Heh, this is rather amusing. Here's what was going around a while back. I can't verify this is actually a DuPont quote, but it sure shows up in a lot of places on the net exactly the same way, presented as a DuPont quote:
The following is a statement from DuPont, who makes Teflon: "The addition of a Teflon fluoropolymer resin does nothing to enhance the properties of a car wax. We have no data that indicates the use of Teflon is beneficial in car waxes."
Now, you get the following marketing, which I'm almost certain is directly from DuPont, since they license the products:
"DuPont'sâ„¢ new Teflon® Products are a unique breakthrough in automotive chemistry. The non-stick Teflon® coating leaves an invisible protective barrier to protect the interior and exterior of your vehicle from unwanted dirt, mud, grime, scratches, and dust."
Here's my theory. DuPont realized that the hype of those products that attached the well-known Teflon® name to car care products made them very popular. So they decided to jump on the bandwagon.
In reading the actual press release where they announced the product, it sounds like they were *very* careful to say "the Teflon® nName", or "the Teflon® division" and that the products were engineered by the Teflon® division. Nowhere in the article do they say the products contain the actual polymer (PTFE).
In other words, it's entirely possible to have a specially formulated, Teflon® non-stick coating that does NOT contain PTFE.....Teflon® is a name and the idea is that the division has come up with a *special non-stick* formula for car wax...
Anyway, that's what I suspect. The stuff in there isn't the polymer we know as teflon on our pots and pans, but is a special polymer engineered/modified/adopted to be in a car sealant.
Bottom line for me....does it work? Dunno yet, we'll see (if I can ever get past AIO/SG/UPP and real carnauba!).
blue skies,
Andrew
extra info:
Here's a paragraph from the press release:
The new DuPontâ„¢ Car Care products have been developed to deliver a high level of performance in terms of cleaning ability and enhancing overall vehicle appearance. The formulations are water-based and avoid acids and caustic materials found in other automotive appearance products. The line will include: DuPontâ„¢ Teflon® Car Wash, DuPontâ„¢ Teflon® Car Wax, DuPontâ„¢ Teflon® Protectant, DuPontâ„¢ Teflon® Wheel Cleaner, DuPontâ„¢ Teflon® Spray Wax, DuPontâ„¢ Teflon® Protectant Wipes and DuPontâ„¢ Teflon® Tire Shine.
here's the link:
http://www.shareholder.com/tenneco/news/20031215-124607.cfm
Update...one paragraph in there seems like the product will contain Teflon®...but I still think they're talking "Teflon®" in the branding sense, not in the specific polymer sense.
OK, more update. Teflon is a *family* of polymers. Here's a fun site:
www.teflon.com Pick your continent, then go to look at different applications....
