How a search for safer refrigerants led to the birth of Teflon
If nothing sticks to Teflon, how does it stay on your frying pan? This video explores the accidental discovery of one of the world's most famous non-stick materials and the chemist behind it.
In 1938, American chemist Roy J. Plunkett was working at DuPont's Jackson Laboratory in New Jersey. His mission was to find safer alternatives to the highly toxic gases, such as ammonia and sulfur dioxide, that were used in refrigeration systems at the time—substances that caused dozens of deaths annually due to leaks.
While investigating chlorofluorocarbons as potential refrigerants, Plunkett stumbled upon the history of Teflon. The discovery provides a fascinating look at how scientific research into industrial safety can lead to unexpected breakthroughs in consumer technology.
Source: The Accidental Invention That Changed the World
