Teflon-what's the real story?

"Paul F. Dietz" wrote in message ...
Bill wrote:

I've heard plenty about teflon being invented for the space program, I
think the story is that it was invented as wiring insulation for the
Mercury capsule, but with the recent press stuff about it, I've seen
reports that it was actually invented in the '30s. Which is it?

The latter. Also, teflon-coated cookware went on the market in the
mid 1950s, and wasn't even a US invention.

Paul

Yet more evidence of the failing U.S. education system . . . I had
always been taught that New Jersey was, in the United States. (now
ducking and fleeing the inevitable onset of sarcasm )

I thought its heat tolerance was fairly modest, and when it's heated
excessively it produces fumes you don't want to have around! There's
that odd warning about tobacco contaminated with Teflon.

at what temperature does it become a hazard?
..
..
End the dangerous wasteful shuttle now before it kills any more astronauts....

Bill wrote in message . ..
I've heard plenty about teflon being invented for the space program, I
think the story is that it was invented as wiring insulation for the
Mercury capsule, but with the recent press stuff about it, I've seen
reports that it was actually invented in the '30s. Which is it?

NASA spent millions of dollars to develop a space pen that writes
on Teflon.

The Russians use a grease pencil.

;-)

- Rusty Barton

(Rusty B) wrote in
om:

NASA spent millions of dollars to develop a space pen that writes
on Teflon.

Source?

--Damon

On Thu, 07 Oct 2004 17:58:04 -0500, Damon Hill
wrote:

(Rusty B) wrote in
. com:

NASA spent millions of dollars to develop a space pen that writes
on Teflon.

Source?

--Damon

You didn't see the smiley?

Of course Fisher Pens developed a space pen with their own money and
offered it to NASA for free. The oft repeated story is nonsense.

http://www.snopes.com/business/genius/spacepen.asp

I just added the new twist about writing on Teflon. ;-)

- Rusty Barton



;-)

: I've heard plenty about teflon being invented for the space program, I
: think the story is that it was invented as wiring insulation for the
: Mercury capsule, but with the recent press stuff about it, I've seen
: reports that it was actually invented in the '30s. Which is it?
:
: The latter. Also, teflon-coated cookware went on the market in the
: mid 1950s, and wasn't even a US invention.
:
: Paul

: Yet more evidence of the failing U.S. education system . . . I had
: always been taught that New Jersey was, in the United States. (now

While the chemical teflon was invented in the US, teflon coated
cookware (called 'Tefal') was originally made and marketed in France.
It was selling millions of pans a year, but US manufacturers weren't
interested. Only after 'Tefal' ware was imported and became a success did
US manufacturers create their own lines of Teflon cookware.
In another twist, it was a housewife who first suggested using
Teflon on a pan. Her husband was trying to apply it to....fishing tackle!
Before this French innovation, teflon was almost exclusively for industrial
usage.

regards,
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

John Pelchat wrote:

Yet more evidence of the failing U.S. education system . . . I had
always been taught that New Jersey was, in the United States. (now
ducking and fleeing the inevitable onset of sarcasm )

New Jersey? Teflon-coated cookware was invented in France, and
was first sold in Paris, IIRC.

Paul

"Paul F. Dietz" wrote in message
...
Bill wrote:

I've heard plenty about teflon being invented for the space program, I
think the story is that it was invented as wiring insulation for the
Mercury capsule, but with the recent press stuff about it, I've seen
reports that it was actually invented in the '30s. Which is it?

The latter. Also, teflon-coated cookware went on the market in the
mid 1950s, and wasn't even a US invention.

Btw, just read a great "Teflon" story from "On Rope" (On Rope is written for
cavers doing vertical work).

One item many cavers use is a rappel rack. Basically a U shapped bar with a
ring at one end to clip to your harness. Spanning the U shape are bars
(generally 6 on a full size one). The rope is woven between them. The more
bars and the closer they are to each other, the more friction.... so you can
control your speed. Pretty basic stuff.

Now, believe it or not, a gritty cave rope over time can easily wear away
aluminum bars. This can be annoying.

So apparently (and you probably saw this coming) some caver got the bright
idea of coating his bars in Teflon.

NOT a good idea.

Sure, solves the wear problem. But...



Paul

"Herb Schaltegger" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Brett Buck wrote:


In most aerospace electrical applications, perhaps. It's widely used as
a seal material for low and moderate pressure fluid components in
aerospace applications.

And home plumbing.



--
Herb Schaltegger, B.S., J.D.
"Never underestimate the power of human stupidity."
~ Robert A. Heinlein
http://www.angryherb.net

"bob haller" wrote in message
...

I thought its heat tolerance was fairly modest, and when it's heated
excessively it produces fumes you don't want to have around! There's
that odd warning about tobacco contaminated with Teflon.

at what temperature does it become a hazard?

I believe around 446F. Of course a quick Google search would have found
this for you.

Leaving a Teflon pan on the stove top can easily burn it. As can putting it
in the oven for baking.