Teflon Research Paper

“Upon checking a frozen, compressed sample of tetrafluoroethylene, he and his associates discovered that the sample had polymerized spontaneously into a white, waxy solid to form polytetrafluoroethylene.” (History of Teflon, year)
Polytetrafluoroethylene, PTFE, more commonly known as Teflon was not invented, meaning it was made for a reason, but discovered by accident by Dr. Roy Plunkett in 1938. Teflon is one of the many serendipitous discoveries that have become very helpful and used frequently in our society today. In the past, Teflon was used to coat pipefittings to make them leak proof to prevent radioactive materials from escaping in World War II. Currently, it is most commonly used as a non-stick coating on cookware and to make dirt

(Lowest friction of any known solid), a melting point of 327 degrees centigrade, and a flame resistance LOI of 95%.” (The Role of Chemistry in History, year)
Teflon has many physical and chemical properties that make it beneficial. Teflon is insoluble to all known solvents, does not react to almost anything, is resistant to acids, is very slippery, does not absorb water, and obstructs gas, moisture, and heat.
“PTFE is inert to virtually all chemicals and is considered the most slippery material in existence.” (History of Teflon, year)
These properties make Teflon beneficial to mankind by making it easier to cook and clean cookware along with helping to prevent stains. Because of this, Teflon has become known worldwide.
"These properties have made it one of the most valuable and versatile technologies ever invented, contributing to significant advancements in areas such as aerospace, communications, electronics, industrial processes and architecture." (History of Teflon,

Studies on animals show an increase in risk of tumors in the liver, testicles, mammary glands, and pancreas. Studies on humans show an increase in risk of bladder, kidney, and testicular cancer which shows that PFOA is a carcinogen meaning it is a substance that helps cause cancer or helps cancer grow. In the United States, it has been found that PFOA is in most peoples’ blood at low levels but are higher in communities where water has been contaminated by PFOA as well as in people exposed to PFOA at workplaces. Exposure to PFOA include exposure to ski wax, and stain resistant fabrics and carpeting. There is not a significant source of PFOA in non-stick cookware as most of PFOA is burned off in the process. People are working on eliminating PFOA and reducing PFOA factory