Non-stick surface
In the twenty-first century, other coatings have been marketed as non-stick, such as anodized aluminium, silica, enameled cast iron, and seasoned cookware.
PTFE was first used to make seals resistant to the uranium hexafluoride gas used in development of the atomic bomb during World War II, and was regarded as a military secret.
[5] By 1951 Dupont had developed applications for Teflon in commercial bread and cookie-making; however, the company avoided the market for consumer cookware due to potential problems associated with release of toxic gases if stove-top pans were overheated in inadequately ventilated spaces.
While working at DuPont, NYU Tandon School of Engineering alumnus John Gilbert was asked to evaluate a newly developed material called Teflon.
His experiments using the fluorinated polymer as a surface coating for pots and pans helped usher in a revolution in non-stick cookware.
When pans are overheated beyond approximately 260°C (500°F) the PTFE coating begins to dissociate, releasing hydrofluoric acid and a variety of organofluorine compounds which can cause polymer fume fever in humans and can be lethal to birds.
With the EPA imposing stricter limits on the use of PFAS,[22] some companies are voluntarily replacing their PTFE cookware with ceramic options.
Xylan is formulated as a composite system that typically combines one or more fluoropolymers—such as PTFE, perfluoroalkoxy alkane (PFA), and fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP)—with specialized binder resins to improve adhesion and wear resistance.
[28][29] Generally speaking, superhydrophobic coatings are made from composite materials where one component provides the roughness and the other provides low surface energy.
[32] These surfaces bioimitate the carnivorous Venezuelan pitcher plant, which uses microscale hairs to create a water slide that causes ants to slip to their death.
[33] Additionally, diamond’s high thermal conductivity enables even heat distribution, while its chemical inertness contributes to durability.
