Overview

Polytetrafluoroethylene (POL-ee-tet-ruh-FLUR-oh-ETH-eh-leen) is also known as polytetrafluoroethene, tetrafluoroethylene polymer, PTFE, and Teflon®. Polytetrafluoroethylenes are thermoplastic polymers made from the monomer tetrafluoroethylene (CF₂=CF₂). A thermoplastic polymer is a material that can be repeatedly softened and hardened by alternately heating and cooling. The polytetrafluoroethylenes are well known by the trade name of Teflon® although they are also available under more than a hundred other trade names, including Aflon®, Algloflon®, Ethicon®, Fluon®, Ftorlon®, Halon®, Molykote®, Polyflon®, Polytef®, and PTFE®. DuPont Chemical, one of the two largest manufacturers of polytetrafluoroethylene, makes at least ten grades of Teflon®. These products differ from each other in the physical form in which they are provided (powders, aqueous dispersions, yarn, or film, for example) and size (molecular weight) of the product (ranging from low-molecular weight to high-molecular weight).

Key Facts

Other Names:

See Overview.

Formula:

-[-CF₂-]-_n

Elements:

Carbon, fluorine

Compound Type: