Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) was accidentally discovered in 1938 by Roy J. Plunkett while he was working in … See more

PTFE is produced by free-radical polymerization of tetrafluoroethylene. The net equation is
n F2C=CF2 → −(F2C−CF2)n−
Because tetrafluoroethylene can explosively … See more

PTFE is a thermoplastic polymer, which is a white solid at room temperature, with a density of about 2200 kg/m and a melting point of 600 K (327 °C; 620 °F). It maintains high strength, toughness and self-lubrication … See more

Processing PTFE can be difficult and expensive, because the high melting temperature, 327 °C (621 °F), is above the decomposition temperature. Even when molten, PTFE does not flow due to its exceedingl… See more

The major application of PTFE, consuming about 50% of production, is for the insulation of wiring in aerospace and computer applications (e.g. hookup wire, coaxial cables). This application exploits the fact tha… See more

While PTFE is stable at lower temperatures, it begins to deteriorate at temperatures of about 260 °C (500 °F), it decomposes above 350 °C (662 °F), and pyrolysis occurs at temperatures above 400 °C (752 °F)… See more