2006-09-18 00:24:30 · 12 answers · asked by *JADE* 2 in Food & Drink ➔ Cooking & Recipes
Maybe teflon is only non-stick on one side........
2006-09-18 04:45:39 · answer #1 · answered by Tosin O 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Teflon (registered trademark of Dupont for their crazy slippery polymer)...
was accidentally invented by DuPont chemist Roy Plunkett, in (or near) 1938. Very chemically stable, high melting point, and weirdly slippery in solid form, it is used as a non-stick coating on cooking and messy industrial process surfaces. The difficulty of sticking anything to Teflon makes it a good candidate for an easy-cleaning surface in high-spill areas, although it is pretty expensive to throw around in home applications.
(thing) by Tristan (3.9 wk) (print) ? 1 C! Wed Mar 21 2001 at 10:34:06
Teflon was discovered by accident by Dr. Roy Plunkett at Du Pont on April 6th, 1938. Plunkett had been attempting to find a better coolant gas. He left a batch in a container overnight, and on returning the next day, the gas had become a waxy solid.
The solid, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a chemically inert polymer, is impervious to many corrosives and has a very low coefficient of friction. Teflon is opaque and nearly white in colour. It is 90% crystalline. The name was abbreviated to Teflon for simplicity and is a registered trademark of Du Pont.
Teflon fumes are poisonous. If you heat an empty Teflon coated pan to 400°C, the Teflon particles become airborne and can cause polymer fume fever. However, it is totally safe in normal cooking conditions. Solid Teflon is harmless to humans.
Commercial use didn't take off until 1948 and its applications were mostly industrial. This includes electrical insulation, frictionless bearings and gaskets. It wasn't until 1950 that Parisian Marc Gregoire devised a way of applying Teflon to fishing tackle to prevent tangling. His wife thought of the idea of non-stick pans. Gregoire created and sold over a million pans, under the trade name Tefal.
The idea didn't reach America until a reporter called Thomas Hardie visited a friend who had recently returned from Paris, with the non-stick cook-ware. Hardie was stunned and struck up a deal with Gregoire to market the pans in America. He imported 3000 but couldn't get support from any major department stores. Eventually, Macy's Herald Square purchased 200, which sold out in 2 days.
Demand rocketed but before Hardie could construct a manufacturing plant, every pan manufacturer had caught on to the idea.
One question: If Teflon doesn't stick to anything, how does it stick to the pan?
While Teflon cannot chemically bond with anything, it can mechanically bond. The surface of the pan is sandblasted and a primer is applied. The Teflon is then embedded into the primer.
2006-09-18 01:23:35 · answer #2 · answered by philski333 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Things do stick to teflon...just ask my housemates about some of the cullinary disasters we've witnessed.
I think they probably have some sort of adhesive on the pan, on which the teflon is then put onto.
2006-09-18 00:32:16 · answer #3 · answered by Chris H 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Scarey question... AND if you use teflon and you notice dings in your pan where the teflon is missing after some long usage, where is that going ? Plus there is the poisonous vapor released at high temps.... I think I will stick to my cast iron and stainless steal pans !!!!
2006-09-18 03:08:29 · answer #4 · answered by Kitty 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It seems the pan is first prepared to make it as "sticky" as possible thought a combination of cleaning (to remove grease) and then etching with acid.
Once this is done, a primer is used (this seems to be a big secret as to what is in it), which I guess is the key to it sticking. Finally the teflon is applied in layers.
Check out:
http://www.madehow.com/Volume-7/Teflon.html
2006-09-18 00:31:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
i actually know this one! they cut little key shaped grooves in the base of the pan, pour the melted teflon in, then let it set. the teflon does not stick, but it is locked into place
2006-09-18 00:35:00 · answer #6 · answered by mr. me 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Teflon is indeed very difficult to cover 'pans' with.
That is why it is expensive. They have to put a great deal of very thin layers on, one at a time. Time consuming and expensive.
2006-09-18 00:33:16 · answer #7 · answered by Moorglademover 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
umm that's stumped me also, looks like I'll have to watch that programme on how things are made more often,that topic my come up. I think they use some sort of-stone and then a sand blast technique. I may be wrong but that's the closest i can get to your question, and a good one at that.
2006-09-18 01:01:52 · answer #8 · answered by david c 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is magnetic, that's why you should only use plastic or wooden utensils to stir things, and try to keep foodstuffs rich in iron to a minimum, because these WILL stick.
2006-09-18 00:33:30 · answer #9 · answered by J C 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
He he he not sure about this one, super glue? The answers will be great to read
2006-09-18 00:29:45 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋