Question

Which of the following is used to make non-stick cookware :

• A. Polyethylene terephthalate
• B. PVC
• C. Polystyrene
• D. Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)

Hint:

Non-stick cookware (like frying pans) is famously coated with a material often called {Teflon}. The chemical name for Teflon is {P}oly{T}etra{F}luoro{E}thylene ({PTFE}). It's known for being very slippery and resistant to high temperatures (within cooking limits).

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Concept: Non-stick cookware is coated with a material that has a very low coefficient of friction and is resistant to sticking, making cooking and cleaning easier. Step 1: Identifying the material for non-stick cookware The most common material used for coating non-stick cookware is Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). PTFE is a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene. It is well-known by the DuPont brand name Teflon. Properties of PTFE (Teflon) relevant to cookware:
Low coefficient of friction: One of the lowest of any solid, which makes it very "slippery" and non-stick.
Hydrophobic and Oleophobic: Repels water and oils.
High-temperature resistance: Stable at typical cooking temperatures (though it can degrade at very high temperatures, above approx. \(260^\circ\text{C}\) or \(500^\circ\text{F}\)).
Chemically inert: Does not react with food. Step 2: Analyzing the options
(1) Polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE): This is a polyester plastic commonly used for making beverage bottles (like water and soda bottles), food containers, and synthetic fibers (like polyester fabric). Not typically used as a non-stick cookware coating.
(2) PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride): A versatile synthetic plastic used for pipes, window frames, flooring, insulation, etc. Not typically used for non-stick cookware coatings due to concerns about thermal stability and potential release of harmful substances at cooking temperatures.
(3) Polystyrene (PS): A synthetic polymer used to make disposable cutlery, food containers (like yogurt pots, foam cups/plates - Styrofoam is a brand name for expanded polystyrene). It has a low melting point and is not suitable for cookware coatings.
(4) Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE): Correct. This is the chemical name for Teflon, the material widely used for non-stick cookware coatings. Therefore, Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is used to make non-stick cookware.