Roy J. Plunkett

Roy J. Plunkett (June 26, 1910 - May 12 1994) was a chemist who accidentally discovered Teflon in 1938.

Plunkett was born in New Carlisle (Ohio) and was educated at Manchester College (1932) and Ohio State University (1936). In 1936 he was appointed as a research chemist at the Jackson Laboratory's Compagnie du Pont de Nemours & Company in Deepwater (New Jersey).


On April 6, 1938, Plunkett check tetraflkuoroetilena container weighing 100 pounds (45 kg), used in the production of chlorofluorocarbons freezing. When opening the container to remove a number of chlorination (using klorhidrat acid), Plunkett found that there was nothing left. When examining the cause, he found a white powder form, whereas before no. Tetrafluoroetilena in a container that has undergone polymerization of a polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon), waxy solid with amazing properties such as corrosion resistance, friction, and heat.


Between the years 1939-1952, it includes the chemists involved in the production of tetra-ethyl lead at DuPont's Chambers Works. After that he led the production of Freon ® at DuPont before retiring in 1975. Plunkett died on May 12, 1994 at the age of 83 years.