Teflon - the facts

SVR

SVR

Dream Machines
With more and more car, home and industrial cleaning products featuring TEFLON or du pont xonyl as it's technically known (according to malco) I want to offer my observations and opinion



I saw an TV ad for Clorox cleaner for home surfaces which made me mad. Teflon was mentioned in the ad as a surface protector. Quite simply it is not a protector. It was originally used as a non stick for food cooking equipment but over the past few years has exploded out all over the place into many industries



Teflon has a place in car detailing but only for slightly improving the lustre of paint and making the paint's surface ultra smooth and slippery, thus helping to prevent things like fallout from sticking and penetrating deeply into a car's finish. Du Pont's recently released car care range includes a paint protectant which has teflon and ceramic in it. The ceramic does the protection with the teflon aiding in slickening the surface so the end result is that contaminants really struggle to stick and if they do are very easily removed.



The thing I hate is that Teflon is mass marketed by cleaning product companies (especially home cleaning ones) as the ultimate surface protector. Du Pont's teflon paint protectant should be labelled as Ceramic Paint Protectant.



I'm no chemist but have been using a few professional products with teflon in them and they work very well. Malco's Flash wax with silicone and teflon is one hell of a short term (month at the most) spray or WO, wait WOff waxes with the treated surface ultra slippery and glossy:
 
I really don't understand it. Didn't Du Pont release something a long time ago saying Teflon doesn't work unless it is heated to a high temperature to bond to the metal?
 
Intel486 said:
I really don't understand it. Didn't Du Pont release something a long time ago saying Teflon doesn't work unless it is heated to a high temperature to bond to the metal?
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My thoughts exactly. Teflon is not a viable ingredient in car protectants when applied at ambient temperatures.
 
Teflon has been used for years on carpet and upholstery as a competitive product to 3M Scotchgard. It is applied both at the mill, where it is dried in the 200 degree range, or applied after cleaning, where it air dries at ambient.



Car finishes, like (virtually all) carpet, is made of plastic. Why wouldn't the same drying temperatures apply (vs. thousands of degrees as in a Teflon frying pan?)



Here's some info from a DuPont Teflon web site:

http://www.dupont.com/teflon/carpetprotector/questions.html

What is the difference between the mill applied and after market products?

The mill applied products are formulated for drying in the high temperature ovens found in carpet mills, while the home applied products are formulated to dry at ambient temperatures. Because the mill applied products are "baked on", they are typically more durable, depending upon the product. However, Teflon® Advanced has good durability and provides valuable protection against soil and stains.
 
so has anyone tried any of latest dupont with teflon products? there is no QD but they have a spray wax, I guess it could be diluted like WAUD and used as a QD
 
I found out about some of this teflon stuff. I dont know if it works. I would think that it only adds to the looks... I dont think it lasts as long as they say it does, but I talked to a guy who sells "teflon treatments"



Its pretty much a wax but he applys it with a rotary and works it in till it disapears. He doesnt buff anything off afterwards. So it does get put on with heat. Maybe that helps it more? I'm not sure. But I did find it to be interesting.
 
I find it frustrating every time this Teflon thing comes up. I have the article stating that unless applied at over 700 degrees Teflon provides no benefit to automotive car care products. Also be advised that everytime you see the word Teflon on a label there is a royalty payment made.



A few years ago I got a sales video regarding Teflon. A lot of money was spent on research and interviews. The conclusion from Dupont was that most people interviewed "believed" Teflon provided a benefit. Perception seemed to be the main focus. A secondary focus was you could make a lot of money on that perception. At the end there was a disclaimer saying that Dupont did not determine or make claims that Teflon was a viable ingredient.



After inspecting the raw material, reviewing the technical aspects adding to and/or creating numerous formulations with it, it most certainly will not make a surface shiny or add depth. There is something else making the shiny!



A recent call to the makers of Teflon revealed that no new techological advancements have been made with regard to its inclusion in formulations.



Conclusion: IMHO if you can extract peoples hard earned money from them by making them believe something then you get to eat lunch and they don't. This apparent magic bullet appears and disappears every few years and will probably continue as long as people believe.
 
Dennis H. said:
I find it frustrating every time this Teflon thing comes up. I have the article stating that unless applied at over 700 degrees Teflon provides no benefit to automotive car care products. Also be advised that everytime you see the word Teflon on a label there is a royalty payment made.



A few years ago I got a sales video regarding Teflon. A lot of money was spent on research and interviews. The conclusion from Dupont was that most people interviewed "believed" Teflon provided a benefit. Perception seemed to be the main focus. A secondary focus was you could make a lot of money on that perception. At the end there was a disclaimer saying that Dupont did not determine or make claims that Teflon was a viable ingredient.



After inspecting the raw material, reviewing the technical aspects adding to and/or creating numerous formulations with it, it most certainly will not make a surface shiny or add depth. There is something else making the shiny!



A recent call to the makers of Teflon revealed that no new techological advancements have been made with regard to its inclusion in formulations.



Conclusion: IMHO if you can extract peoples hard earned money from them by making them believe something then you get to eat lunch and they don't. This apparent magic bullet appears and disappears every few years and will probably continue as long as people believe.
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Well stated Dennis. :bow

Almost similiar to the way the word "sealant" to being exploited today. It's all about marketing. :xyxthumbs
 
blkZ28Conv, I agree.



You know what they called us wax and polish guys in the covered wagon days?



Snake Oil Salesman!



We try to resist flinging the marketing poo as much as possible.
 
Wow, Turbo Laser Teflon!



Does it bond faster than the speed of light? What about compatibility issues? You've got the hamsters racing around in my head now.
 
The stewpidest Teflon gimmick is the Fram "Double Guard" Oil Filter. The filter comes pre-saturated with teflon and oil :rolleyes: which gets dispresed into the engine as the oil runs thru the filter

:rolleyes:
 
jrawls said:
I think Anthony O. once said: "Teflon is great stuff - if you're using your car to fry eggs!".:rofl :lol
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And it can be done on a black car in the hot Texas sun! LOL :D
 
Even when applied PROPERLY (700+ degrees etc), engine builders won't use it on internal engine parts that are in areas of high friction...despite how slippery it is, BECAUSE teflon, being plastic, softens and smears around under high heat & stress even if the heat is nowhere near 700*



How does this relate to car finishes :nixweiss but it DOES show that teflon in NOT the end all of products. For coating frying pans or even door hinges, sure, but for the people at the extreme end of automotive sports & hobbies, teflon is about as useful as 30wt elbow grease or synthetic prop wash with brighteners and dry-free sheeting action.
 
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