14. Teflon
In 1938, while working at DuPont’s Jackson Laboratory in New Jersey, chemist Roy J. Plunkett was researching gases related to refrigerants. He and his assistant, Jack Rebok, were testing tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) gas when they found that a pressurized cylinder, which should have been empty, was unexpectedly heavy. Upon opening it, they discovered that the TFE had polymerized into a white, waxy solid. This substance, later named polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), exhibited remarkable properties: it was chemically inert, had a high melting point, and was extremely slippery. Recognizing its potential, DuPont patented PTFE in 1941 and registered the Teflon trademark in 1944. Initially used in military applications, Teflon’s non-stick properties later made it popular in cookware, revolutionizing the kitchen industry. Today, Teflon is utilized in various industries, including aerospace, electronics, and pharmaceuticals (teflon.com).
