carbon atoms are at the base, completely surrounded by fluorine atoms. Due to the fact carbon and fluorine form tight bonds, the fluorine atoms more or less protect the vulnerable carbon chain. This structure gives Teflon its properties.
PTFE has a coefficient of friction against polished steel of 0.05 to 0.1, which is one of the lowest for any measured solid. This factor makes it great for use in situations that require reduced friction between two solids, like the gears on a bike.
Some of Teflon's more useful qualities are its high melting point, its electrical insulating properties and that it is hydrophobic.