By what trade name is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) better known?

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene that has numerous applications. The well-known brand name of PTFE-based formulas is Teflon by Chemours. Chemours was a spin-off from DuPont, which originally discovered the compound in 1938. Another popular brand name of PTFE is Syncolon by Synco Chemical Corporation.

PTFE coatings have a number of properties that make it useful to many industries. The coatings are resistant to corrosive chemicals, provide good insulation from electricity, don't absorb water, can withstand extremes of heat and cold, resist UV rays, and create little friction. Many industrial coatings can withstand temperatures as low as -250ºF without loss of physical properties and can operate continuously at temperatures up to 260°C/500°F.

PTFE is used as a non-stick coating for pans and other cookware. It is nonreactive, partly because of the strength of carbon–fluorine bonds, and so it is often used in containers and pipework for reactive and corrosive chemicals. Where used as a lubricant, PTFE reduces friction, wear, and energy consumption of machinery. It is commonly used as a graft material in surgical interventions. It is also frequently employed as coating on catheters; this interferes with the ability of bacteria and other infectious agents to adhere to catheters and cause hospital-acquired infections.