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As is common with great inventions,
the scientist who invented what
we know today as Teflon(R) was looking for something entirely
different. The year was 1938, and
the scientist was Roy J. Plunkett, who worked at DuPont's
Jackson Lab in Deepwater, NJ. He was actually working
with Freon gas at the time, but when an accident occurred
and the refrigerant gas tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) turned
into a white powder unexpectedly, Plunkett's curiosity got
the better of him -- fortunately for us.
What had happened was that the
gas had polymerized (the molecules had bonded) and become
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) -- and eventually they gave
it the much more pronounceable name of Teflon(R).
Machine parts were the first things to have a Teflon(R)
coating, but in the early 1960s somebody had the bright
idea to put the stuff on cookware. The rest, as they
say, is non-stick history.
So,
how does something that resists having anything stick to
it manage to stick to the cookware (or anything else)?
Well, that's more scientific than we're going to get in
this newsletter, but you can read about it if you're interested.
Wearable
Teflon(R) is Here!
One of the truly wonderful new
additions to the fabricare field is Teflon(R) treated fibers
and surfaces for garments, accessories, luggage, and much
more. You're probably seeing lots of TV ads for khakis
that won't wilt or stain with splashes, but that barely
scratches the surface (so to speak.)
In the past, we had various spray-on
treatments that were applied to raincoats, umbrellas, coats
and other outdoor gear (as well as carpets, slip covers
and other home textiles) but these were just that: surface
treatments. Teflon(R)
works at a much more basic level -- the nano scale level
-- and adheres to EACH fiber, instead of sitting on top
of the finished piece of cloth. It
is applied at the time of manufacture, not added afterward.
That's why you can't go to the store and buy a can of Teflon(R)
spray with which to zap your wardrobe.
The secret to Teflon(R) is the
length of the molecules involved (long) and their low friction
quotient. In other words, the less friction that occurs
between the Teflon(R) and whatever is on it, the easier
it is to get things to slip right off of it, whether it's
raindrops, flapjacks or stains. Liquids
that splash on Teflon(R) treated fabrics just beads up like
rain on your just-waxed car hood, and you can brush it off.
This doesn't mean the fabrics are now water-proof.
But the tighter the weave of the fibers, the more resistant
to water getting through. Teflon(R) also doesn't change
the texture of the fabric (no unpleasant stiffness) or the
breathability of it.
Go Ahead
-- Press It!
Unlike many surface treatments
that can be damaged or removed by simple laundering and
pressing, Teflon(R) treated garments bounce back.
In fact, regular laundering
and pressing will refresh and improve the properties of
the Teflon(R). It doesn't get any
better than that! The Teflon(R) coating is also projected
to last as long as the garment in normal wear and use.
What
can you get today that has been treated with Teflon(R) fabric
protector? A lot!
- Men's and women's dress
shirts
- Men's and women's stretch
shirts
- Men's and women's Khakis
- Men's and women's dress
pants
- Suede jackets
- Twill Jackets
(Check out www.us.dockers.com
for all of the above items.)
(Check out Jeep Jeans.)
- Luggage
- Sleeping bags
- Footwear
- Horse blankets
- Gloves
- Hats
- Pet beds -- there's a great
idea!
- Backpacks
- Outdoor gear
- Umbrellas
- Furniture upholstery
- Carpeting
- Leather goods
In answer
to our Pop Quiz above, all of those items -- from health
care to space travel, from the kitchen to telecommunications
-- utilize Teflon(R) coatings.
Proper Care
and Feeding of Teflon(R) treated garments.
- Read and follow
care label instructions carefully.
- If a spill or other accident
occurs, wipe the moisture from the garment
with a clean rag.
- Clean the garment
regularly and have it professionally pressed for the
best look. (Just because it has Teflon(R)
on it doesn't make it indestructible or impervious
to sweat, fiber damage or other things you'd rather
not wear.)
With improved technology, caring
for your clothes is becoming easier all the time.
Let us help you look your best, no matter what you wear.
We read and follow care label
instructions -- so you don't have to. |
