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djgordy	246984.  Wed Dec 19, 2007 5:20 am Q. Who invented the non-stick frying pan and why? Klaxon yourself if you said "N.A.S.A. for the space race". The non stick coating, PTFE (polytetrafluoroethene.) was discovered accidentally in 1938 by Roy Plunkett who was working for Du Pont. In the 1950s the American chemist, Louis Hartmann and the French engineer, Marc Grégoire discovered a way to stick PTFE to aluminium and the first non-stick frying pans went on the market by the Tefal company which was set up in 1956, one year before Sputnik 1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A2953
jaygeemack	246995.  Wed Dec 19, 2007 5:35 am How did they manage to stick PTFE to a non-stick pan?
Another Jenny	247167.  Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:19 am djgordy wrote: Q. Who invented the non-stick frying pan and why? Klaxon yourself if you said "N.A.S.A. for the space race". Well of course it wasn't for the space race. If anything, the space race would require a special extra-sticky frying pan to stop the food from floating off everywhere.
Sergei	247290.  Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:45 am Exactly. That's why Velcro was invented for the space race... Or so some say, but I suspect it's another example of GI. Am I right in thinking that the one important item of modern technology that actually was invented for the space race is the integrated circuit?
masterfroggy	247304.  Wed Dec 19, 2007 12:05 pm Sergei wrote: Exactly. That's why Velcro was invented for the space race... Or so some say, but I suspect it's another example of GI. Am I right in thinking that the one important item of modern technology that actually was invented for the space race is the integrated circuit? Swiss engineer Georges de Mestral invented velcro in 1951. The 'Space Race' lasted from 1957 to 1975
Celebaelin	247311.  Wed Dec 19, 2007 12:17 pm Largely irrelevant but one of the most inventive comedy lines I've ever heard Quote: Kryten: But aren't you a pantheist sir? Don't you believe god is in all things? Lister: Yeah, but I just don't think it applies to kitchen utensils - I'm not a frying pantheist! Genius.
Sergei	247319.  Wed Dec 19, 2007 12:35 pm More of an agnonstick?
gerontius grumpus	247432.  Wed Dec 19, 2007 8:06 pm Have you noticed that everyone calls them 'frying pans' but in shops they are labelled as 'frypans'? I think frying pans sounds much better.

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