When it comes to polymers, few are as well-known as Teflon. It's the substance that makes nonstick pans so easy to clean. In fact, it's so effective that it's used in a wide range of other applications.

PTFE, or polytetrafluoroethylene, was discovered by chemist Roy Plunkett while working at Du Pont. He was experimenting with a chemical that had been developed to keep refrigerators cold, when he noticed that a tank of gaseous tetrafluoroethylene had turned into a powdery substance after being cooled and pressurized overnight.

While Teflon is best known as a coating for nonstick pans, it is also used in hospital catheters, ski bindings, and dental fillings. It is an antimicrobial agent that keeps bacteria off the surface of medical equipment and can be used to prevent infections from developing on surgical grafts.

It is also a stain repellant and a corrosion inhibitor for electrical wires. It has also been applied to windshield wipers and in a variety of weather-resistant paints.

The name teflon is derived from the Greek word for "teflon" and the Latin words "fluoro," meaning "fluid," and "ethylene," meaning "adhesive." It is made of spirals of carbon atoms joined to two fluorine atoms, which gives it its super slippery properties.

It has many advantages, including its ability to withstand heat and water, resist corrosion, and be a very high-quality sealant. It's also very durable and resistant to abrasion, so it is a good choice for machinery parts. It's also an excellent lubricant and is particularly useful on machined parts, where it can reduce wear and tear and make them easier to maintain.