Non-stick coatings

[Gef]

Why do non-stick coatings stick to the pan but not to the food?

[Farrukh]

Infact why do non-stick coatings stick at all? The answer is someting to do with chemical / molecular adhesion when the coating is applied, and then cured, but I am sure there are more learned individuals who will give a much better answer in time.

[rekstout]

This one has appeared many times before so I take no credit...

The surface of the uncoated pan is pitted with a corrosive substance to create microscopic holes all over the surface - these holes are like upside down mushrooms in that the aperture is smaller than the space it leads into. The molten PTFE (Teflon to use the DuPont trademark) is poured onto the surface and it runs into these pits. Once cooled the PTFE in the pits holds the sheet of PTFE above it in place. The adhesion is thus purely mechanical.