PTFE Resin Powder: Tetrafluoroethylene Polymerised under Pressure, Plunkett 1941

PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is the chemically inert plastic. Roy Plunkett found that tetrafluoroethylene, kept under pressure at room temperature, slowly turns into a white solid (US 2,230,654, 1941). A little silver nitrate speeds it up: 7 parts of the gas with 0.1 part silver nitrate at 25 °C for 21 days gave 2.3 parts of polymer. The powder dissolves in nothing usual, does not burn on its own, and melts only at red heat. The picture: our diagram.