h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Do you know how it sticks then?

I have been led to believe that when teflon is a fluid it does not have quite the same non-stick properties. Also the "non stickiness" of the teflon does not occur at first as the polymer chains are randomly oriented. It is only when it is stroked a few times that they become aligned and therefore nonstick.

Everyone knows it's stuck on with Superglue!!!!

As far as I know, tiny cuts are made on the surface of the thing to be coated, then the liquid teflon (without its non stick properties) is poured evenly over the thing. Or something

Teflon adheres to pans because the pans are pretreated with acids to obtain a porous surface. The liquid polymer then interpenetrates the porous surface. The first non-sticking pan using Teflon was Tefal (tetra ethylene fluoro aluminim).

Yes, the interpenetration method works, and is used; but there is an alternative: The teflon is treated on its underside before being applied to the frying pan (or whatever). This chemically alters the surface so that it is sticky: in fact, it is no longer teflon.

It may be worth pointing out that Teflon doesn't in fact stick very well to pans. If you have teflon coated products which have been used a few times the chances are that it will have started coming off. You probably ingest quite a bit but don't worry, because it's non-stick it travels right through you.