Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is an unbranched, linearly structured, partially crystalline polymer made from fluorine and carbon. Colloquially, this plastic is often referred to by the trade name Teflon from DuPont. Other frequently used trade names by other manufacturers of PTFE are Dyneon PTFE (formerly Hostaflon) and Gore-Tex for PTFE membranes.
PTFE is one of the thermoplastics, although it also has properties that require processing that is more typical for thermoset plastics.