Teflon

• Teflon is the trade name for a polymer called polytetrafluoroethene or PTFE. It's best known for being used on the surface of pans to ensure that food being cooked doesn't stick
• Teflon, like many things, was invented by accident, but is now used in a variety of different products. It's a very slippery material, so is used in clothing to make it difficult for dirt to stick to the fabric
• PTFE is unreactive, so it's also used to make pipes and containers for chemicals