Beyond The Membrane: The Chemical Behind Gore-Tex

Beyond The Membrane: The Chemical Behind Gore-Tex

Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)

Emma Grey 
What is Gore-Tex?

        First invented in 1968 by Wilbert and Robert Gore, Gore-Tex has changed the outdoor industry with a breathable waterproofing (Rushdy, 2023). From Arc’teryx jackets to MEC tarps this semi permeable membrane has dominated the market as a "miracle material" to produce "magic jackets". Preventing external water like rain and snow from penetrating the jacket, while also being breathable to let heat and sweat out to keep customers completely bone dry while concurring mountain tops. But what is behind this innovative waterproofing? The secret is PTFE or Polytetrafluoroethylene. 

        Early Gore-Tex was simply expanded and stretched PTFE that coats a jacket. The secret is found when this material is stretched. This chemical forms a fine grid or mesh pattern creating the semi permeable membrane. Preventing large molecules of water from seeping through and allowing smaller molecules of sweat and moisture to escape.           

What is Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)? 
        
        PTFE is a polymer that consists of a chain of two carbon atoms with four fluorine atoms, creating a long and durable chain (Radulovic & Wojicinski, 2014). This chemical is a solid white, non reactive, hydrophobic, low coefficient to friction, non flammable, non metabolized, and exhibits considerable elastic deformation under load (Radulovic & Wojicinski, 2014). Due to it non reactivity and strong C-F bond this chemical is used in a lot more things than jackets (Radulovic & Wojicinski, 2014). Most commonly found in nonstick coating for cookware, it can also be found in mass container coating, electrical cables, pesticides, stain repellents, dental and surgical applications, liners, lubricants, filters, and in prosthetics (Radulovic & wojicinski, 2014). 

How is PTFE Made? 

This process consists of two steps:(Coating Solutions, n.d.)

  1. Fluorspar, Hydrofluoric Acid, Chloroform, And water are combined in a chemical reaction chamber and heated to between 1, 094 and 1, 652 degrees Fahrenheit. This produces tetrafluoroethylene
  2. Tetrafluoroethylene is then polymerized into PTFE through radical polymerization with the help of a small amount of acid peroxide, ammonium press;fate, or water
  3. PTFE is born. 


Refrences: 

Coating Solutions Inc. (n.d.) How PTFE/teflon is prepared and applied. Coating Solutions Inc. https://www.coatingsolutions.com/how-ptfe-teflon-is-prepared-and-applied/#:~:text=Polytetrafluoroethylene%20is%20made%20with%20four,1 


Radulovic, L. L. & Wojicinski, W. Z. (2014). PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene; teflon). Encyclopedia of Toxicology. Science Direct. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-386454-3.00970-2 


Rushdy, S. (2023, February 6). The gore-tex enigma. Communicating Chemistry. 

https://blogs.ubc.ca/communicatingchemistry2022w209/2023/02/06/the-gore-tex-enigma/








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