SLIDE 1

PTFE was discovered by accident in 1938 by a DuPont chemist, Roy Plunkett, who found
that a tank of gaseous tetraflouroethlyene had polymerized to a white powder after being left
overnight in dry ice temperatures. During World War II PTFE was applied as a corrosion-
resistant coating to protect metal equipment used in the production of radioactive material.
PTFE is a fluorocarbon-based polymer
The polymer is similar in structure to polyethylene, consisting of a carbon chain with two
fluorine atoms bonded to each carbon . The fluorine atoms surround the carbon chain like a
sheath, giving a chemically inert and relatively dense product with very strong carbon-
fluorine bonds.
SLIDE 2
This fluoroplastic family offers high chemical resistance, low and high temperature
capabilities varying from -73C to 204C, resistance to weathering, low co-efficient of
friction, electrical and thermal insulation, PTFE's mechanical properties are low compared to
other plastics.
SLIDE 3
The Carbon Fluorine bond is the strongest bond in organic chemistry ,because Fluorine is
the most electronegative element with a value on the Pauling scale of 3.98 which is 16
percent more then its next competitor Oxygen Pauling scale of 3.44, meaning that it will grab
the electrons tight so that no other molecule could get to the carbon chain to create any
reaction.

SLIDE 4

The Fluorine atoms in one CF2 are large enough to impede on those next to it. This repulsion
will lock the molecules into a rod like shape with the fluorine attached in a helical
arrangement around the carbon. These rods will then be liable to pack together making it
crystalline .This leads to the high melting point of PTFE (327C) and increases its surface
roughness which in turn increase its superhydrophobicity

SLIDE 5

To further explain this we can look at the lotus effect found in nature, which refers to the
lotus leaf that repels water. When a water drop is put onto a superhydrophobic surface, it rolls
away as the droplet does not fall apart due to the huge amount of protrusions providing a big
surface area for the droplet to roll on and not disperse .Any dirt present is removed due to the
rolling of the droplet an SEM morphology sample of a PTFE surface which shows its surface
roughness .

Another point to mention why nothing sticks to PTFE in cooking is because of its rare C-F
bond which is only found in 30 natural products. Therefore adhesion due to similar chemistry
is highly unlikely

SLIDE 6

If PTFE is so slippery then how is it applied to an aluminum pan? Ronald P Rowand invented
the patent of PTFE application on aluminium surfaces which was founded in 1962 and is still
used

It first starts with a two stage power spray wash and rinse. The first wash will remove all
dirt and oil on the surface which could contaminate the blasting operation. This contains a
mild alkaline solution, with the nozzles being aimed directly at the blanks using high
velocity. For the second stage hot water is sprayed with a high velocity like before. After the
second power spray the blanks are rinsed with a supply of hot water and then air dried

The second step is grit blasting the blanks.Iron angular grit with sharp edges ARE
USED.During the blasting process the fresh iron grit must be maintained to a level of 70-80
% hard, sharp particles for this to be accomplished an a air separator device can be used to
remove smaller pieces of worn particles. As the blanks moves through the machine air is
blasted to remove any loose grit that has adhered to the blank. Then the blank is washed and
rinsed in a mild alkaline spray

SLIDE 7

The next step is to remove all residual grit that may be still adhered and any old oxide
deposits which are grey in appearance .This is done by deoxidizing the blanks in an
aluminium deoxidizer solution which contains acid sulfates, chromic acid and other additive
agents for eight minutes. The blanks are then sponged and rinsed at high velocity to speed up
the process ,a longer soaking period will get the same results. Re oxidizing will take place
immediately creating an colorless oxide .

PTFE can be applied by flowing ,spraying or brushing but an aqueous dispersion is the best
for the Du Pont Company leaving a bright finish. The blanks are placed at a 25 to allow for
drainage. The coating is then air dried which leaves it with a white appearance normal to
unsintered PTFE. A sintering operation is then applied in an oven heated to 370385C for 5
minutes. If desired a second layer can be applied

The final result of this process is a bright colour of aluminium because the PTFE is almost
transparent , if a darker colour is needed a primer can be applied before the application of
PTFE

SLIDE 8

A study was done on the transfer of PTFE to AISI 316 stainless steel at two different
temperatures of 100C and 200 C. A pin and plate wear test was utilized and ten passes
where made with a load of 281g and 713g[which translates to 35kPa and89kPa .Observing
wear rates on a normal spatula gave an area of 1.6104 2 and a force of around 600g is

SLIDE 11

The data gathered suggested a linear dependence of PTFE transfer regarding the number of
traverses, with the formula expressed as

SLIDE 12

From Error! Reference source not found. at a load of 35Kpa we can see that the value of the
PTFE layer after 10 traverses is left out due to its high value..

SLIDE 13

From THE TABLE thickness of the layers can be observed ,noting the thickness of the layers
are not linear with the temperature, and that they increase with an increase in load which
disproves Jain and Bahadur studies were they claimed that transfer layers decrease with a
higher load .Now a PTFE coated pan from Teflon has coatings from 6 micrometers to 40
micrometers depending the prices and uses

SLIDE 14

The transferred layers were examined using optical and scanning electron microscopes. SEM
micrograph of the PTFE layers at 89kPa at 200C. The sliding edge which is the black part of
the micrograph is covered entirely with PTFE giving a smooth finish.SEM pictures could not
be found for 35kPa but 89kPa is still relatable if using a force of 1.2kg on the pan

SLIDE 15
From the optical micrographs in figures it can be concluded that indeed that at higher
loadings and a higher temperature it is easier to transfer PTFE which can be seen from the

SLIDE 16

PTFE as said before is inert therefore very stable till at temperature of 250C ,when heated
above this value slows decomposition starts. The initial rate of weight loss starts at around
0.0001%/h at 260C and 0.004/h at 371C and this releases gasses. Major decomposition
starts at around 420C to 450C ,were the PTFE starts to decompose by a random chain
scission, followed by termination by disproportionation which means that a reaction takes
place ,in which the subject is simultaneously oxidized and reduced

SLIDE 17

In a study sintered moulds were used for testing of degradation .A photoelectron spectrometer
was connected to a standard degradation vessel via a stainless steel needle tube and a
micrometer valve. Once heated TFE was the main source of emission and a little of HFP ,
CO2 and H2O.From the results the actual values for the rate of decomposition are very
dependent on the weight and thickness of the layer

SLIDE 18

The fumes created tend to cause a polymer fume fever, which is a short but intense influenza
like syndrome .Only a few cases have been documented on hospitalized patients from
overheated PTFE but this could be that doctors mistake it as a normal flu

When the PTFE is scratched and it starts mixing with food it can lead to liver damage,
immune dysfunction, thyroid dysfunction, and a decreased ability to fight infection