The Use of Teflon in the Food Industry

The Teflon coating, beloved by many homemakers and used on the surfaces of modern cookware, is known for its excellent non-stick properties and is nothing more than a synthetic polymer called fluoroplastic. This material goes by many names: “Teflon” (a registered trademark of the French brand DuPont), PTFE, PFA, fluoropolymer, polytetrafluoroethylene, and others.

The remarkable properties of Teflon were discovered in the late 1930s by American scientist Roy Plunkett. In the USSR, this unique material became known during World War II when examining an American tank. Mechanics disassembling the combat vehicle discovered an unusual white gasket in its turret instead of regular lubricant. It was later identified as being made from the same fluoroplastic. This innovation impressed Soviet engineers so much that the government decided to thoroughly study and produce this material independently.

Initially, fluoropolymers were used exclusively for industrial purposes. They began being applied to consumer goods in the late 20th century. PTFE remains highly popular today, particularly in the field of cooking.