The use of fluoropolymers for non-stick cooking utensils

Many applications have derived benefit from the discovery of PTFE (Polytetrafluoraethylene) but probably the one that has become very popular with the public is the non-stick frying pan. In this paper the important steps in the development of non-stick coatings for cooking utensils from the early days until the present will be reviewed. It will be shown that copolymers such as FEP (Fluoroethylenepropylene polymer) and PFA (Perfluoroalkoxypropylene) are playing a very important role in this coating technology. The critical parameters of the compositions of the coating necessary to optimize non-stick and abrasion resistance, the key properties far cooking utensils, will be reviewed.