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  1. Naked Science Forum
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  4. QotW - 18.08.02 - Why are non-stick pans non-stick?
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QotW - 18.08.02 - Why are non-stick pans non-stick?

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Offline Adam Murphy (OP)

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QotW - 18.08.02 - Why are non-stick pans non-stick?
« on: 02/08/2018 10:34:28 »
Martin asked us:

What’s the science behind non-stick pans? What prevents the sticking?

Any thoughts?
« Last Edit: 02/08/2018 21:43:06 by chris »
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Offline Tomassci

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Re: QotW - 18.08.02 - Why are non-stick pans non-stick?
« Reply #1 on: 02/08/2018 15:47:07 »
One word: teflon. Teflon is an polymer, which does not like to bond with other chemicals. It looks like this:

The yellow thing is fluorine. It sticks to black balls-carbon-, so it does not stick to other atoms.
« Last Edit: 02/08/2018 22:46:38 by evan_au »
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Offline chris

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Re: QotW - 18.08.02 - Why are non-stick pans non-stick?
« Reply #2 on: 03/08/2018 09:56:29 »
We interviewed Ullrich Steiner about non-stick surfaces, superhydrophobicity and Teflon about 10 years ago.

He did an amazing demo in the studio with a spoon he's treated with the surface coating he had developed. He dropped a droplet of water onto the spoon, which was held at an angle and the water literally leapt off. I remember it vividly to this day!

You can listen to the interview here: https://www.thenakedscientists.com/sites/default/files/media/Naked_Scientists_Show_07.09.30_423_1.mp3
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Re: QotW - 18.08.02 - Why are non-stick pans non-stick?
« Reply #3 on: 09/08/2018 12:22:13 »
This question has now been answered! You can listen to it here: https://www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/question-week/how-do-non-stick-pans-work
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Re: QotW - 18.08.02 - Why are non-stick pans non-stick?
« Reply #4 on: 11/08/2018 17:51:43 »
On a related note, one interesting thing I found in my travels- linoleum (polymerised linoleic fatty acids) can approach the slipperiness of PTFE but only when wet or oiled. I think that's why chefs often 'prove' pans- it polymerises the oils and forms a very slippery linoleum-like layer:

https://physics.info/friction/

(Note flooring called 'linoleum' these days is nearly always actually PVC, specifically because linoleum is too slippery when wet.)
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Re: QotW - 18.08.02 - Why are non-stick pans non-stick?
« Reply #5 on: 18/01/2020 05:50:46 »
Quote from: Tomassci on 02/08/2018 15:47:07
One word: teflon. Teflon is an polymer, which does not like to bond with other chemicals. It looks like this:

The yellow thing is fluorine. It sticks to black balls-carbon-, so it does not stick to other atoms.
So, if we put a food which contains carbon, like a burnt chicken, it will stick?
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Re: QotW - 18.08.02 - Why are non-stick pans non-stick?
« Reply #6 on: 18/01/2020 06:33:19 »
There have been health concerns raised about much shorter-chain fluorinated carbon molecules.

Some of these have been used in airports for flame-retardent sprays for avgas fires, resulting in high levels of exposure by firemen. The water-soluble end to the chain would make it more dangerous to living organisms.
See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfluorooctanesulfonic_acid
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perfluorooctanoic_acid
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Re: QotW - 18.08.02 - Why are non-stick pans non-stick?
« Reply #7 on: 14/12/2022 16:04:08 »
Due to Teflon coating.
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