PFAS

What is PFAS?

PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances), are a large group of man-made, highly fluorinated compounds. The very first PFAS chemical PTFE (Commonly known as Teflon) was accidentally discovered in 1938 by Roy J. Plunkett at DuPont.

PFAS is also called forever chemicals because of their high resistance to natural degradation, some of them never fully break down.

Although there are thousands of PFAS compounds, the most well-known ones are PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid, also known as C8) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), which have been widely used in consumer goods.

Discovery of PTFE

PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene) or Teflon was discovered on April 6, 1938, at DuPont by Roy J. Plunkett. PTFE is known for its high resistance to temperature and its non-stick properties.

A team of chemists at DuPont were trying to make a new CFC refrigerant, the team noticed the cylinder containing tetrafluoroethylene weighed the same but no gas was coming out. Plunkett ordered the cylinder to be cut open for inspection, inside they found a slippery white powder coating the interior - The white powder later identified as PTFE (Teflon).

Uses of PFAS compounds

Nuclear Weapons

One of the very first uses of PFAS compounds was during the time of World War II. DuPont's PTFE was used in the Manhattan Project. Its high corrosion resistance proved useful for coating the valves and seals containing the corrosive uranium hexafluoride as well as for other components used in atomic bomb development. These applications played a vital role in the improvement of nuclear weapons.

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