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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. |
