Animation of Teflon plastic repelling water. Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene, or PTFE) is a polymer composed of long chains of bonded units of tetrafluoroethene (C2F4). It is hydrophobic, and has one of the lowest levels of friction of any material known. These properties are due to the extreme electronegativity (blue glow) of the fluorine atoms (blue) that form the plastic's surface. It is also very unreactive due to the strength of the carbon-fluorine bond. Teflon is used in cookware, piping, waterproof clothing and as a lubricant. Teflon is a brand name of the DuPont company.