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 a windshield when it's drizzling. The blade is coated with Teflon®. This means less friction, 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 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. Eyeglass wearers may even have Teflon® on their eyeglass lenses. In the area of personal care, it is used as a fingernail protector, and even in a line of haircare products.

Teflon® is applied to pots and pans in a multi-step process that helps ensure that the material 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 considered safe for use in cooking.

There has been some concern about the safety of Teflon®-coated cookware. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have both stated that the use of this coating on cookware is acceptable. DuPont claims that Teflon® coatings do begin to deteriorate at or above 500°F (260°C), a temperature higher than that at which most foods are cooked. Teflon®-coated pans are not recommended for foods cooked using high temperatures, such as broiling.