2007-08-02 16:17:21 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
The surface of the metal is in fact not all that smooth and teflon adheres to it because it has all sorts of "nooks and crannies" to stick to. Read about the discovery here:
ref: http://www.coolquiz.com/trivia/explain/docs/teflon.asp
2007-08-02 16:34:00 · answer #1 · answered by Dr Dave P 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think the coolquiz site is complete on the Teflon discovery. There was a gas tank involved (of CF4, I think). Plunkett knew there was gas in the tank, but he couldn't get any out. He wound up cutting the tank open and the solid spilled out.
I think the coolquiz site is discussing how he learned to make Teflon.
Teflon as has a nuclear bomb connection. DuPont was ready to shelve Teflon because of the difficulty in working with it. Leslie Groves learned of its chemical resistence and gave lots of money to Dupont to develop Teflon to resist the corrosive UF6 being used in the gas diffusion technique for enriching the uranium used for nuclear bombs.
Many years ago, I saw an article in Chem 13 News that was written by Plunkett, describing the incident with the gas tank. I sure wish I knew where it was now!!
2007-08-03 00:10:22 · answer #2 · answered by ChemTeam 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chemical bonding.
Teflon is not a single substance or element; it is an artificial compound that was created by DuPont. When they make a Teflon pan they heat the compound up to higher temperatures and use chemicals that wouldn't be found in normal food preparation to work the material into the pan and force it to bind to it. Teflon⢠is actually a trademark like Coca Cola is.
The problem is that they use a very thin coat, so it wears off quickly and some of those bonding agents have been known to cause cancer. It has been found that the Teflon is not stable and over time it breaks down releasing chemical fumes. Imagine if you cook these known cancer causing chemicals into your food.
2007-08-02 23:24:23 · answer #3 · answered by Dan S 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
It sticks when it is heated and in it's liquid form - it's only when it cools and forms a skin that it will shed most substances.
2007-08-03 00:18:28 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dan is right-o! But...I'll take cancer over f'ing up mah over easy eggs any day.
2007-08-02 23:28:48 · answer #5 · answered by Aaron H 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋