Teflon is the trade name of a fluorine containing polymer chemically known as polytetrafluoroethylene, widely used for coating non-stick kitchenware. It is a polymer in which all the hydrogen atoms of polyethylene are replaced by fluorine atoms. Invented in 1938, by the American company Du Pont, it is a tough, milky-white waxy substance which is totally inert to almost all corrosive chemicals. For this reason, it is used for making valves, seals and gaskets in laboratories and chemical plants. It is non-toxic in normal use. It is highly resistant to the effects of heat and has an extremely low coefficient of friction and has anti-stick property which makes it suitable for coating non-stick kitchenware and running surface of skis and electric irons. Furthermore, it is an excellent electrical insulator and is therefore used for wire covering. Water does not wet it; neither does oil make it sticky.
