Teflon has been a familiar name for decades. Invented at DuPont's Jackson Laboratory in 1938, Teflon is actually a substance called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which is considered to be the most slippery substance that exists. Its nonstick properties have transcended the kitchen, and is widely used in other areas including aerospace, communications, electronics, industrial processes, and architecture. Teflon changed the plastics industry forever, and DuPont has received numerous awards and recognitions for its contribution to the field of man-made polymers.

In the automotive industry, Teflon created a solution to the creaky wiper blades that screech across your windshield when it's drizzling. The blade is coated with Teflon, which means less friction on the windshield — and a smoother motion against the windshield.

It's likely that just about every home in America has Teflon somewhere. As a carpet protector, it repels liquids so that nasty spills on your carpet can be wiped up clean without leaving a stain. The same technology can also protect the fabric on furniture. It is also used as an automotive lubricant, and even protects light bulbs from shattering.

There are numerous industrial uses for Teflon as well, in areas such as semiconductor manufacturing, pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturing, and industrial bakeware. You may even have Teflon on your eyeglass lenses. In the area of personal care, it is used as a fingernail protector, and even in a line of hair care products.

Teflon is applied to pots and pans in a multi-step process that helps ensure that the Teflon stays stuck to the surface. The first applied layer includes a sticky molecule that helps adhere the non-stick Teflon to the surface, this is followed by an application of non-stick surface only, and the final coating is a combination of non-stick Teflon with other hardeners. Teflon is an inert substance and safe for use in cooking.